Your Bio

Welcome to my Photography Gallery. My name is John Sterling and I have been an active birder in California since 1971 (I started young!). My professional career has included many years as a staff avian ecologist at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and as an environmental consultant in California. I am currently working on a book on the status and distribution of the birds of California along with my duties as the President of the Central Valley Bird Club and of Sterling Wildlife Biology--my new business. I hope you enjoy my photographs.

As an independent biologist, I offer the following services: birding classes, guiding, environmental consulting, biological research and surveys, as well as selling photographs and natural history books. You may contact me at jsterling@wavecable.com. See my homepage at http://www.sterlingbirds.com

Featured Galleries

Sterling's California Birds : My better shots of California birds in the new taxonomic order. Will be uploading new photos monthly.

Sterling's California Birds

My better shots of California birds in the new taxonomic order. Will b ...

Updated: Feb 07, 2013 7:18pm PST

Sterling's Philippine Birds : two weeks in Mindanao and near Manila, March 2012

Sterling's Philippine Birds

two weeks in Mindanao and near Manila, March 2012

Updated: Sep 05, 2012 10:41am PST

Sterling's Panama Birds : From tours in May 2012 and July 2011 at the Canopy Tower Lodge and Canopy Lodge

Sterling's Panama Birds

From tours in May 2012 and July 2011 at the Canopy Tower Lodge and Can ...

Updated: May 23, 2013 9:14am PST

Sterling's Recent Photos : highlights of recent photos of birds in California

Sterling's Recent Photos

highlights of recent photos of birds in California

Updated: May 19, 2013 9:44pm PST

Galleries

Eurasian Curlew in Argentina : First South American record that I found on 27 January 2010 and saw the following day, along with David Vander Pluym and Chet Ogan. Seen over the next weekend by Argentine birders. It was along the beach between the marina and Punta Rasa near San Clemente de Tuyo, east of Buenos Aires. We heard the curlew call but were unable to get close looks and better photographs due to the curlew's extremely wary behavior.

Eurasian Curlew in Argentina

First South American record that I found on 27 January 2010 and saw th ...

Updated: Feb 02, 2010 3:15pm PST

Sterling's California Pelagic Wildlife : Seabirds, Marine Mammals, and fish on the ocean off California

Sterling's California Pelagic Wildlife

Seabirds, Marine Mammals, and fish on the ocean off California

Updated: Sep 20, 2011 2:08pm PST

Sterling's California Birds : My better shots of California birds in the new taxonomic order. Will be uploading new photos monthly.

Sterling's California Birds

My better shots of California birds in the new taxonomic order. Will b ...

Updated: Feb 07, 2013 7:18pm PST

Sterling's California Dragonflies and Damselflies : My attempt to photograph every species in California.

Sterling's California Dragonflies and Damselflies

My attempt to photograph every species in California.

Updated: Oct 10, 2009 5:24pm PST

Sterling's Rare California Birds : photographs documenting rare birds in California

Sterling's Rare California Birds

photographs documenting rare birds in California

Updated: Apr 04, 2011 10:10pm PST

Framed Photos for Sale : Nicely framed, matted photos for sale. $75 for 8x10 or 8x8 and $150 for 11x14 plus shipping. Contact me directly at jsterling@wavecable.com for orders, questions or request for particular species images.

Framed Photos for Sale

Nicely framed, matted photos for sale. $75 for 8x10 or 8x8 and $150 f ...

Updated: Aug 02, 2010 8:01pm PST

Sterling's Yucatan Birds : Birds that I saw during a quick trip with my family in March 2007

Sterling's Yucatan Birds

Birds that I saw during a quick trip with my family in March 2007

Updated: Sep 12, 2009 2:44pm PST

Sterling's Mexican Butterflies :

Sterling's Mexican Butterflies

Updated: Sep 12, 2009 3:16pm PST

Sterling's Mexican Dragonflies :

Sterling's Mexican Dragonflies

Updated: Sep 12, 2009 3:38pm PST

Sterling's Thailand Birds : Trip in February 2006 with John Luther and Jim Lomax. My first attempts to photograph birds!

Sterling's Thailand Birds

Trip in February 2006 with John Luther and Jim Lomax. My first attemp ...

Updated: Sep 13, 2009 10:17am PST

Sterling's Thailand Butterflies :

Sterling's Thailand Butterflies

Updated: Sep 12, 2009 4:24pm PST

Sterling's Thailand Dragonflies :

Sterling's Thailand Dragonflies

Updated: Sep 12, 2009 4:38pm PST

Sterling's Arizona Butterflies :

Sterling's Arizona Butterflies

Updated: Sep 12, 2009 4:49pm PST

Sterling's Arizona Dragonflies :

Sterling's Arizona Dragonflies

Updated: Sep 12, 2009 5:13pm PST

Sterling's New Jersey Dragonflies :

Sterling's New Jersey Dragonflies

Updated: Sep 25, 2010 4:45pm PST

Sterling's California Butterflies :

Sterling's California Butterflies

Updated: Sep 12, 2009 6:23pm PST

Sterling's New Jersey Birds : Photos taken while scouting for the World Series of Birding in May 2007.

Sterling's New Jersey Birds

Photos taken while scouting for the World Series of Birding in May 200 ...

Updated: Sep 25, 2010 4:52pm PST

Sterling's Yucatan : colonial buildings, Mayan ruins, Mayan artefacts etc

Sterling's Yucatan

colonial buildings, Mayan ruins, Mayan artefacts etc

Updated: Feb 21, 2010 3:29pm PST

Sterling's Tierra del Fuego to Antarctica : 22 days in Ushuaia and boat trip to Falkland and South Georgia islands and the Antarctic Peninsula in January 2010

Sterling's Tierra del Fuego to Antarctica

22 days in Ushuaia and boat trip to Falkland and South Georgia islands ...

Updated: Feb 21, 2010 5:02pm PST

Sterling's Buenos Aires area Argentina : Five days in late January 2010, Entre Rios, Buenos Aires and San Clemente de Tuyo

Sterling's Buenos Aires area Argentina

Five days in late January 2010, Entre Rios, Buenos Aires and San Cleme ...

Updated: Feb 19, 2010 4:46pm PST

Sterling's Recent Photos : highlights of recent photos of birds in California

Sterling's Recent Photos

highlights of recent photos of birds in California

Updated: May 19, 2013 9:44pm PST

Waterfowl :

Waterfowl

Updated: Jun 04, 2010 11:54pm PST

Colombian Birds : Photographs from July 2010 trip to Cali, Colombia region

Colombian Birds

Photographs from July 2010 trip to Cali, Colombia region

Updated: Jul 18, 2010 10:32pm PST

Sumatra Birds : A few shots of birds during a week-long trip to Sumatra to survey birds on coffee plantations for the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.

Sumatra Birds

A few shots of birds during a week-long trip to Sumatra to survey bird ...

Updated: Mar 24, 2011 9:48pm PST

Western Specialty bird subspecies/species :

Western Specialty bird subspecies/species

Updated: Jun 28, 2011 12:59pm PST

Sterling's Panama Birds : From tours in May 2012 and July 2011 at the Canopy Tower Lodge and Canopy Lodge

Sterling's Panama Birds

From tours in May 2012 and July 2011 at the Canopy Tower Lodge and Can ...

Updated: May 23, 2013 9:14am PST

kauai : Family trip to Kauai for a week in Dec. 2011

kauai

Family trip to Kauai for a week in Dec. 2011

Updated: Dec 27, 2011 9:56pm PST

Sterling's Arizona Birds :

Sterling's Arizona Birds

Updated: Aug 24, 2011 9:13am PST

Sterling's Philippine Birds : two weeks in Mindanao and near Manila, March 2012

Sterling's Philippine Birds

two weeks in Mindanao and near Manila, March 2012

Updated: Sep 05, 2012 10:41am PST

Yosemite : Family Trip in early April 2013

Yosemite

Family Trip in early April 2013

Updated: Apr 08, 2013 3:13pm PST