141. Jasmine Menard

142. Jessica Brockman, Vicksburg, Michigan

The vibrant red of the Northern Cardinal in the stream makes one see the beauty of this common species. Nature has made so many different colors of birds that almost any bird picture is a beautiful one, no matter the season. This picture inspired peace and serenity. I lost myself in watching this cardinal taking a bath in the stream while photographing him.

The beauty of the Great Blue Heron in flight is one of nature's best art work. This species is inspiring to me because they hunt so still and patient. Just waiting for their reward knowing that it will come with patients. Something that people should remember more often in life. This photo shows the colors of the heron wonderfully with the tree background.

143. Julia George, Cocoa Beach, Florida

I photographed this roseate spoonbill from the road near the Merritt Island Wildlife Preserve.  It gave me a thrill to see the flash of intense pinks against the sunlit blues.  We often see this bird in zoos but to see it in the wild is another thing altogether.  It's a humble reminder of the importance to save wild spaces.

144. Justine Atkins, Ansonia, Connecticut

My entry is a simple picture showing the nature of birds. It shows how harmoniously they can live together. It shows the beauty of these birds. It moved me to see how easily these creatures can live together. If humans were like this, life would be different. I also love the lighting and how the sky reflects upon the water. It works together to create a stunning image. I was out taking pictures one day. When I happened upon the birds, I took hundreds of pictures of them. I didn't get any shots I liked so I moved on, photographing other sites. I was drawn back to the birds that were still there, later on. I took a few more shots. I was inspired by them. They were so beautiful in their own simplistic way.

145. Keith Forberg, Roscoe Illinois

Attached is a photo I took out of my back window of an Indigo Bunting and a Cardinal sharing the same pine tree.  I just wanted to share it with other bird lovers.

146. Klaudia Frizzell, Staatsburg, NY

Blue Jay
This spring shot of the bold blue jay is filtered to show just the bird in a maple tree.  The colors of this coy bird are striking in comparison to its surrounding.

This majestic bird was in flight early March as the migrations of birds return to their local haunts.  The power of the expansive wingspan and the gliding on the thermals makes for a wonderful sight.

Red Poll
This little bird was waiting its turn at the bird feeder in late fall.  The color contrasts of the puffed up feathers made for a sweet picture.

Young Barred Owl
It was early evening,  the sun was setting, and two young owls were catching bugs from the back yard.  I sat on the grass and watched them get their fill.  They were very curious about my presence, but it did not stop them from their meal.

147. Lincoln Tesluk

148. Mike Conley

149. Mike Souza, San Diego, California

I'm submitting this entry because my wife and I moved into a new apartment last year, and we soon discovered that there was a pair of Hooded Orioles nearby after they came to visit our hummingbird feeder.  No matter how many times I saw it, I was always startled because of the bird's beautiful, bright coloration.  The pair stuck around for the whole spring and summer and it was a true joy to have such a neat, beautiful bird livening up our neighborhood!  In this picture, the birds' colors aren't as apparent, but seeing them out on the wire at dusk is still a beautiful sight.

150. Shelley Bryant