Bob Gress
I was raised in Axtell Kansas and enjoyed many opportunities to hunt and
fish with my dad and brothers in rural Marshall County. At Emporia State
University I received an M.S. in Environmental Biology in 1976. Somewhere
late in college my interest in hunting and fishing was transferred to
wildlife photography. With a camera I could "hunt" throughout the year.
And I could pursue any animal that interested me.
My biological interests include everything between insects and large mammals
and all of these are potential photo subjects. At first I was compelled to
photograph the charismatic and well known mammals and birds. But slowly I
became fascinated with the little, unknown animals. It's these "little
guys" that really need the advocacy that photography can offer.
Unfortunately, most Kansans have a poor understanding of the everyday
animals that live in our own backyards. Most of us never stop to think
about the great abundance, diversity, and uniqueness of our wildlife
resource. My efforts in wildlife photography have developed into a medium
that allows me to share with others this wildlife resource that all Kansans
should value!
Bob is director of the Great Plains Nature Center (GPNC) in Wichita Kansas.
The GPNC is a cooperative project between the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service,
Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks, and the City of Wichita Park
Department. Learn more about Kansas and Great Plains wildlife from the
following books co-authored by Bob and illustrated with his photos: The Guide to Kansas Birds and Birding Hot Spots, Faces of the Great Plains: Prairie Wildlife, Watching Kansas Wildlife: A Guide to 101 Sites
Kansas Wetlands: A Wildlife Treasury, Kansas Wildlife. You can see more of Bob's work by visiting www.birdsinfocus.com
The following photographs represent a tiny portion of the diverse avian life on the Great Plains.