Apr 23, 2014
It’s likely that every Iowa turkey hunter has had dreams of finding themselves surrounded by cooperative spring gobblers. Although the dream usually remains unfulfilled, that’s the exact scenario that unfolded for Lake Mills Police Chief and traditional archery enthusiast Dave Thomas this weekend. After placing his blind and a single...
Apr 23, 2014
We all know that turkey hunting success — or failure — can spin on a dime. My son Matt and I each got a good reminder of that this morning. Sequestered in a favorite woodland, I heard my first gobble while it was still pitch black at 5:25. The tom was soon answered by a second gobbler and, as daylight increased, the chorus was joined by...
Apr 18, 2014
In an effort to avoid detection, nesting Canada geese try to keep a low profile. The goose’s crafty “hide & sneak” routine works even better when the ice...
Apr 16, 2014
I’m thinkin’ that this morning’s kickoff to the 2014 Spring Turkey Season wasn’t exactly what area hunters had in mind. With heavy overcast, below freezing temperatures, a blanket of new snow on the ground, and winds gusting to 38 mph; the prognoses seemed bleak. But it was still Opening Day after all, and no turkey hunter...
Apr 16, 2014
Swarming northward from their winter resorts; tens of thousands of lesser scaup [bluebill] ducks are currently making their way through Iowa. Ever since I was introduced to the species during the 1960s, I have loved watching and, of course, hunting bluebills. With this spring’s flight at its peak, I grabbed my camera and a big bag of diver decoys, and...
Born in North Central Iowa, Lowell Washburn has enjoyed a lifelong interest in the out of doors. He began photographing wild birds at age 10, and outdoor photography soon became his passion and eventually a career. Washburn is best known for images that portray migratory waterfowl and other wetland wildlife in their natural habitats. His best photographs are often obtained after spending hours floating amid natural marshlands, half submerged within the dark confines of a floating muskrat house blind.
Upon completing military service as a sergeant with the Fourth Infantry Division in the central highlands of South Vietnam, Washburn returned to Iowa in 1970. His wildlife photos began appearing in Iowa newspapers in 1971 and he began authoring outdoor news columns in 1978. Today, his photos and writing have appeared in over 50 national and international magazines including Outdoor Life, International Wildlife, Field&Stream, Ducks Unlimited, Pointing Dog Journal, the NAFA Journal, and others.
After working as a naturalist for Iowa’s county conservation board system, Washburn was recruited by the Department of Natural Resources in 1984. His primary duties included statewide communication with Iowa newspaper, television, and radio news agencies with a primary goal of increasing the level of public awareness and appreciation for Iowa's natural resources. During his tenure he also served as staff member for the Iowa Conservationist Magazine and for the DNR’s Iowa Outdoors Magazine. Washburn retired from the DNR in 2010.
In addition to wildlife photography, his ongoing outdoor passions include falconry, traditional bow hunting, waterfowling, spending time with hunting dogs of all types, and herpetology.