Jul 25, 2014
It’s late July, and I’ve arrived at my destination just in time to see the sun rise above the Mississippi River. I’m perched atop the towering wall of a 350-foot, limestone cliff face overlooking the river. Needless to say, the view is spectacular as the eastern horizon explodes into brilliant hues of orange and gold. Although getting here...
Jul 21, 2014
Pike’s Peak is one of Iowa’s best known state parks. Offering clean campgrounds, spectacular views of the Mississippi River, and an interlinking maze of beautiful woodland hiking trails; Pike’s Peak has something for everyone. Last week, Carol and I decided to take advantage of the abnormally cool July weather and explore...
Jul 12, 2014
It was a cold, late spring. But the summer weather is heating up and at long last, this year’s crop of wild raspberries is coming on strong. For my money, few treats taste better than a dish of vanilla ice cream covered in black raspberries at the end of a long, hot day. Competition is fierce. Raspberries are loved by all; including...
Jul 12, 2014
Comedian Rodney Dangerfield was best known for his trademark phrase, “I don’t get no respect.” I suspect that, if the lowly mulberry bush had feelings, it could relate. Although few fruit bearing plants annually produce a more abundant crop, most people ignore or even scorn this tasty and nutritious wild edible. Although there are...
Jul 12, 2014
Lots of rainfall. Lots of spring and summer ponds. Lots of nesting ducks during 2014. That’s the official summary for this year’s North American Breeding Duck and Habitat Survey released this week by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. From North Country lakes to the Gulf Coast bayous, the annual report spells good news for duck hunters...
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.