Bird Photography Workshop at St. Augustine

Master Bird Photography at America’s Most Accessible Wild Rookery

Join Wildlife with Ronen for an extraordinary bird photography workshop in historic St. Augustine, Florida, home to one of the most remarkable and photographer-friendly bird rookeries in North America. This photography workshop combines hands-on field instruction with proven techniques refined through decades of professional photography experience.

Why St. Augustine for Bird Photography?

St. Augustine offers great opportunities for bird photographers, featuring the world-renowned St. Augustine Alligator Farm rookery, where wild birds nest just feet from elevated boardwalks, protected by resident alligators from ground predators. This unique ecosystem allows for intimate portraits and behavioral photography impossible at most locations.

Prime locations include:

• St. Augustine Alligator Farm – The crown jewel featuring nesting Roseate Spoonbills, Wood Storks, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, and Tricolored Herons

• Anastasia State Park – Home to 195 identified species across diverse coastal habitats

• Guana Tolomato Matanzas Research Reserve – Over 200 species including spectacular fall Peregrine Falcon migration

What You’ll Photograph

Iconic Florida Species:

• Roseate Spoonbills displaying their vibrant pink breeding plumage

• Wood Storks – North America’s only native stork species

• Great Blue Herons, Little Blue Herons, and Tricolored Herons in natural hunting poses

• Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets performing elaborate breeding displays

• Black Skimmers demonstrating their precision surface feeding technique

• Least Terns engaged in courtship and active nesting behavior

• Ospreys capturing dramatic fishing action sequences

Workshop Highlights

Professional Instruction: Learn from award-winning photojournalist and Royal Photographic Society Fellow Ronen Tivony, whose work appears in The New York Times, BBC, TIME, and The Smithsonian.

Technical Mastery:

• Optimal camera settings specifically for bird photography

• Advanced autofocus techniques for capturing birds in flight

• Exposure strategies for challenging lighting conditions

• Long lens techniques and effective stabilization methods

Field Experience:

• Early morning access to prime locations before crowds arrive

• Behavioral photography during peak nesting season from March through June

• Flight photography techniques 

• Composition strategies for creating compelling bird portraits

Peak Season from March to July: Witness active nesting, elaborate courtship displays, and intensive feeding behaviors. The Alligator Farm rookery reaches maximum activity during this period, with birds completely habituated to photographers on the elevated boardwalks.

Perfect for All Skill Levels

Whether you’re beginning your bird photography journey or seeking to refine advanced techniques, this workshop provides structured learning in one of America’s most productive birding destinations.