Wings of Wonder: Audubon Exhibit

Audubon Society Photography Exhibit On Display At Library

Bay County, FL– Bay County Audubon Society is showcasing dozens of stunning photographs of birds in their natural habitats at the Bay County Public Library throughout April & May 2024. Bay County Audubon Society photographers include Donna Cronwell, Chris Heineman, Ron Houser, Bonnie Brant, Gail Casteel, Earl Henderson, Arnold Huyghebaet, Brian Dusseault, Neil Lamb and Teresa Floore. The exhibit has been organized by Donna Cronwell and is on view during open library hours: Monday – Wednesday (9 a.m. – 7 p.m.), Thursday – Saturday (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.). It is free and open to the public.

The bird photographs displayed are by members and friends of the Bay County Audubon Society. The birds include ones that are found locally, within the United States, and in exotic travel destinations like Costa Rica or Panama. The exhibit goal is to inspire you to take a closer look at some of the small and large feathered creatures in your own backyard or as you stroll along our beautiful beaches. If you are interested in birds or learning more about them, you are invited to join your local Audubon Chapter. Bay County Audubon Society hosts monthly meetings held at the St. Andrews Episcopal Church on the second Monday of each month from September to May and organizes birding field trips. For more information, check out their website at https://baycountyaudubon.org.

Donna Cronwell is a local architect and is infatuated with photographing birds. She was born in and grew up in Panama City. She left Panama City to attend architecture school at the University of Florida and between school, work, and marriage, her and her family were in central Florida for 19 years before moving back to Panama City 23 years ago. During that time, she has become obsessed with shooting birds with her camera and a long lens. Although Donna bought her first camera (film) in 1982 right before leaving for college, she started seriously photographing birds after she bought her first digital camera in 2005. Although she considers herself a novice birder and amateur photographer, she loves to see and photograph a “lifer”, which is a bird that she has never personally seen before. Donna enjoys traveling to photograph birds, but she also loves the bird life found right here in and around Bay County and on our beautiful beaches and in our state parks. Donna joined the local Bay County Audubon Society five years ago to improve her birding identification skills and has participated in the National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count for twelve years. She is grateful for all the other birders and photographers who have helped her become better at what she loves. Donna hopes that others will enjoy her bird photos and that they will encourage people take a better look at all the beauty that is around us each day that they might not otherwise take time to notice. 

The Bay County Public Library is located at 898 W. 11th Street, Panama City. For more information about the art exhibits and library programming, call 850-522-2100 or visit www.nwrls.com.