WorldBirdPhotos web site is owned and maintained by Peter W. Hills an amateur photographer with a passion for building a collection of bird photographs worldwide that is free to any ornithologist or enthusiast. Peter grew up in the former British Protectorate of Northern Rhodesia now Zambia. His interest in birds was encouraged when his Primary School Headmaster showed him and his lifelong friend, David Bromfield, the book ‘Roberts Birds of Southern Africa’; Peter still has the 1958 edition. Dave is Peter’s “bird guru” and they continue to spend many happy days birding around Southern Africa. Peter started photography at the age of 10 with a Brownie; in 1963 his first 35mm camera was a Halina but then by 2002 bird photography became viable with the launch of the digital SLR camera. He has since standardised on Nikon. This web site was launched in 2015 and by 2021 has had 1.6 million hits.
Peter trained as an instrumentation engineer in the Zambian copper mining industry; later he developed a range of scientific and technical services. By 1984 he was head hunted to the UK when he subsequently worked around the world while undertaking an Honours degree and then MBA. Come 2004 Peter & Sandy relocated to Mumbai India to turn-around an ailing industrial electronics company. With the job done by late 2013 they returned to the UK and now follow the sun spending time in London and Cape Town but do birding wherever it takes them.
Peter’s photos have been used in bird books, company calendars and publicity material for Bombay Natural History Society etc. Other organisations using his photos include: The International Crane Foundation, Arkive of Bristol UK, Suara Enggang of the Malaysian Nature Society & Bird Conservation Council, Mr. Cuturilov Srdjan Ornithologist and Collector in Serbia, the Agricultural Agency USA Government, Wetlands International & BirdLife International, Cape Bird Club newsletters, Dr. Rob Little of Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology at the University of Cape Town, South Africa book ‘Terrestrial Gamebirds & Snipes of Africa‘. The 24April-25May 2017 BIG ISSUE of South Africa published Peter’s profile and 12 bird photos that were given freely to this charity. His photos feature in the Africa Bird Club Apps for Mauritius and Nigeria more under development. Also Birds of Zambia. The book Oceanic Birds of the World by Kirk Zufelt as well as Princeton guide to the Birds of East Africa – Adam Scott Kennedy, The Ecology & Environment Magazine of Israel. Published in 2020 by Princeton University Press To Read A Bird Understanding Bird Behaviour, by Dr. Wenfei Tong’s. The Natural History Museum of London has selected Peter’s rare photo of a Tailor Bird in Nest for their archive.
We support the following clubs and societies: Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), RSPB Royal Society of Protection of Birds UK, London Wetland Centre, African Bird Club, The Cape Bird Club & Bird Life South Africa and the International Crane Foundation USA