Urban Wildlife Photography Teaches People About Their Shy Neighbors
In the latest episodes of Andrew Budziak’s “Edge of Frame” series about urban wildlife photography, he continues his trek eastward across Canada, this time making productive stops in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Montreal, Quebec.
In each episode of “Edge of Frame,” including the two most recent ones, Budziak has chatted with locals. It’s not just part of making interesting video content, it’s an integral part of his wildlife photography process.
“Talking to people who live in these cities is fantastic. One of the things I’m always curious about is how local people view urban wildlife. Do they love it? Do they not love it? Do they think about it at all?” Budziak tells PetaPixel.
“When you’re in a new place, asking ‘where’ often yields great results. Locals know where the animals are. No guidebook or website is as good as local knowledge.”
In Saskatoon, Budziak took local knowledge even further by chatting with local legend, Mike Digout. Known as “The Beaver Guy,” Digout is an expert on Canada’s iconic semiaquatic mammals, and spends considerable time observing and recording them.
In addition to capturing fantastic photos of beavers with Digout’s assistance and insight, Budziak also saw beautiful pelicans and prairie dogs.
It’s incredible how many different animals can be seen quickly when a photographer knows where to look and adds a healthy dose of good fortune.
“Your city is a wild place. You might not know that, but it is. Once you know where and how to look, you’ll be amazed at the amount of wildlife in your city,” says Budziak. “There’s something magical about having these encounters with wildlife in the city. Seeing wildlife in an urban setting can almost be a mythical experience.”
In beautiful Montreal, Budziak was treated to many wildlife opportunities. Despite its size and relatively dense population, Montreal has more than 1,000 local parks, including some huge ones, like Mount Royal Park (692 acres) and Parc Jean-Drapeau, the site of the Canadian Grand Prix.
Budziak photographed raccoons and foxes, both fun and exciting subjects. They’re also commonly found in urban areas, as they are highly adaptable.
“Our cities’ forests, waterways, and parks are full of life,” says Budziak. However, these animals are under constant threat by people, whether it’s cars, pollution, or other disruptive behavior. “We need to be actively protecting [urban wildlife] from things like development.”
Photography is a great way to raise awareness and help people learn about their often invisible neighbors.
“You can’t protect what you can’t see, and photography is a wonderful tool for showing people what’s out there,” Budziak says.
There are two episodes remaining in Budziak’s “Edge of Frame” urban wildlife video series. In previous episodes, Budziak visited Vancouver and Edmonton, encountering diverse wildlife including seals, rabbits, and even a scary run-in with a mountain lion.
Image credits: Andrew Budziak
