Friends of Southwest Florida
Marco Island and Naples Florida
I got connected with a woman in my community who’s part of the local Audubon Society and helps monitor several burrowing owl nests on Marco Island. She was kind enough to let me tag along, sharing her knowledge about the owls and teaching me how to photograph them respectfully—making sure not to disturb them or put them at risk.
I spent about an hour observing and photographing owls from a few different nests. Each one had its own personality, and it was fascinating to watch their behavior and see the different nest dynamics. The hardest part? Trying not to scream from how cute they were.
The Marco Island Burrowing Owl Family Portrait. This was the nest I spent the most time at. The mother and her two chicks were endlessly captivating—each with their own distinct personality. I had never realized how expressive birds could be, how much character could be found in the tilt of a head or the way they moved around each other.
I was fortunate enough to capture a moment that seemed to reflect each of them perfectly: the ever-watchful mother, standing guard; the serious little chick, already seeming wise beyond its size; and the sweet, slightly dreamy one, lost in its own little world.
This nest was sweet to observe, though it didn’t have quite the same burst of personality as the previous one. The mother stood quietly at the edge of the burrow while the two chicks nestled side by side, their small heads peeking out just above the opening. They stayed close the entire time, hardly moving—like they found comfort simply in being next to each other. It was a quieter moment, but just as meaningful in its own way.
When I stopped at this nest, it seemed completely empty. I wanted to capture the setting—the way these burrows are roped off for protection, tucked right into everyday spaces like neighborhood lawns and sidewalks. As I was lining up the shot, this little chick suddenly popped out, almost as if to say, “Hey, you didn’t ask permission to photograph my home.”
It caught me completely off guard—and ended up being one of the cutest pictures I think I’ve ever taken.
I was in my favorite spot—under the shade of a banyan tree beside the pond—meditating, when I decided to open my eyes. That’s when I saw her: a mama Muscovy duck and her ducklings. I quietly ran into the house to grab my camera and spent the next hour completely immersed, filling my SD card with photos and videos of them.
Unlike some other duck mothers I’d seen, she was cautious, but not afraid. She came surprisingly close, allowing her little ones to waddle right near me—giving me the chance to capture some beautiful moments. This shot is one of my favorites. The mother is shaking off water after a quick dip, droplets frozen mid-air, while her fluffy ducklings follow close behind.
I’m fortunate to live just a ten-minute walk from this eagle’s nest. One morning, I woke up before sunrise, hoping to catch a glimpse of the eagles and photograph them in that first light. I wasn’t disappointed.
This photo of one of the parents—mom or dad, I’m not quite sure, as the differences between males and females are so subtle—shows them standing guard over their eaglet while the other was out hunting. The golden rays of the rising sun gently illuminated one side of the eagle, adding a quiet majesty to the moment.
It was fascinating to watch their routine: one parent feeding the eaglet while the other was away, then witnessing the hunter return, share the food, and spend a few minutes together at the nest before trading places again.
This mama duck was one of the more cautious ones I’d seen around the pond. I had tried photographing her and her ducklings before, but she was always timid—keeping a safe distance and never letting them get too close.
This time was different. The Muscovy mama and her ducklings were resting quietly, just about ten feet away from me. I think she may have found some comfort seeing the other mama duck feel safe enough to bring her ducklings so close. Slowly, she came nearer too—curious, but still protective. At one point, she stopped and gave me a long look, almost as if she was trying to figure out what I was up to. One of her ducklings mirrored her exactly, striking the same pose but facing the opposite direction. It turned out to be a very cute photo, a perfect little moment of connection and curiosity.
Not long after I moved to Naples, I took a stroll through a nearby park. The path ran along a shaded boardwalk with trees overhead, and I paused at a small bridge, gazing at the water below. Then I looked up and saw this vibrant green-tailed parrot peeking out from a tree beside the riverbank. We played peekaboo for about 20 minutes—at one point, even a passerby joined in!
A few weeks later, while walking along the same boardwalk, I heard rustling close by. When I looked down, I spotted this tiny raccoon foraging for food. Partially hidden behind the leaves, he peeked out with the sweetest, puppy-dog eyes. He was too cute not to capture.
Raccoons are common in Florida, especially in wetlands and mangrove areas.