“I want my photographs to awaken the viewers to the beauty and fragility of nature and to encourage them to advocate for protection of the Earth."
PETER CAVANAGH is a scientist, author, and bird photographer who lives in the San Juan Islands of Washington State, USA. He was born, raised, and educated in England, receiving his doctorate in anatomy and biomechanics at the Royal Free Medical School of the University of London.
He is the recipient of the Muybridge Medal from the International Society of Biomechanics and the Borelli Award from the American Society of Biomechanics. He was awarded NASA’s Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest civilian honor given by NASA, for work that has contributed to an understanding of bone loss in astronauts during long-duration space flights. He is Past President of both the American and International Societies of Biomechanics, a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Penn State University, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington. He is a former Chairman of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute
Peter's migration to bird photography, and to becoming a student of bird flight mechanics, is a natural evolution of his life-long interest in photography, his study of flight aerodynamics as an instrument-rated private pilot, his professional training in the anatomy and biomechanics of locomotion using high-speed motion capture, and his passion for the nature and the outdoors. His images have been featured in the Audubon Society’s Top 100 Bird Photographs of the Year. Peter is a member of the American Birding Association, BirdLife International, the North American Nature Photography Association, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
His first book 100 Flying Birds (Firefly Books, 2021) received critical acclaim as “A marvelous, landmark contribution“, and “A must read for anyone who has ever marveled at a bird in flight”. One reviewer wrote: “Of the many dozens of bird books that I have read, skimmed, purchased or borrowed over 60 or so years, no one has inspired me more than Peter Cavanagh and his 100 Flying Birds”.
How Birds Fly (Firefly Books, 2024) has been called “A go-to for all readers interested in how birds fly” (Booklist.com), “As much a marvel as (flight)” (Scott Weidensaul), and “.…a masterpiece” (10000birds.com).
Peter feels most at home in wild places and has traveled widely to photograph birds on every continent. His work can also be found at on Instagram @petercavanaghbirds, and on Facebook at Peter Cavanagh Birds.
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