Viesturs Klimpiņš was best known as an outstanding bird photographer in the 1970s –1990s, but he was described by his colleagues as a good engineer as well, who helped to develop and master the assorted equipment that researchers used for bird studying experiments. Beginning his career in the Laboratory of Ornithology at the Institute of Biology, he spent the 1960s on duck research at Lake Engure, where in cooperation with ornithologist Georgs Lejiņš (1914–1994) a unique method of ringing one–day old duck chicks was created and adapted for some duck species. During this period V. Klimpiņš can be seen in photographs preparing equipment and various constructions, for example, his specially made can for measuring the volume of bird eggs. A lesser–known aspect of his work is filming his colleagues on bird research field work. For example, two of his documentary films on biotechnical measures to increase the number of nesting ducks on Lake Engure and on bird radio tracking techniques were screened and received special recognition at the 7th Baltic Ornithological Conference in Riga in 1970. For the next two decades (1970s–1980s), V.Klimpiņš spent time working at the Kalnāji Ornithology Station, where in 1974 a specially designed planetarium for bird orientation research was built, as well as various instruments, mechanisms and equipment for bird orientation research, including the printing of bird rings. He built boats, customized an airship for researchers and built a rocket net. He helped his colleagues draw posters for conferences with his drafting skills.