Award-winning nature photographer coming to PSC

Michael Forsberg is an accomplished photographer, conservationist, author, and filmmaker who has been perfecting his craft for 30 years. He is a Nebraskan and has many journeys and stories throughout the Great Plains.

Peru State College and the PSC Foundation will be hosting Forsberg Thursday, September 3, in the college’s Performing Arts Center. The event will be free and open to the public. The event will begin at 7:00 p.m. Sign up at: https://alumni.peru.edu/e/michael-forsberg-2026-event. You may also call or email the PSC Foundation at 402-872-2304 or pscfoundation@peru.edu to register, or scan the QR code included with this article.

Forsberg has authored books including “On Ancient Wings – The Sandhill Cranes of North America” in 2005, “America’s Lingering Wild” in 2009, and “Into Whooperland – A Photographer’s Journey with Whooping Cranes” in 2024.

He participated in two documentaries: “Crane Song” by Nebraska Public Media in 2007, and “Great Plains – America’s Lingering Wild,” a PBS film released in 2013, based on his book.

Forsberg’s most recent work is titled “Pedaling the Whooper Highway.” Starting in the southeast corner of Texas, he set out to bike across the entire United States and finish in Saskatchewan, Canada. This two-month journey was inspired by the Whooping Crane migration path to better understand the birds’ habitat preferences and to preserve the species for generations to come.

Among Forsberg’s awards and honors for his work are: Highly Commended, BBC International Wildlife Photographer of the Year (2003); Great Plains, Gold Medal, Best Regional Non-Fiction, Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPYs, 2010); Nebraska Master Naturalist (2016); and Into Whooperland, Silver Medal, Nature Category, National Outdoor Book Award (2025).

Forsberg’s work is guided by a keen sense of responsibility toward the environment. He said, “I feel we are blessed to be stewards of this planet, but in many cases, we have forgotten that with this privilege comes responsibility. Photography can be a powerful witness to our shortcomings, but also to show that beauty and hope still exist in the natural world.”