New Minnesota bird atlas includes local photographers’ work
What began as an online bird atlas based on a multi-year field study across the state has become an over 600-page volume featuring photographs and information on more than 250 species of birds. Some of the photos in The Breeding Birds of Minnesota: History, ecology, and conservation are by the late local photographer David Brislance, and his son, Jean Brislance.
Jean told WTIP that the field study took place between 2009 and 2013, and relied on hundreds of volunteer bird watchers and citizen ornithologists. They contributed photos and notes for the atlas, which was compiled by the University of Minnesota Natural Resources Research Institute and Audubon Minnesota. David was a member of the Minnesota Ornithologists Union, and contributed to the original atlas project.
David died in 2018, but Jean has carried on his legacy of photographing birds, adding to his father’s achieves. When the University of Minnesota Press sought to publish a bound version of the atlas, they contacted Jean about David’s photographs from the original atlas. Jean not only assisted in compiling the original photos for the publisher, but ended up helping fill some of the remaining gaps they had with some photos of his own.
According to Jean, David contributed over 70 photos to the publication. This includes three of the four images featured on the cover. Jean ended up with six of his own photos in the book, as well. He said, “I got to be in the book with dad, so that was a really special thing.”
The book is big – not only is it over 600 pages, but it measures about 10 inches by 10 inches. Part coffee table book, part reference guide, it features countless photos of birds, but also detailed information on each species. Jean guessed that researchers will enjoy it, but that it is intended for all audiences.
For Jean, this culmination of years of field study efforts from ornithologists across the state is particularly personal. He said about his father’s work, “I’ve seen a lot of these photos so many times, and it always brings back memories. And there are certain times when I was with him, when he photographed some of those birds. So you know, it’s just, it’s very gratifying to see his pictures and see them in work such as this.”
WTIP’s CJ Heithoff spoke with photographer Jean Brislance about the book The Breeding Birds of Minnesota: History, ecology, and conservation. The book includes photos taken by him and by his father, David Brislance. Audio of that interview is below.
Kirsten Wisniewski May 9, 2024
