Welcome.

Hi, I'm Dustin.

I didn't plan to become a wildlife photographer and conservationist, but sometimes nature surprises you. It all started with a pair of ring-necked ducks on the lake by our home in suburban Boston. They were the first diving ducks I had ever noticed. Their arrival, like clockwork, every fall and spring sparked something in me. I began to wonder what else was out there.

Soon, I found myself tracking all the kinds of birds that came into our yard. But eventually, watching wasn't enough. I wanted to capture those moments. So I picked up a camera and started photographing all the birds and wildlife I saw around the small lake we call home. What began as a way to help me identify birds became a personal challenge: to document more species and take better photographs.

Over time, I realized that it was no longer just about capturing birds on film. I also wanted to support them. I learned about the plight of species like wood ducks, tree swallows, and bluebirds and how the increasing pressure to expand suburban areas was encroaching on their habitats. I learned how to build nest boxes and set them up around our lake and in the meadows abutting our neighborhood. That gave me the privilege of witnessing their lives up close.

The seasonal ritual of maintaining and monitoring the nest box program in our town connects me to the natural world in ways I never imagined. I've met new friends, bonded with my community, and advanced my photography and conservation skills along the way.

My photos on this website are all a piece of that journey. I'm proud to share these moments with you, and I hope they inspire you to look closer at nature and consider how you can connect with it. 

My wife, Lynn, has been with me every step of the way, encouraging me and helping me share my experiences with the world. Hike & Hearth has been a labor of love for us both, and we hope you enjoy what we've put together here - prints for your home, t-shirts to promote your love of birding, and a newsletter and podcast/vodcast where we share our insights and adventures. 

Thanks for exploring what we have to offer and (hopefully) signing up for our newsletter. See you on the trail, friends!