I was just informed that Birder's World wants to use

[Maestro]

one of my pics for its e-newsletter and they have asked for permission to use one of my pictures with all rights retained by me. I am not getting paid but I am just honored that they would even consider using one of my pictures. The funny thing is that it is not one I consider to be one of my best, but who cares? ;) I am excited. It's not the print version of the magazine, but perhaps I will be considered for that later. I don't know if I announced this in the Lounge but I also sold my first picture about a month ago.

The pictures were posted in the Birder's World bird photography forum. That is where one of the editors noticed the pictures. It is one of these. I am not sure which one they will choose.

It is just a cattle egret, but the editor told me she liked the colors of the breeding plumage.



With prey...


Stalking in the wildflowers


I am going to X-post this in the Birders forum and photography forum.

[Gormy Cuss]

1. Cool!

Those are good illustrations of the plumage color.

[Maestro]

8. Thanks Gormy Cuss

They can be quite striking when they are in breeding plumage.

[BarenakedLady]

2. Cool

and totally well deserved! How exciting for you.

Congratulations. :D

:yourock:

[Maestro]

9. Thanks BarenakedLady!

It's only an e-newsletter, but just to picked from all of the other photogs over there is very humbling. :hug:

[redwitch]

3. It may be just a cattle egret but I have never seen one before.

Beautiful photos! Congratulations and thanks for sharing with us!

[Maestro]

15. Anytime Redwitch

and the next you are near a field with cattle, take a look. I bet you will see these guys somewhere nearby. :hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear Maestro!

Oh, that's wonderful news!

Good for you!

The publicity is wonderful.....

And you've sold one? More good news, sweetie!

Biggo congrats!

:party: :toast: :bounce: :bounce: :toast: :party:

[Maestro]

10. Thank you

I am not sure how they are going to credit me other than I know my name will appear by the photograph. It would be nice if they plug my website too. ;)

[Inchworm]

5. That is awesome!

Nothing like a little outside recognition for all your talent. I always click on your name to see what interesting pic you post. You are gifted!

:yourock:

:hi:

[Maestro]

11. You are too kind Inchworm

I sincerely appreciate that.

[TZ]

6. I'm not surprised at all

as a long time birder I find that your pictures are excellent at capturing the spirit of these birds. And I have seen many cattle egrets but not in breeding plumage. I particularly love that stalking picture of the egret. I think that's the most photogenic position of the wading birds...stretched out so you can see the true elegance of their bodies

[Maestro]

12. Elegant is the key word for wading birds.

They certainly have their own beauty. Thank you for the comments.

[XemaSab]

7. Awesome!!!!

Nice pic of the egret!

WTG!!!!!! :bounce:

[Maestro]

14. Thanks Xemasab.

Happy birding! :hi:

[tigereye]

13. that is a very elegant bird - great picture! Congratulations!

the beautiful orange sherbertish color of the crown is lovely.

[Maestro]

18. That color gives it, its other name

which is very, rarely used as far as I know, the buff-backed heron. Thank you for the comments. :hi:

[ThomCat]

16. Mozel Tov!

I hope you get to take many, many more pictures, and get to share them often. :)

[Maestro]

22. Thanks so much ThomCat

And I do plan on taking many more. Its a stress release for me and fun! :hi:

[NV Whino]

17. Yay!

Good stuff!

[Maestro]

23. Hello NV Whino

Thanks so much for posting here. I do sincerely appreciate the comments. :hug:

[Skittles]

19. I LOVE watching cattle egrets

could call them tractor egrets too LOL

[Maestro]

24. Hahaha!

That is funny but true. A local farmer was bailing his hay recently and I bet there were at least 100 cattle egrets just flying around the work crew looking for insects that jumped into view as they were cutting and bailing the hay.

[Skittles]

27. f***ing HILARIOUS to see

I LOVE IT!!!

[Maestro]

30. They are opportunistic to say the least.

I am sure there was a Red Tailed Hawk nearby too looking for voles and rabbits that were stirred up as well. :hi:

[Skittles]

33. question for you Maestro

I don't remember egrets from my youth although I was very often in rural areas. What gives?

[Maestro]

36. Depending on where you lived as a youth

they might not have been in your area of the US. They are not usually located north of Kansas, but they do make it up to the northeast during migration times; spring and fall. They are located in pockets of areas in the west. They are mostly a southeastern bird year round and summer bird in the northern reaches of the Southeast like Kentucky and Tennessee.

[Richard Steele]

20. That should surprise no one here!

The Lounge already knows how outstanding
your bird pics are. Now 'Birder's World'
readers will know as well- congratulations! :thumbsup:

[Maestro]

25. Thanks dicksteele

My next step is to try to get in the print version of a magazine. It is nice exposure and just an all around neat experience for me. It's small, but significant to me. Thanks for the comments. You are very kind. :hi:

[Haole Girl]

21. Congrats!

It would be difficult to pick just one, though. All three are great! :hi:

[Maestro]

26. Thanks KC2

They are just some local friends that you can find right here in the Metroplex. Thanks again. :hug:

[gmoney]

28. Congrats!

Any publication is good news...

[Maestro]

29. You so right.

Thanks so much for commenting. :hi:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

31. Congrats!

Those are beautiful photos!

[Maestro]

37. Thanks GoddessofGuiness

I'm glad you liked them.

[wildhorses]

32. wo0t! congratulations!!

:applause:

[Maestro]

38. Thanks wildhorses.

Come back soon.

[UTUSN]

34. Everybody loving Maestro's pics, please sign petition to save the wildlife refuges in S. TX

http://notexasborderwall.com/



Here's where Shrub's wall will go (right through wildlife refuges):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1899689

One of the technicalities of international affairs is that national borders extend to the middle of such natural features as rivers. Not that Shrub respects niceties like SOVEREIGNTY-- not that of others, and now not OURS!!1 His border fence cannot be built in the middle of the river, so it will be built NORTH of the river, a de facto gifting of territory back to Mexico (from whence it came to begin with). Not to mention performing a Psycho slashing into wildlife refuges, parks, and, yes (for the Jerome CORSI Superhighway crowd) private property.

Shrub is no stranger to appropriating private property for the benefit of his developer buds, as he did in Arlington, TX, while he was the Weak-governor-system placeholder. (It still burns that our crack investigative media didn't follow up on Molly IVINS's detailed clues to Shrub's sorry record in 2000, 'cause they were too man-crushed with his bully "Don't mess with Texas" farting.)

[Maestro]

41. This wall is so disgusting.

It won't work and they are actually planning on going through protected land. What a travesty. Please sign this petition. I have.

[Arkansas Granny]

35. Congratulations! Those are great pics. Cattle egrets are quite

common around here, but I've never seen one in breeding plumage before. Thanks!

[Maestro]

40. Thanks Arkansas Granny

and yes, they should be all over your state; especially in summer if not year round.

[pitohui]

39. that is a very good photo congratulations

and i agree it's a beautiful example of breeding plumage for this species

[Maestro]

42. Thanks.

I was impressed with the color of the bills and the striking eyes. Most of the time the eyes are yellow but these were red!