About The Author

Hi, I’m Mike Piston, a photo hobbyist who enjoys taking pictures at Rockefeller State Park Preserve in Pleasantville, New York. I’ve been hiking through the park two to three times a week, weather permitting since my wife introduced me to Rockefeller State Park Preserve about 1.5 years ago. Typically, I hike 5 to 7 miles each trip, taking pictures along the way.

While hiking in March 2023, I came across a Pileated Woodpecker next to the path, perched on a tree, getting something to eat. Later on that trip, I saw a cardinal on a bush trying to find berries. I took some photos with my iPhone but decided to do more with my photography after that.

Initially, I used a Sony point-and-shoot camera with a 30x zoom lens. That worked “ok,” but focusing on birds was always challenging. Also, the small sensor in the camera didn’t deliver the quality I wanted. Now, I use a Sony a6700 camera with a Sigma 150mm to 600mm zoom lens, and I’m much happier with the results.

After collecting hundreds of photos of birds and scenery in the park, I created this website to share what I’ve learned taking pictures of birds for the last 1.5 years. Learning about birds and photography has been an interesting journey, with more than a few stumbles. Hopefully, you’ll find the posts and information in the blog helpful as you learn to take great pictures of birds.

Be sure to visit my other site, Birds of Rockefeller, to see pictures of the birds I’ve found in Rockefeller State Park Preserve.

Thanks for visiting!