One October day in 2019, I turned north on Hwy 39, a.k.a. The Creole Nature Trail, headed home from the Gulf Coast of southwest Louisiana. The Pintail Wildlife Drive of Cameron Parish was on the right a few miles up the road, and I planned to visit before heading on home.

But well before I reached the Drive, I spotted this Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) perched on top of a power pole clutching a large silver fish in its talons. As I am inclined to do upon such sightings, I hit the brakes and pulled to the side of the road. My first shots were through a dirty windshield from a distance. Ugh.

Cut to the point: I followed that bird for several miles and probably 30 minutes up the highway. Each time the bird perched, I tried to get out of the car and ease closer on foot. Each time I spooked the bird and on it went. Finally, the bird perched, turned its head and glared at me.

Ok, I said. I hear you. And I backed off. The last thing I wanted to do was agitate the bird until it dropped its bountiful meal.

Such power in eye-to-eye contact with a wild creature! It can change you. Every person I can bring into that kind of creature encounter through a photograph is one more human potentially ready to heed the call and cry of creation.