Photographer soars to new heights

By Lachlan Ellis

A local photographer’s work is being featured in a new book published by the CSIRO – a new feather in his cap, with the book being released last week.

David Whelan has been photographing local birds for decades, and on November 2 ‘Australian Falcons – Ecology Behaviour And Conservation’, written by Dr Stephen Debus, was released.

Mr Whelan said the photos used in the book had been compiled over more than a decade, with more than 50 of his photos featured within its pages.

“It’s really fantastic, it’s sort of a pinnacle for me. Falcons have been a favourite bird of mine for a long time. There are four other photographers that have provided photos of the grey falcon, which is a desert falcon, which I haven’t got…but all the other photos of every other species in there are by me,” Mr Whelan told the Moorabool News.

“From memory, I think the photos date back to about 2008. So they represent a good 14 years of photography. The front cover photo of the juvenile Australian hobby on the fence post, I took that at the Rowsley CFA shed. You don’t know when you’re taking the photos, when they’ll be used or how they’ll come into play down the track.

“I didn’t know when I took those photos that all these years later, they’d be used in a book. It’s very satisfying.”

If you’re interested in buying a copy of Australian Falcons – Ecology, Behaviour and Conservation, you can contact Mr Whelan on 0429 128 782 to arrange a copy signed by him and Dr Stephen Debus, or buy a regular copy from CSIRO Publishing at www.publish.csiro.au/book/8058.

You can also view more of Mr Whelan’s spectacular photography at www.wildpix.com.au.