Colin Franks Photography

Colin Franks Photography Photography (mostly birds) by Colin Franks In July of 2021, I was diagnosed with the most horrific disease imaginable - ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).

A death sentence. A month later, upon retesting at another more specialized clinic, I was told that it looks like the more rare form of Motor Neuron Disease known as PLS (Primary Lateral Sclerosis). ALS is the premature dying of the nerve cells known as "Motor Neurons" that we all have in the brain and spinal column, whereas PLS is the same thing, but involves the Motor Neurons in the brain only,

so is slower progressing. This "less worse" diagnosis requires about four years time to be certain of it being PLS rather than ALS, and I have made it to that point. While it is possible that PLS can still morph into ALS after that four year mark, my neurologist says that she would be surprised if that were to happen in my case. Fingers crossed. This diagnosis meant selling our beloved home, in favour of a wheelchair-friendly condo, and we made that move seven months after diagnosis. It also forced me to shut down my Sign business, after 28 years in operation. Huge changes. I've continued with my passion for bird photography to the best of my declining ability, but as the disease has indeed progressed, I now cannot take a step without a walker, and also use an electric wheelchair, so I am unable to get out into the rugged terrain like I used to. I can get to a few easy locations, and can photograph the odd bird off my deck, but that's about it. If you've got your health, you've got everything. Photos are available as prints, any size.

A Western Meadowlark fills the air with music. Imagine a world without birds.
06/03/2026

A Western Meadowlark fills the air with music. Imagine a world without birds.

Anna's Hummingbird.
06/02/2026

Anna's Hummingbird.

I saw this what I believe to be a Barred Owl off the deck the other day.Just kidding, a Great Gray Owl from my Alberta t...
06/01/2026

I saw this what I believe to be a Barred Owl off the deck the other day.
Just kidding, a Great Gray Owl from my Alberta trip three years ago.

A rather plain but still beautiful bird found right across North America is the American Pipit. Unfortunately, like man...
05/27/2026

A rather plain but still beautiful bird found right across North America is the American Pipit. Unfortunately, like many birds, their numbers are in steep decline thanks to human population and activity.

While it is easy to locate the Black-headed Grosbeak by their melodic, lilting song, it can be challenging to get a good...
05/26/2026

While it is easy to locate the Black-headed Grosbeak by their melodic, lilting song, it can be challenging to get a good photo of them, as they prefer to spend their time in dense foliage and trees. As he forages for worms, this male shows the orange-cinnamon breast and black head that the females lack, being more brownish overall.

A very different and unusual bird call heard off the deck the other day had me reach for my camera. It turned out to be...
05/25/2026

A very different and unusual bird call heard off the deck the other day had me reach for my camera. It turned out to be an Olive-sided Flycatcher! True to form, it departed the nearby perch a second before I was ready to push the shutter button, but it was mostly my fault as I am now very slow to move and get into place. Fortunately it perched on another treetop, but unfortunately much further away. Luckily I had the 2X extender on the camera, but the image still required some heavy cropping. Amazing to think that this bird just flew up from South America.

Marsh Wren. The secret life of these birds plays out mostly under the cover of reeds. Males routinely mate with two or...
05/21/2026

Marsh Wren. The secret life of these birds plays out mostly under the cover of reeds. Males routinely mate with two or more females and build at least six dummy nests for every female they mate with. They are tiny but fierce. They fight for resources and regularly pierce eggs and kill nestlings of other Marsh Wrens and other birds. Isn't nature beautiful?

The female Anna's Hummingbirds are still hard at work feeding their young. They will typically have 2-3 clutches per se...
05/20/2026

The female Anna's Hummingbirds are still hard at work feeding their young. They will typically have 2-3 clutches per season, which runs from Dec/Jan to May/June.

Another shot I never posted from my Alberta trip three years ago - a Wilson's Phalarope in flight.These birds travel all...
05/19/2026

Another shot I never posted from my Alberta trip three years ago - a Wilson's Phalarope in flight.
These birds travel all the way up from South America for the breeding season.
Unlike most birds, where the female has the predominant role in caring for young, female phalaropes desert their mates once they’ve laid eggs. While the male raises the young by himself, the female looks for other males to mate with.

Not the greatest shots, but a pair of Bald Eagles were perched at the top of a tall tree off my deck the other day. The...
05/17/2026

Not the greatest shots, but a pair of Bald Eagles were perched at the top of a tall tree off my deck the other day. They are not nesting there, it was just a pit stop. I'll post an additional image in the comments below.

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Victoria, BC

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https://www.instagram.com/colinfranksphotography/

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