Gambal’s Quail. Photo Creds: Silas Powell
Abbi Clark, Staff Writer to The Powderhorn
It would be hard to picture a life without birds, from morning chirps to nightly hoots, days are filled with the lively melody of our feathered buddies. Though birds are a part of all of our lives, their loveliness and sweet songs are overlooked by many. On the other hand Silas Powell, junior, finds comfort in all things birds. From bird watching to photography, Silas has found a love for capturing snapshots of the feathery creatures.
“I like the thought that they’re everywhere in the world no matter the weather, you can always go outside and find birds, there's sort of a comfort to that,” said Powell. “There's also just a fun aspect of trying to see how many you can see in a day or in a year.”
Many kids go through various hobbies and interests before finding something that they are truly drawn to, but from a young age Powell knew he was interested in studying birds.
“I grew up in Florida and I was constantly surrounded by birds and nature, and I always had a passion for things that flew,” said Powell, “I grew up close to Kennedy Space Center so I really like rockets and planes and dinosaurs, and that sort of just morphed into birds and stuck.”
When asked if he had a favorite bird, Powell couldn’t choose from the many, because he enjoys all the unique qualities of each type. However, certain birds hold a sentimental value because of the fond memories he associates with them.
“The osprey is this big fish eating raptor, it's one of the first birds I remember seeing in Florida,” said Powell. “You can see them here but they’re really common around the beach so that reminds me of living in Florida.”
“Hummingbirds are really meaningful to me because they remind me of spring. There's so many of them and they’re really pretty,” said Powell.
Powell discovered his love for photography while studying birds. From then, he has had lots of time to perfect his craft in photography and find what works best for him during his search for birds.
“I always like to shoot in the mornings and evenings when the sun is rising and setting, that's always the best light,” said Powell, “In the mornings the birds are always singing so it's a lot easier to find them, but you can really find and photograph any time of day.”
Golden Crowned Kinglet. Photo Creds: Silas Powell
Powell has an exceptional appreciation for birds and is always willing to share his passion with others. His wish is for others to also find joy and tranquility observing birds.
“There are a lot of cool moments that would benefit a lot of people,” said Powell. “I’ve also got friends who are into birds, and I lead bird tours at Valle Crucis. I get to share the moments of seeing a cool bird or if something cool happened with a bunch of people and that's always really special to see.”
Northern Parula. Photo Creds: Silas Powell
From childhood to young adulthood Powell continues to develop his passion for ornithology, and seeks to broaden his knowledge in the world of chirps and song.
“If I need to clear my mind or I’ve got freetime on my hands I can go outside and look at birds, take pictures and just sort of feel at peace,” said Powell.
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