Birds of Florida by Kirsten Hines

How does one choose 300+ species of birds to cover in an identification guide? More importantly, how does one go about photographing that number of species, including many that are rare or fleeting, in a 2-year period? Those were the challenges facing writer and wildlife photographer Kirsten Hines after she signed a contract with Bloomsbury to write and photograph a Birds of Florida book in their Helm Wildlife Guides series. Despite advice that this was an impossible task, she persevered to ultimately include over 450 of her photographs of 310 species of birds in the plumage commonly observed in Florida. Join Kirsten to learn more about Florida’s incredible bird diversity, some of the state’s top birding destinations, and behind-the-scenes insights into the making of her latest book - Birds of Florida: A Photographic Guide.
Kirsten Hines is a Coconut Grove-based author, wildlife photographer, and conservationist with a master’s degree in biology and background in environmental education. Her writing and photography have appeared in various publications, including 8 books on Florida’s nature and history. Her 2023 photo-essay book, Wild Florida: An Animal Essay, garnered multiple national and state gold medals including: Florida Book Awards for Visual Arts and National League of American Pen Women for Best Non-fiction Writing. Her new field guide, Birds of Florida, is illustrated by 450+ of her photographs of 310 Florida species as typically seen in the state, a feat she accomplished in 2 years. Kirsten’s images have also been featured in numerous photography showcases, public art programs, and exhibitions. She aims to inspire conservation action through her story-telling, wildlife-oriented presentations, leading trips and workshops, and through not-for-profit work such as co-founding Phoebes Birding to connect women through nature, and serving as Conservation Chair on the Audubon Florida board. Learn more at www.KirstenHines.com.
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Henslow's Sparrow. Photo: Kirsten Hines

[@paulvincenti2]

Thank you for that! I was fascinated to learn about the Great White Heron. Went back through my photos and did not have that one (yet). I also have a lot of confusion when it comes to identifying certain warblers and sparrows. I will get your book to help. 🙂