Blazing Star Award | Reinier Munguia

Reinier has spent the last 20 years documenting wildlife and their struggles with still photography.

About Reinier Munguia

Reinier Munguia is a nature photographer and illustrator with a strong education and conservation vision. His work has appeared in several publications including textbooks and magazines. His passion for nature started at an early age, and was later reinforced while doing field research in college. This passion has taken him to become an advocate for causes related to the protection of species. Educating people about nature has become his most important goal. He reaches thousands of people every year through his nature presentations in schools and nature events and through his workshops.

For the past two years, he has worked as the president of the Lake Region Audubon Society, where he oversees not only the Chapter’s activities, but also the Street Audubon Nature Center in Winter Haven, FL. His main focus is on education and conservation, spending long hours preparing educational materials and teaching programs on wildlife and ecosystems and reaching more than 10,000 students a year. Additionally he provides more than 60 educational programs a year at different nature centers, including Lyonia Preserve, the Enchanted Forest and the Polk Nature Discovery Center, among others.

Reinier also designs interpretative signs for natural areas. See more of his work online at Wildstock Photography

For the past two years, he has been the Eagle Watch volunteer coordinator for Polk County, overseeing over 40 volunteers and more than 60 active nests. He’s always on call for wildlife emergencies in the Polk County area, providing rescue and transport services for various wildlife rehabilitation centers including the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey. Reinier also serves as advisory board member of the Florida Wildlife Rehabilitation Association where he acts as the organization’s webmaster and newsletter editor.

Reiner coordinates volunteers for Eagle Watch and participates in wildlife rescue and transport in the Polk County Area.

As a photographer, he has taught at national nature and photography events such as the Space Coast Birding Festival, The Big "O", and the First Coast Nature & Photo Fest, among others. Wanting to explore more of that natural world has led Reinier to lead photography & birding trips throughout the United States, as well as other countries including Costa Rica, Panama, Galapagos and Puerto Rico.

Reinier has spent the last 20 years documenting wildlife and their struggles with still photography, but has recently added filmmaking to his arsenal of educating material. He uses his talent to send a conservation message by means of captivating images and natural history footage.