111.  Eric Wogstad, San Antonio, Texas

 

 

 

 

112.  Larry Gambon, Prattsville, New York

I have been photographing birds as long as I can remember. Birds are the most amazing creatures on earth. Believed to be descended from dinosaurs, it is almost incomprehensible to imagine these tiny, feathered flying machines were once lumbering prehistoric giants.

Great Horned Owls and Red Tailed Hawks look like big birds, but they weigh only 3-4 pounds. A Chickadee is practically weightless. A Hummingbird is as light as air. A bird is natures greatest artwork. Adorned in waterproof feathers, birds are found on every continent on earth. They employ all of the colors of the spectrum and add beauty to even the drabbest of days. And if that is not enough, they fly!

 

 

113. Nick Saunders, Saskatchewan, Canada

An early spring morning, still cool, but with the sun just coming up, two adult male Sharp-tailed Grouse are head to head in a battle to decide the winner of the female.

 

 

 

114. Pam Keeling, Rockford, Illinois

Beauty and the Beast

 

 

115. Sue Perry, Deerfield, New York

The picture is of a blue jay who flew on to my deck on New Years Day looking to scarf up as many peanuts as it can.

I call it " The Ballet of a Blue Jay and a  Peanut"  I like to watch birds and especially blue jays to see their antics.  I also am enjoying photography as a new hobby. It has been interesting to see what kind of shots I can get of the birds that visit my yard.

 

 

 

116. Jonathan Smilie, Duncanville, Texas

I am choosing to send this photo of a baby Inca dove.  The mother of this bird had her nest behind our basketball backboard.  I enjoyed watching the Inca babies grow up.  I thought it was interesting that I was able to capture this shot while it was developing its adult feathers.  I believe it is artistic because the details of the bird are so clear.

 

117. Carol Buie-Jackson, Matthews, North Carolina

This is a video of a male Ruby-crowned Kinglet who is spending the winter with us here in North Carolina.  He is eating sunflower hearts at my window feeder and has been displaying his rarely seen crown for his own reflection for weeks.

I picked this piece to submit because I feel it represents what is often hidden just beneath the surface in nature but in a hurry, we miss it. Sometimes we need to watch and wait for all to be revealed.  Who knew such a little bird would pack such a punch of color?

 

118. Lisa Metheny, Terre Haute, Indiana

I love the reflection of the female wood duck in the muddy water. Despite the fact that the water is murky and dirty, you can still see her entire reflection and her beauty. I have this photo framed as a constant reminder to always look for the beauty in everything even through the life's murky waters.

This photo portrays the delicate balance that is struck between birds such as this brown pelican and  urban life along the coast.

 

119. Terry Aldhizer, Roanoke, Virginia

I think birds are beautiful to look at and to hear.  I have CD of bird songs and calls.  The variety of birds with the colors, sounds, behaviors and wings expresses the grace of creation itself.  So many people go unaware . . . unhearing. . . .unseeing to these everyday miracles of life. I love taking pictures of such great subjects and try to capture a second of their magic to share.

 

 

 

120. Austin and Taylor Garner, St. Leonard, Maryland

My name is Austin Garner I am a 5th grader and live in southern Maryland. My family and I went to the Blackwater Refuge in Cambridge ,MD. I took this photo of a Blue Heron...My sister Taylor took the one of the Osprey. She is in the 8th grade. Please enter both pictures in your contest. We are members of the Giddy Up 4H Horse and Pony club. We also do a photography project each year.We thought people might enjoy these pictures. Not everyone gets to see the birds we do living by the water.