As any birder knows who has tried to photograph a bird in flight, it is not an easy task. Whidbey Audubon Society’s Nov. 11 meeting features photographer Peter Cavanagh, who presents some of the flight photographs that appear in his recent book, “100 Flying Birds: Photographing the Mechanics of Flight.”

He will recount stories behind the shots, the locations and anecdotes about the birds and their behavior. He will also focus on illuminating the mechanics of bird flight.

The meeting and program are free and open to the public on Thursday, Nov. 11 via Zoom. The room will open at 7 p.m. followed by a brief meeting at 7:15. The program begins at 7:30. Members will be sent a link via email. Non-members can register on Whidbey Audubon Society website, whidbeyaudubonsociety.org, see the events page. Registration will close at noon the day of the program.

Cavanagh is a resident of Lopez Island, Washington, who travels around the world to photograph birds in flight. He was raised and educated in the United Kingdom and had a long career in academia (Penn State, the Cleveland Clinic, University of Washington) studying the mechanics of human movement on earth and during spaceflight.

His interest in bird flight photography and flight mechanics developed naturally from his professional background and insights into aerodynamics gained during completion of an instrument rating as a private pilot.

His images have been included three times in the Audubon magazine’s “Top 100 Bird Photographs of the Year” by the Audubon Society. His book, “100 Flying Birds: Photographing the Mechanics of Flight,” is due to be released by publisher Firefly Books this fall.

Learn more about Peter Cavanagh on his website, petercavanagh.us and follow him on Instagram: @petercavanaghbirds.

Photo provided Lopez Island resident Peter Cavanagh.