*Click* sounds the shutter of a camera that is capturing an American Kestrel, a falcon which is most commonly found in North America, with anticipation, the photographer looks down at the screen of his camera, and lets out a sigh of relief. This was the exact scenario sophomore Logan Headings experienced when he captured one of his favorite photos he has taken.

headings’ interest in animals originates from a young age. While he expresses an admiration for all species, he is especially fond

Heading’s interest in animals originates from a young age. While he expresses an admiration for all species, he is especially fond of birds.

“I’ve liked animals since I was about three years old,” Headings said. “I started drawing pictures of animals when I was really young, and it’s just been a growing passion since then.”

As a result of his interest in birds and animals spanning so many years of his life, Heading has a fairly expansive encyclopedia of bird species built into his head.

“Most of the time I can recognize what kind of bird it is when I photograph it because I know a lot of different species of birds. There are times when I don’t know what it is though,” Headings said. “When that happens I go to the app on my phone called ‘Merlin’ by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology where you can put in a photo of a bird, and it can identify any bird for you.”

It’s thought that there are roughly 10,000 different species of birds in the entire world, but there are significantly less in the United States. Headings has about 700 species that he has downloaded that Merlin can recognize.

“In the United States there’s around 1,000 different kind of species. In Kansas, alone, there’s around 400, and I’ve photographed 140,” Headings said.

Although Headings has only been taking part in his photography hobby since June 2017, he has already placed in a local photography contest.

“I won fifth place in the Newton photo competition in 2017. I was allowed to enter three photos that had to be taken anywhere in Newton or North Newton,” Headings said. “My photo of a Robin Fledgling won fifth place and was featured in the 2018 Newton Chamber of Commerce Calendar.”

Headings has chosen a few select locations in which he finds he takes his most successful photos.

“I go to the Kauffman Museum trails, Camp Hawk, West Lake, and East Lake, Lindsborg near my grandma’s house,” Headings said.

Even though Headings currently only partakes in photography for the fun, he believes it could be more sustaining as a career in the future.

“Right now it’s just a hobby, although in the future I could have some sort of photography career, like selling photos, or working with National Geographic,” Headings said.

Headings has a website that he uses as both a place for people to view his photos, and as an archive for the photos he has previously taken.

“It’s called ‘The Daily Robin,’ it’s a wix website, so you need the link to access it. But I also I have a Facebook page and YouTube channel under the same name.” Headings said. “I upload these photos because someday I would like to make an app, that is ran through my websites, that does the same thing Merlin [aforementioned] does. I want it to be able to analyze a photo of any known bird, and it can identify it, that way there is more easily accessible knowledge. Alongside identifying the birds, I also want it to contain some facts and information on the bird, respectively.”

See Headings’ blog, where he posts his photos, here