AUTHOR OF HALCYON JOURNEY: IN SEARCH OF THE BELTED KINGFISHER: WINNER OF THE 2024 JOHN BURROUGHS MEDAL
I am the author of Halcyon Journey, In Search of the Belted Kingfisher, winner of the 2024 John Burroughs Medal for distinguished natural history writing, a 2022 National Outdoor Book Award and a 2022 Foreword Indies Award. A nature writer and environmental activist living in Bend, Oregon, I write a bi-monthly blog, magazine articles, interpretive panels, blogs, media, reports, opinion pieces, essays, and poetry. I also give talks and teach nature writing workshops. My focus is on finding kinship with nature and protecting wildlands and waters.
My articles, essays, blogs, and poems have appeared in National Wildlife, Audubon, Birding, Birdwatching, A.T. Journeys, Post Road Magazine, Montana Naturalist, Think Journal, Vision and Research View (University of Montana), Center for Humans and Nature, Lothlorien, Panorama, Humans of the World, and Tiny Seed Literary Journal. I have essays in two book collections: Field Notes from the Montana Natural History Center; Placed, An Encyclopedia of Central Oregon; and a poem in Central Oregon Writers Guild 2023 Literary Collection. My two children’s books are Bird Feats and Bug Feats. I earned a master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Montana and an undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Oregon. I serve on the Board of Directors for the Greater Hells Canyon Council.
Growing up in a National Park Service family with a bird-loving father influenced my passion for protecting wildlife and wild places. Through prose and poetry, I seek to bridge the divide separating people from nature. I gain inspiration and humility from observing the intricacy of wild animal lives. I’m particularly drawn to kingfishers, free-flowing rivers, ancient forests, waterfalls, alpine wildflowers, rocky coasts, and roadless areas. A hiker, backpacker, and birder, I also tend a pollinator and bird-friendly yard. I’m currently writing a series of essays for Oregon Wild’s 50th anniversary, serving as the Greater Hells Canyon Council’s 2023-2025 Artist-in-Residence with watercolor artist Robin Coen, and working on a new book.
Please subscribe to my bi-monthly blog on Kingfisher Journey (this website) at http://www.marinarichie.com
Instagram: marinarichie1
Facebook: MarinaWRichie
Recent Highlights (See my News & Calendar for the latest).
February 2024: I’m thrilled, humbled, and honored to be the 2024 recipient of the John Burroughs Medal for distinguished nature writing in book form for Halcyon Journey, In Search of the Belted Kingfisher.
October 2023: I am delighted to team up with watercolor artist Robin Coen in a project titled “Refugia of the Blue Mountains” as part of the new Wild Blues Artist in Residence program of the Greater Hells Canyon Council.
Robin’s lively sensory paintings remind me of why I write. I’m moved to act on behalf of the last remaining wild places and our threatened wildlife. I strive to connect people from all walks of life to the natural world—to be curious, to practice the art of keen observation, to find the peace of wild things, and to be inspired to speak up on behalf of all who speak in the languages of kingfisher, beaver, pika, marten, wolverine, salmon, and hummingbird.
August 29, 2023: The article I wrote for Birdwatching on Nina Ferrari climbing towering trees and studying birds in the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest came out this month: Treasures in the Canopy. However, a new company bought the magazine and the owners promptly fired the staff, and ended this important magazine. My piece had long been scheduled, but the last issue where it appears digitally only is the result of a makeshift fill-in staff without experience. While my text is intact, some of the photos and captions are problematic. The good news is that the former editor Matt Mendenhall has moved on to edit American Birding Conservancy’s magazine. They are lucky to have one of my favorite editors and a strong voice for birds and habitats in trouble.
As I post this update, the Lookout Fire burns through the ancient forests of the Andrews. Here’s to their resilience. I try to remember wildfire is a natural force of renewal, yet it’s hard right now when I’ve come to know individual trees as friends and I think of salamanders on mossy nurse logs where Pacific wrens sing arias to the tune of trickling springs.
My heart is with all the researchers and graduate students conducting long-term studies that are critical to our knowledge of old-growth forests and biodiversity. I’m grateful to the firefighters for keeping local communities safe and even going the extra mile to help protect vital research sites. For my blogs on the Andrews Forest, please see: What do Birds Ask of Us? and Tall Tree Climb.
My book is a winner of a 2022 Foreword Indies Award (taking a Silver in the Nature Category). “Thousands of books are entered each year, and over 100 librarians and booksellers take part in the judging process, narrowing down a group of finalists in 55 categories to Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners that truly represent the best in independent publishing.” (Foreword Indies Award).
Five of my poems appear in the Lothlorien Poetry Journal.
The Journal Panorama published an excerpt from my book that I shortened and introduced to fit the theme of “space.”
Please see Halcyon Journey Book News for a calendar of readings, presentations, and all things related to the book, plus links to other published writing.
Kingfisher Journey- Marina Richie 