For the birds

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/06/2023 (874 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba has always been home to Walter Potrebka. His knowledge of the province is intimate in a way few others can claim. From the smallest to the largest creature in Manitoba’s natural world, Potrebka has observed them all in their elements and photographed them with care.

Dragonflies, hummingbirds, squirrels, pelicans, hawks, wolves, deer, bison and bears are just some examples of the wildlife he has captured in thousands of breath-taking images.

The professional bird and wildlife photographer has had a top-100 finish in the Audubon Society Bird Photography competition, and was a published finalist in the 2022 Bird Photographer of the Year contest.

Potrebka teaches photography and birding ethics, gives owl tours and uses his passion to support conservation projects.

He grew up on the family farm near Riding Mountain National Park. After years of working in the corporate world, he decided it was time to return to what he loved to do: photography, and in particular, conservation photography, so he could use his photos to help agencies and programs.

“My passion is to use my photography to help conservation projects,” said Potrebka, adding that working with conservation projects and using the art of high-quality photography and visual storytelling can help create tangible and meaningful conservation measures.

His style combines nature photography with the proactive, issue-oriented approach of documentary photography, often used as a tool for change. With his soft spot for owls, the Manitoba Burrowing Owl Recovery program (MBORP) became the perfect place to contribute his time and skills to document the work of the group. Since 1987, this owl population has declined by over 96 per cent. In Manitoba, the population has declined from over 100 pairs in the early 1980s to under 10 in 2012.

Burrowing owls are an endangered species in Canada and are considered conservation-dependent, which means they would disappear without the help of the people like those at MBORP. In Manitoba, they are rarely seen in the wild. Working on a shoestring budget, MBORP has a small team doing the work to ensure that burrowing owls remain a part of the Prairie landscape, and Potrebka is grateful to be part of that.

Since he began working with the grassroots owl recovery program, Potrebka says he’s extremely lucky to photograph the work they’re doing. He was even present for the first recording of a successful nesting in almost three decades.

“Every year there’s more and more. Working with this program has really touched my heart,” he said.

In the winter months, Potrebka photographs snowy and great grey owls, and gives tours to others who love birds. Tours normally run from the middle of November until mid-February, and can happen anywhere from Hecla Island down to the United States border and southeastern Manitoba, to the territory up in the Interlake and the southwest of the province.

“All birds are completely wild and never baited,” Potrebka explains in his blog. “The welfare of the subject is always my main concern. I have several different areas for each species and rotate tours among them. This ensures that the birds that we photograph are never over-pressured.

“Since all birds (in my photos) are wild and unbaited, I cannot guarantee that we will see the intended species, or if we do, how close we will be able to get to them. I also will not chase a bird if we get too close and accidentally flush it from its perch… the welfare of the subject is always my main concern.”

For Potrebka, the subject will be whatever happens to catch his attention at the time: a rare bird, a colony of nesting western grebes in the Interlake, or mating rituals.

‘Having the camera with you really makes you slow down and watch what’s happening around you. You watch nature,” Potrebka said. “With a snowy owl, I watch its behaviour. Is it OK with me being there? After a while you get a sense: is it or is it not? It allows you to become in tune with your surroundings, putting the welfare of your subject in front of your photos.

“It’s really helped me reconnect with the moment, helped me to become a better person, getting back in touch with nature.”

As a lifelong Manitoban, his life’s purpose has become to ensure the province sustains the lives of its natural inhabitants. Potrebka finds hope in the younger generation and their interest in learning more about nature.

“I’ve been lucky in the last few years, taking younger people out on tours. They have a good grasp of some of the challenges: climate change, shrinking habitats, things like that. Even though birds are common to us, they may still be experiencing issues or concerns due to climate change. The snowy owl is common to see in Winnipeg, but they are close to being listed on the endangered species list.

“Climate change is something everybody has a role in. It requires the leadership of the country… educating yourself if you do want to go out and photograph, realizing they may be under pressure… also learning what a relaxed or pressured snowy owl looks like, to try to lessen your impact while you’re out there.

“No matter what you do, you’re going to have an impact on your subject.”

Potrebka is licensed by the Province of Manitoba to offer owl tours starting in the city of Winnipeg and expanding beyond. He has secured guiding permits for the best areas in southern and central Manitoba to find and photograph the stunning and unique beauty of nature in the province.

For more information, visit: wpotrebkaphotography.com or mborp.ca.