A woman on a mission to photograph every species of hummingbird
Recorded: Nov. 27, 2025, 1:02 a.m.
| Original | Summarized |
Meet the Woman on a Mission to Photograph Every Species of Hummingbird in the World | Audubon Skip to main content Menu Audubon Magazine Español Our Work Protecting Bird Habitats Coasts and Oceans Rivers, Lakes, and Wetlands Grasslands, Aridlands, and Forests Cities, Towns, and Parks Audubon Across the Hemisphere Bending the Bird Curve Climate Solutions Our Climate Strategy Birds and Clean Energy Natural Climate Solutions Restoration and Resiliency Policy and Advocacy Audubon Advocacy Climate Policy and Renewable Energy Our Science in Action Audubon Science Migratory Bird Initiative Birds and Climate Change Important Bird Areas Latest News Bird and Conservation News Press Room Why Birds? About Us Who We Are Our Mission Our History Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Leadership & Board of Directors Reports & Financials Find Audubon Near You Work With Us Where We Work States Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Florida Illinois Indiana Iowa Louisiana Maryland Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Nebraska New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Pennsylvania South Carolina South Dakota Texas Utah Vermont Washington Wisconsin Wyoming Americas Belize Bolivia Canada Chile Colombia Ecuador Mexico Panama Peru The Bahamas Explore Birds Bird Search & ID Visit Our Guide To North American Birds Download the Audubon Bird Guide App Get Into Birding Birding Hub How to Get Started Tips For Identifying Birds Birding Advice and Stories Frequently Asked Bird Questions Birding at Home Bird Feeding and Care Search for Native Plants Audubon Birdseed, Houses, and More Gear Guides Gear and Resources Binocular Guide Spotting Scope Guide Photography Bird Photography Hub Tips for Photographing Birds Camera and Equipment Advice Audubon Photography Awards Avian Art The Aviary The Audubon Mural Project John James Audubon's Birds of America The Sketch by Jason Polan The Birdsong Project Search for Birds in Your Area Get Involved Take Action Action Center Protect and Restore Bird Habitat in the Gulf Coast Save Irreplaceable Bird Science Programs Take Action to Protect Habitat for Birds and People Audubon Near You Audubon Near You Events Audubon on Campus Visit an Audubon Center Community Science Community Science at Audubon Christmas Bird Count Climate Watch Great Backyard Bird Count For Kids Audubon for Kids Audubon Adventures Audubon Nature Camps Find Ways to Get Involved Membership & Giving Membership Become a Member Renew Your Membership Gift a Membership Donate Donate Great Egret Society The Canopy In Memorial Gifts In Honor Gifts Matching Gifts Giving Other Assets Gifts of Appreciated Stock IRA Charitable Gifts Real Estate Gifts Legacy Gifts Donor Advised Funds Shop Audubon Marketplace Birdhouses and Feeders Bird Seed Calendars Puzzles, Games and DIY Kits More Ways to Give Near me Search Search Audubon Recent Popular Search Ways to Give Audubon Near You Native Plants Database Audubon App Search the site Near me Your Location Getting up nearby offices, centers, sanctures and chapters Change No Audubon locations nearby Nearest Centers and Sanctuaries Nearest Chapters State Office More Near You Donate Audubon Magazine Meet the Woman on a Mission to Photograph Every Species of Hummingbird in the World Photo: Courtesy of Carole Turek Share
By Nina Foster Published November 12, 2025 Seven years ago, anesthesiologist and budding photographer Carole Turek embarked on a seemingly impossible quest to photograph every hummingbird species in the world—all 366 of them. Now 75 years old and entering retirement, Turek has just 90 species left on her list. And what began as a personal obsession has garnered the attention and praise of researchers, conservationists, and legions of fans through her popular YouTube channel and website, Hummingbird Spot. Things really got out of hand when she eventually settled into her home in Studio City. There, her flowers and 16 feeders overlooked Laurel Canyon from a third-floor balcony, offering an irresistible buffet for every passing hummer. Depending on the season, she went through 50 to 90 pounds of sugar per week to keep the feeders brimming with homemade nectar, serving hundreds of hungry birds daily. Depending on the season, she went through 50 to 90 pounds of sugar per week to keep the feeders brimming with homemade nectar. Inspired by Cornell Lab of Ornithology bird cams and the social media accounts of wildlife photographers, Turek decided to share her spirited guests with the world. Shortly thereafter, Hummingbird Spot was born. She launched the YouTube channel in 2016 to livestream her Studio City feeders and purchased a professional camera, despite having no formal photography background. Each day, she practiced photographing the hummers on her balcony, learning to capture crisp visuals despite their constant movement. At first, “I only took pictures on the automatic setting,” she says. “I didn’t know anything about ISO or aperture. I grew up in the era of little box cameras that you bought at 7-Eleven.” A Partnership Takes Flight A conversation about the Marvelous Spatuletail, the subject of a David Attenborough-narrated video that Turek had watched “a hundred times over,” changed everything. Turek wanted to see the tiny bird with two especially lengthy tail feathers ending in disc-like “rackets,” and Orellana knew of a guide in Peru who could help. But Turek, then in her late 60s, was hesitant to travel by herself with people that she didn’t know. She felt safe and comfortable with Orellana—so much so that she asked him to accompany her. He readily agreed and became her regular travel companion, and is now a Hummingbird Spot employee as well as the owner of Beaks and Peaks. “I felt like I was training all my life to receive that request from her,” Orellana says. “Somewhere on that trip, it clicked: This is what I want to do. I want to photograph all of them.” Turek, who wears wide-frame glasses and an ever-present, infectious smile, has been documenting her adventures on the Hummingbird Spot channel and website ever since. Her photos and videos introduce new audiences, particularly those in the United States, to the diverse world of hummingbirds. So far, she has tracked down 276 species, including rare and elusive hummers that have required her and Orellana to trek through remote tropical jungles and climb cloud-veiled mountains. While photographing the Santa Marta Sabrewing, Turek learned of another species on the lost birds list—one awaiting rediscovery. John Mittermeier, director of the Search for Lost Birds at ABC, and Dan Lebbin, ABC’s Vice President of Threatened Species, were part of the team that joined Turek in Colombia. Upon discovering her ambitious quest to photograph every hummingbird species, they told her about the Vilcabamba Inca, a bird lost to science for almost six decades. Their encounter with the large, straight-billed hummingbird was fleeting—but it was enough to confirm the bird’s status as rediscovered. Turek was up for the challenge. In August 2024, flanked by dense vegetation and murky mist in the Vilcabamba Mountains of south-central Peru, she and Orellana captured the first-ever photographs and video of the Vilcabamba Inca. Their encounter with the large, straight-billed hummingbird was fleeting—but it was enough to confirm the bird’s status as rediscovered. Visit Birds Tell Us to Act on Climate page
Birds Tell Us to Act on Climate Pledge to stand with Audubon to call on elected officials to listen to science and work towards climate solutions. Sign the Pledge Audubon Discover Who We Are Our History Leadership & Board of Directors Notice of Annual Meeting Reports & Financials Audubon Action Fund Connect Work With Us Fellowships Press Room Contact Us Sign up for SMS updates Support Us Audubon Near You Audubon Products Donate Now Legacy Gifts Renew Membership Charity Navigator © 2025 National Audubon Society Legal Notices Privacy Policy Contact Us Join our mission Zip Phone (optional) By submitting my mobile number I agree to receive periodic text messages from Audubon at 42248 about how I can help birds. Reply STOP to any message to unsubscribe. Message & data rates may apply. Thank you for signing up! Great Egret. Photo: Melissa Groo/Audubon Photography Awards ¡Atención! La página que intenta visitar sólo está disponible en inglés. ¡Disculpa! The page you are about to visit is currently only available in English. Sorry! OK |
Meet the Woman on a Mission to Photograph Every Species of Hummingbird in the World | Audubon Carole Turek, an anesthesiologist turned passionate hummingbird photographer, embarked on a monumental task: documenting every species of hummingbird in the world. Driven by a childhood fascination sparked by pet parakeets and a serendipitous encounter with a hummingbird in Colorado, Turek’s dedication has resulted in the documentation of 276 hummingbird species, including several previously considered extinct. Her journey, chronicled through her popular YouTube channel and website, Hummingbird Spot, highlights the diversity and fragility of these remarkable birds, while raising awareness about conservation efforts and the challenges facing hummingbird populations across the Americas. Turek’s story began with a simple fascination—a flash of iridescence catching her attention while dining in a restaurant. This initial encounter fueled an obsession, leading her to create hummingbird feeders throughout her home and eventually, a global photographic mission. Her initial struggles with photography, marked by using automatic settings and a lack of formal training, quickly evolved as she honed her skills through countless hours of observation and practice. This evolution was significantly aided by her partnership with William Orellana, a tour company guide in Honduras who shared her passion for hummingbirds and provided invaluable guidance during her international expeditions. The formation of Hummingbird Spot was a natural progression of Turek’s personal journey. Recognizing the potential to share her observations and connect with a wider audience, she launched the YouTube channel in 2016. This channel served not only as a platform for her photography but also as a tool for educating and inspiring others to appreciate the complexity and beauty of the hummingbird family. Ultimately, her goal wasn’t just to photograph hummingbirds, but to contribute to avian conservation and inspire others to do the same. Throughout her mission, Turek’s dedication has been underscored by significant international collaborations. Her partnership with Orellana led to successful expeditions to Honduras and Peru, where she documented rare and elusive species, including the critically endangered Blue-bearded Helmetcrest in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains and, most recently, the Vilcabamba Inca in Peru. These encounters, often undertaken under challenging conditions—from frigid mountain heights to remote jungle terrain—demonstrate Turek’s remarkable perseverance and her willingness to push her boundaries in pursuit of her goals. Moreover, her collaborative efforts with organizations like the International Hummingbird Society and the American Bird Conservancy, as well as support from individuals within Search for Lost Birds, illustrate the power of collective action in addressing conservation challenges. As Turek approaches her 80th birthday, she continues to expand her photographic reach, adding bird cams in California, Peru, and Ecuador to her Hummingbird Spot offerings. Reflecting on her journey, Turek emphasizes that her mission is "what keeps me young," highlighting the profound sense of purpose and vitality that extends beyond her professional life. Her achievements serve as a potent reminder of the remarkable things that can be accomplished with passion, dedication, and a genuine appreciation for the natural world – an inspiration to all those seeking to contribute to the preservation of biodiversity. |