Geoff Looney, a 78-year-old birdwatcher and photographer, captures images of a great egret at Lake Pamamaroo in Far West New South Wales. With 50 years of experience in the region, Looney has documented around 209 bird species. He attributes the diverse birdlife to the varying water levels in the Menindee Lake system, which includes both flooded areas and drying lakes.

In his latest birdwatching book, Looney emphasizes the significance of the natural drying cycle for migratory birds from Europe, Asia, and North America. He notes, "These species continue to visit Menindee, as they did before the construction of the Menindee Lakes Storage scheme in the 1960s." Looney spends two to three days a week observing birds and has a favorite spot for sunset photography.

"We're probably lucky to find a hundred of them [birds] here in a year. They've certainly dropped off to what they were, especially some of the small birds which are not sort of river-orientated," he said. Recently, he has spotted species he hadn't seen in years, including the red-capped robin and orange chats. He also mentioned the elusive brown quail, which he has managed to photograph in the past year.

Looney's passion for birdwatching began after he moved to the area at age 28, following a challenging childhood marked by a brain tumor diagnosis at age 12. Reflecting on his life, he stated, "I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. This is where my life sort of began." He transitioned from market gardening to leading fishing and birdwatching tours, contributing valuable data to the NSW Bird Atlassers.

Dick Cooper, treasurer of the NSW Bird Atlassers, praised Looney's contributions, stating, "He certainly made great strides in his knowledge over the years." Cooper highlighted the importance of regular data collection for conservation efforts, noting that it provides insights into long-term trends and seasonal changes.

Dan Schultz, a water justice researcher at the Australian National University, described Looney as a pioneer in citizen science. Schultz first met Looney during a severe drought in the region, following significant fish kills in 2018-2019. "When I first met him, I could immediately recognize his passion for the area," Schultz said. He emphasized the ecological importance of the Menindee Lakes, which serve as more than just a water storage system.

Looney's third edition of his local bird guide was released last year, featuring photographs and accessible information for researchers and bird enthusiasts.

In addition to his birdwatching, Looney created a Facebook page nearly ten years ago to share his photography and insights about the lakes. The page, titled Menindee NSW Outback Photography by Geoff Looney, gained nearly 33,000 followers but was hacked earlier this year.

"It's been devastating because I really loved what I was doing with putting pictures up," he said. Since the hack, Looney's photography output has decreased significantly, from 400-500 photos a month to just 20-30. Despite the setback, a friend helped him create a new page, Menindee NSW by Geoff Looney, where he is gradually rebuilding his audience.