For wildlife photographer Paul Bannick, a bird’s eye is more than the “window to its soul,” it’s a window to an entire ecosystem.

Bannick specializes in capturing striking photos of birds in their native habitats, with the goal of increasing awareness of those habitats and the dangers that threaten them.

“Raising awareness is my main goal,” he said in a recent phone interview. “I want people to care and connect. That’s why I always photograph a bird’s eye — I want them to see the eye, the light in that eye, and to connect to that eye.”

Bannick presents a slide show of his bird photography Oct. 19 on Bainbridge Island as a benefit for the Yeomalt Cabin Restoration Project.

Bannick is a fourth-generation Seattle-ite whose career path has taken him from the high tech industry to protecting the environment.

After working for 15 years in the computer software industry his passion for wilderness conservation led him to a job as Director of Development at the non-profit organization Conservation Northwest. In addition to that position, he presents slideshows of his bird photography to interested community groups.

He is particularly interested in cavity-nesting birds such as woodpeckers and owls, because they are an “indicator” species, meaning the health of an ecosystem is reflected in the health of that species.

“They can show us how much diversity there is in the environment,” he said.

Probably the most well-known member of this group is the Northern spotted owl, whose listing as an endangered species in the 1980s resulted in severe logging restrictions in Northwest forests, after research proved they needed large tracts of old growth forest to survive.

Bannick’s work has been attracting national attention. He was the cover story of the Seattle Times’ Pacific Northwest magazine in July and will be featured in an upcoming issue of Sunset magazine.

In the Pacific Northwest magazine article Bannick told reporter William Deitrich, “For most of the threatened places in America, there’s an owl that can serve as ambassador.”

Bannick, 42, is an avid outdoors enthusiast who kayaks, hikes and showshoes — perfect ways to get close to his subjects. Capturing the shots that win prizes and tug at heart strings takes patience; getting up before dawn to catch birds at sunrise, waiting for hours for a bird to do something photogenic. He is rewarded for his efforts with rare shots such as a Williamson sapsucker removing a bad egg from its nest or a pileated woodpecker youngster awaiting the arrival of its mother.

The photographer is familiar with Bainbridge Island, as he worked for IslandWood founder Paul Brainerd at Aldus Corporation, which Brainerd also founded, and then at IslandWood.

Bannick declined to comment directly on any environmental issues on Bainbridge Island, saying he was not well-versed enough in them to offer an opinion, but he did say that all wildlife habitats need to be “connected and protected.”

Bannick also contributes to KPLU’s “Bird Note” program and his work has appeared in several books and magazines, at the Woodland Park Zoo and on interpretive park signs in California and Washington.

He presents his slide show 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Bainbridge Island Filipino American Community Hall, 7566 High School Rd. The suggested donation is $7 adults, $5 seniors and students.

The event is co-sponsored by Team Yeomalt, Kitsap Audubon Society and Bainbridge Island Photo Club, in cooperation with the Bainbridge Island Filipino American Community, the Land Trust and Bainbridge Island Metro Park and Recreation District as a benefit for the Yeomalt Cabin Fund, which is working to restore the historic Yeomalt cabin.