The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is bursting with life.

But while most lenses are pointed toward bears and bison this summer, few photographers will notice the riot of color all around them. With more than 450 bird species in the region, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is one of the best kept secrets in bird photography.

In this article, we explore how modern wildlife photography is being transformed by AI-powered tools like Merlin Bird ID and iNaturalist. These apps don’t just help identify birds and other species—they deepen our connection to the field and sharpen our observational skills. From mistaking a chuck-will’s-widow for a common nighthawk to streamlining post-processing workflows, the piece highlights how these digital tools enhance both accuracy and storytelling.

Fieldcraft is the secret sauce of wildlife photography—the often invisible skillset that allows photographers to get close to wild animals without disturbing them. More than gear, more than autofocus settings or megapixels, it’s an understanding of animal behavior, habitat, and how to move through the natural world unnoticed that makes great images possible. In a landscape where most species fear humans for good reason, fieldcraft bridges the gap between observer and subject. Without it, even the best equipment can’t deliver the intimacy and authenticity that define powerful wildlife photography.

A week that began in the quiet stillness of the prairie potholes was quickly rewritten by storms, sending us west into the rugged badlands of North Dakota. From grebes rushing across glassy marshes to wild horses sparring on clay ridges, the workshop became a masterclass in adaptability. Wildlife photography, after all, is shaped by change—and success lies not in controlling nature, but in responding to it. What emerged was a journey defined not by the original plan, but by the beauty we found when we let the land lead.

Photographing the greater sage-grouse on its lek is among the most rewarding experiences in North American wildlife photography. It begins with days of scouting and preparation, followed by hours of silent stillness in a blind long before dawn. Each decision, from where to place your hide to how to approach in darkness, is guided by respect for one of the most sensitive rituals in the bird world. With care and patience, it’s possible to document a spectacle as ancient as the prairie itself - one that few ever see, and none ever forget.

Each winter, tens of thousands of redhead ducks gather off the Atlantic coast in vast, undulating flocks — a migration spectacle few ever witness. As spring returns, those same birds trace ancient flyways north to the prairie potholes of North Dakota, where their secretive nesting season begins.