2025 Christmas and Holiday Markets on Vancouver Island

The holiday season is fast approaching and this year again I will be a vendor at several Christmas / holiday markets in Courtenay and Campbell River on Vancouver Island.

If you are looking for a unique gift and would like to support an artist, meet me at one of these markets. I will have beautiful nature prints and copies of my photo book Wild Vancouver Island.

• November 15, from 10 am to 4 pm, at the Campbell River Museum, part of the Campbell River Christmas Gift Tour.

• November 23, from 10 am to 5 pm, at the Crown Isle Christmas market.

• December 20 and 21, from 10 am to 5 pm, at the Filberg Centre in Courtenay. Hosted by Queneesh Indigenous Community Society. Entry by donation in cash or non-perishable food item.

Worldwide Shipping

If you can't make it to Courtenay or Campbell River, I ship worldwide. Simply order a book or print on this website before the holiday season rush. If you are not sure what to get, give them the choice with a gift card.

Entrevue à l'émission Panorama de Radio-Canada

J'ai récemment eu le plaisir de parler avec Grégory Bernard à l'émission radio Panorama de Radio-Canada. J'ai partagé mes impressions lors de ma rencontre avec un oiseau rare en Colombie-Britannique qui s'appelle le colin de Virginie. Nous avons également discuté de mon travail de photographe animalière.

C'est toujours un grand plaisir et un honneur d'être en entrevue avec Grégory Bernard. Vous pouvez écouter l'entrevue ici.

Colin de Virginie (mâle).

Colin de Virginie (femelle).

No tax on the photo book Wild Vancouver Island!

Starting December 14, 2024 and until February 14, 2025, there is no tax (GST) on the beautiful photo book Wild Vancouver Island.

Wild Vancouver Island reveals the beauty of the landscape and wild animals on Vancouver Island through the lens of nature photographer Catherine Babault. This book is a celebration of the extraordinary diversity of species that inhabit this region such as the coastal black bear, sea otter, humpback whale, marmot, elk, and several other mammals and birds. Wild Vancouver Island is a book for gifting, perhaps as a reminder of the beauty of nature.

Order your copy today!

Interview on Global TV News with Jennifer Palma

On December 1st, 2024, I had the honour to talk with Jennifer Palma on Global TV News about my book Wild Vancouver Island. I am grateful for this opportunity to share my passion for nature and wildlife photography. To me being a wildlife photographer means learning as much as I can about each species that I have the privilege to photograph. In addition, it is essential for me to keep a safe distance from wildlife, respect their environment and avoid disturbing them.

You can watch the interview here.

Northern Bobwhite, Colin de Virginie, Colinus virginianus

In the summer of 2023 as I was processing photos in my home office, I heard an unusual call coming from outside. I was curious to find out what it was so I grabbed my camera and went looking for that mysterious bird. Running under the cover of thick bushes was a family of Northern Bobwhites. The adult male and female were trying to keep control of their brood by calling them but the young bobwhites were more interested in exploring their environment than listening to the adults.

This summer, I heard them again. They must have survived the winter and I wondered where they were coming from. The Northern Bobwhite is a non-migratory species that are only known from Walpole Island First Nation in southwestern Ontario and in eastern US. Introduction attempts in British Columbia decades ago were unsuccessful. The species is listed as endangered in Canada.

My sightings of this rare bird made the front page of the Victoria Times Colonist. I also had the honour to talk on the radio program Panorama on Radio-Canada and Vista Radio.

Male Northern Bobwhite

Female Northern Bobwhite

Entrevue à la radio de Radio-Canada

Le 7 septembre, j’ai eu le plaisir d’être interviewée par Isabelle Craig, à l’émission Lève-tôt de Radio-Canada diffusée à Montréal.

J’ai parlé des animaux que je photographie lors de la montaison du saumon à la fin de l’été sur l’île de Vancouver, de la recherche sur les espèces que j’effectue en amont et de ma préparation avant de me rendre dans des endroits isolés.

J’ai également présenté mes nouveaux tours en groupe qui s’adressent uniquement aux femmes et nous avons parlé de mes deux derniers livres.

Je vous invite à écouter l’entrevue ici.

Grizzlies meet a herd of Roosevelt elk on Vancouver Island

During a solo trip in the field, I was surprised to find a grizzly bear sow and her two cubs grazing in a meadow. Grizzly bear sightings are rare on Vancouver Island. We usually see only one grizzly that swam from mainland to enjoy the bounties of the island in the spring and summer. It is believed that they then swim back to mainland.

I was concerned for the herd of Roosevelt elk that graze in the area so I went back a few more times to check on them. One morning, at sunrise, I saw the herd of elk with three calves casually walking towards the grizzlies. What happened next surprised me.

Note that I used a telephoto lens to record this moment, I kept a safe distance, and that I don’t disclose the location of sensitive species and areas.

Earth Day - Jour de la Terre

I had the honour to talk with Lyne Barnabé, Art reporter at Radio-Canada, for Earth Day. As you already know, I promote ethics in nature photography and her article details my approach in that regard. Whether we photograph nature and wildlife at home or abroad, it is important to respect wild animals and their habitat: keep a safe distance, use a telephoto lens, do not disturb their activities, never feed wildlife, do not call them or destroy their habitat to get a better photo. I encourage you to read Lyne Barnabé’s article (in French) and check the photos.

J’ai eu l’honneur de parler avec Lyne Barnabé, journaliste culturelle à Radio-Canada, pour le Jour de la Terre. Comme vous le savez déjà, je promeus l’éthique en photographie naturaliste et son article détaille bien mon approche. Que nous photographions la nature et la faune à la maison ou à l’étranger, il est important de respecter les animaux sauvages et leur habitat : garder une distance sécuritaire, utiliser un téléobjectif, ne pas déranger leurs activités, ne jamais les nourrir, ne pas les appeller our détruire leur habitat afin d’obtenir une meilleure photo. Je vous invite à lire l’article de Lyne Barnabé et regarder les photos.