Burrowing owl standing between two rocks in soft blue light, Waterville Plateau, Washington.
Sandhill cranes flying over the hills with the moon overhead.
Bald eagle flying with a fish near Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada.
A Hawaiin stilt standing in the golden hour sun gazing off into the distance in Maui, Hawaii.
A flock of sandhill cranes flying about the trees with a pink and blue sky.
Group of plains bison, including a calf, walking through grassland at the CSKT Bison Range in Montana.
Cow moose standing in meadow habitat at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge near Spokane, Washington.
Desiree Hildenbrand sitting on the ground holding a camera.

HI! I am Desiree, and I am so glad you are here.

I’m Desiree Hildenbrand, a wildlife photography learner and workshop enthusiast. Photography is my pause button — a way to slow down, look closely, and appreciate the quiet moments nature offers.

I’m here to learn, share, and grow through photography, and to connect with others who enjoy taking their time and paying attention along the way. This space reflects my ongoing journey, shaped by workshops, time in the field, and small observations that influence how I see and photograph the world.

You’ll find images, field notes, and reflections here, shared openly as part of the learning process — not as finished statements, but as moments noticed along the way.

About me

Discover My Work

MY WILDLIFE CHRONICLES is a portfolio of moments observed through my viewfinder rather than a notebook. The images focus on quiet portraits, brief glimpses of animal behavior, and wider scenes shaped by season, light, weather, and place.

The work emphasizes observation over spectacle, allowing each photograph to stand on its own and leaving space for viewers to form their own connections. The portfolio is organized as a set of focused collections, each reflecting a different way of paying attention to the natural world.

Explore My Portfolio
Grizzly bear mom and two cubs walking by the river in the toba inlet, bc.

Latest From the Journal

Join me as I share what I’m learning through workshop reviews and personal reflections.

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Sandhill Cranes – West Richland, Washington
Sandhill Cranes – West Richland, Washington
Upcoming Workshops I’m Attending (2026–2027)
Upcoming Workshops I’m Attending (2026–2027)
Bald Eagle Workshop Review with Travis Layton (Trav in the Bush)
Bald Eagle Workshop Review with Travis Layton (Trav in the Bush)
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Join my journey on Instagram - @mywildlifechronicles

During migration, sandhill cranes gather in large flocks, but they don’t move as a single mass. Within those flocks are smaller family units that stay together through the season, parents and offspring traveling side by side among many others.
Red‑necked grebes are seasonally monogamous, but during that time their bond is strong. Pairs work closely together to build their nest and actively defend their territory. As part of the courtship process, males bring vegetation to potential mates.
Sandhill cranes have been moving through landscapes like this for millions of years. Fossil records place their lineage at least 2.5 million years ago, with remarkably little change in their physical form or seasonal movement patterns. Along the Pac
Each spring, sandhill cranes pass through West Richland, Washington, using the open fields and nearby water to rest and refuel. They pause here briefly on their northbound migration, moving between wintering grounds farther south and breeding areas t
Red‑tailed hawks thrive year‑round in the Inland Northwest because this landscape fits them so well. Open shrub‑steppe, agricultural edges, and scattered snags provide wide hunting views and dependable prey, even through winter. We watched this guy
Lately, I’ve been spending some time looking back through photos from when I first started wildlife photography last year. As I was scrolling, I came across this image, a bluebird perched quietly in its environment, a photograph I had more or l