Lowell Washburn, Author at Iowa Wildlife Federation

Lowell Washburn

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.

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October Moon

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.For an Iowa waterfowler, few events spark the imagination or bring a higher level of anticipation than the arrival of October’s full moon.  The night air is crisp, humidity is dropping, a rising

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Statewide Teal Opener

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.Phenomenal!  Absolutely incredible!  Have never seen anything like it! Those are typical hunter comments regarding the September 1st opening of this year’s special teal season.  According to DNR Conservation Officers and wildlife personnel,

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 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Predicts Strong Duck Migration For 2024            

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.When leaves fall and autumn winds blow, Iowa duck hunters can anticipate a strong migration of southbound waterfowl during 2024.  That’s the official assessment from this year’s North American Breeding Duck and Habitat

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Cicada Killers

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.It’s late summer and the signs of the season are emerging.  Right on schedule, this year’s crop of annual cicadas are making their appearance, and the distinctive ‘song of the locust’ has begun

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Summer Molt

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.Brightly colored and sculpted to a fault, the cardinal is one of my favorite backyard birds.  But the bird currently sitting at my feeder did little to fit that description.  By contrast, this

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