Bird's Eye Gallery

Fine Art Photography of the Natural World

Micah "Doc" Daugherty

Journey Into The World Of...

WILDLIFE

I have been a photographer for over 35 years, and although I have done my share of shoots for weddings, sporting events, and portraits, nature and wildlife are by far the most raw. NOTHING is ever staged. Therefore, no shot can really be recreated. You have one opportunity to capture that special moment when an animal leaps to capture its prey, turns to gaze at you, or capture it in a playful mood. That's what makes wildlife photography so satisfying, and exhilarating.

Throughout my travels I have witnessed some very special moments and have been fortunate enough to capture those moments through my lens. It takes lots of patience, but in the end it's well worth it.

SAFETY POLICY: Safety is ALWAYS FIRST when I shoot in the field. My team and I are professionals and we have studied these animals and understand and recognize their behaviors. As I stated above, wildlife is very unpredictable and every precaution is taken when we set out on these photo shoots. My team nor I will NEVER put ourselves or the wildlife at risk, or disturb the habitat where they live. We value and adhere to the National Park Service's "Leave No Trace" policy, as should all who enjoy the outdoors. And lastly, don't be a "Touron." The guidelines that the National Parks provide regarding "safe distance from wildlife" has been established for a reason. The National Parks are NOT a petting zoo... enjoy the wildlife from a safe distance... the wildlife appreciates it, and so will you!

2025 Wildlfe Photo of the Year

A Family Affair
Prairie Dogs
Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota

A Perfect Rack
Moose
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Desert Bighorn Sheep - Zion's Icon (B&W)

Zion's Icon
Zion National Park, Utah

Desert Bighorn Sheep

Throughout all of my adventures in the wild, the Desert Bighorn Sheep is probably my most photographed animal. They can be found throughout the mountainous areas of the Southwestern U.S. I've spent enough time observing some herds that I've come to know their behaviors and the best locations to find them. In fact, I will go out of my way to photograph these amazing creatures. One such herd that I follow calls Zion National Park in Utah their home. Other great locations to find several herds are Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada (about a 1-1/2 hour drive northeast of Las Vegas), Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in SW Colorado, and Capital Reef National Park in Utah... all of which are featured here.

King Of The Mountain
Zion National Park, Utah

Follow Me
Capital Reef National Park, Utah

Standing Guard
Capital Reef National Park, Utah

During a hike on the Grand Wash Trail in Capitol Reef National Park we ran across a lone female Desert Bighorn Sheep. This was odd to me because they commonly travel in herds. I began taking some photos as she continued up to the top of a hill where she stopped and looked down at me. So, I followed her. She led me further over the rise, stopping occasionally to see what I was doing. Finally, I decided it was time to get back to the trail.

As we returned from this out-and-back hike in Capitol Reef National Park, I saw this same female in the same area where we first saw her. But this time, she was not alone. Accompanying her was her kid. Now it all made sense. Her motherly instinct had kicked in earlier as she led me away from her young. We didn't see the kid on the hike out, most likely because the mother had the young one bed down and hide while she led me (as a perceived threat to her young) away from the youngling. Had I been a true predator, the mother would've given her life so that her kid would survive. Witnessing these instinctual behaviors in the wild is what makes wildlife photography so gratifying.

Lamb Chops
Capital Reef National Park, Utah

Desert Bighorn Sheep - God Of War, EDITED

God Of War
Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

In Greek mythology, Ares is the "God of War." He was depicted as a strong, able-bodied man whose thirst for war and bloodshed was like no other. In comparison, the Desert Bighhorn Sheep is a powerful animal that you wouldn't want to cross hairs with. When males battle, head to head literally, it's an amazing display of raw power and brutality. This image reminded me of that power and presence in the way this sheep stood proudly and looking on to the herd around him.

We have observed the Bighorn Sheep in several Western National Parks. We found a couple of these beautiful animals in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado. Here is one of those images from that trip.

Gunnison
Black Canyon of The Gunnison National Park, Colorado

As a parting shot to this dedication to the Desert Bighorn Sheep, I decided to include this amazing silhouette of the alpha ram from the Zion Herd standing at the edge of a cliff in the park. The title "Jacob's Landing" is thanks to our daughter's boyfriend (Jacob) who spotted this ram in the distance as it watched over the herd in the valley below.