Bird's Eye Gallery
Fine Art Photography of the Natural World
Micah "Doc" Daugherty
Bird's Eye Gallery
Fine Art Photography of the Natural World
Micah "Doc" Daugherty
PERSONAL BLOG & FUN FACTS
FUN FACTS - June 2026
CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY!
Two of my works ("Alone In the Dark" and "Contrast") are currently on display at the Armory Art Center, located in West Palm Beach, Florida, as part of the "Print and Shoot" exhibition. They will be on display from May 18 to July 10, 2026.
This exhibition focuses on minimalism, where less is more. Capturing the essence of simplicity, clean lines, negative space, and restrained beauty through stark landscapes, abstract forms, or quiet moments, the exhibition welcomes works that evoke clarity, balance, and the power of intentional reduction through the eyes and works of printmakers and photographers.
"Alone In the Dark" and "Contrast" (below) are two of my works that represent the aspects of minimalism and capture the beauty of simplistic landscapes that tell a story. What do you see and feel as you look at these two images?
"Alone In the Dark"
Image created at Isle Royale National Park in Michigan.
As Alley and I were returning to our cabin after an early morning hike in search of moose in Isle Royale National Park, my eye caught a ray of sunshine beaming through the canopy of the forest, highlighting this lonely sprout growing out of the moss on a decaying log. I couldn't help but to think how amazing and wonderful it was to see life blooming in its earliest stages.
.jpg)
"Contrast"
Image created at White Sands National Park in New Mexico.
Desert scenery has become one of my favorite subjects / genres to photograph. Some may feel that the desert is nothing but sand and barren wasteland. This is far from the truth. Desert landscapes offer majestic scenes with mountain backdrops and sand dunes, exotic wildlife and desert flora, and shifting patterns in the sand. The contrasts between deep blue skies and the desert floor also provide the opportunity to create beautiful black and white images, such as "Contrast" (seen here). So, the beauty of the desert is far from boring, it's an opportunity to get creative and highlight beauty where many think there isn't more than sun and sand.
"FUN PHOTOS"
"Wildlife Comedy"... sometimes animals have a way of making us scratch our heads or laugh. This collection of images showcases some of those moments that I captured.
Click the photo to see the collection.
The Monarch of the Marsh: Getting to Know the Great Egret
If you've ever spent time near a wetland, salt marsh, or even a backyard pond, you have likely seen a tall, snow-white figure standing perfectly still in the shallows. With its sleek silhouette and piercing gaze, the GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba) looks less like a modern bird and more like a living piece of ancient art. But there is much more to this elegant wader than just good looks. From a devastating brush with extinction to their specialized hunting techniques, let’s dive into the fascinating world of the Great Egret.
The Great Egret is a snowy-white bird that can be found widespread, with four subspecies found in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Southern Europe. However, this was not always the case. In the late 19th century, this beautiful bird was hunted to the brink of extinction for its long, white mating plumes, which were used as decorations for women's hats.
In 1886, George Bird Grinnell, editor of Forest and Stream magazine, initiated the first Audubon Society in 1886. He named the society after his teacher John James Audubon. The society was short-lived, but would soon be revived in 1896 as the Massachusetts Audubon Society by Harriet Hemenway and her cousin, Minna B. Hall. They created this society with the mission to end the plumage trade and protect wild birds.
If you look closely at a Great Egret during the spring breeding season, you will notice a stunning physical transformation. Aside from growing the famous lacy plumes, the bare patch of skin between their eyes and bill—called the lore—turns a vibrant, neon lime-green. It’s a temporary flash of color used to signal to potential mates that they are ready to settle down.
Egrets nest in large groups called rookeries or colonies, often sharing the trees with other herons and ibises. While they look incredibly peaceful from a distance, rookeries are actually noisy, chaotic neighborhoods filled with loud, harsh croaks and squawks.
So the next time that you are strolling through trails around wetlands and see this tall, wading white bird, remember that this beauty was once on the brink of extinction, and stop to admire its beauty rather than wear it.
.jpg)
"Elegance" - Great Egret, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida