The mission of the South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center is to educate the public about birds of South Padre Island and its environs: the flora, fauna and the natural environment of South Padre Island, the Laguna Madre Coastal area, with an emphasis on conservation and environmental awareness. I am privileged to join them in their efforts.

Situated on Jurong Hill in Singapore is the largest bird park in the world – Jurong Bird Park, featuring 8,000 birds of more than 600 species. The park has turned out to be a world-renowned attraction catering to more than 900,000 visitors per year. The African Waterfall Aviary – the largest walk-in aviary – is reminiscent of an African rainforest. In addition Lory Loft, it’s the largest of its kind in the world, and you will see more than 1,000 free-flying lories. Further, the Southeast Asian Birds Aviary boasts of more than 250 species of birds in their natural environment.

South Carolina's ACE Basin is one of the largest wetland ecosystems on the Atlantic coast. Located along US 17 or Interstate 95 between Hilton Head Island and Charleston, the ACE Basin is home to numerous species of wildlife and serves as a reminder of a time when rice production played an important role in the regional economy.

The Birds of Prey Avian Conservation Center is designated in the USCG Area Contingency Plan as the official repository for oiled birds in South Carolina and maintains situational readiness in this crucial role. The facility is designed and equipped to provide the highest quality medical care available for injured birds of prey and shorebirds on a daily basis. “I have traveled worldwide and seen countless centers and this is the absolute best of its kind I have ever seen anywhere” said Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and the Wilds. My brother and I visited the center in 2015. Some of the images are displayed here.

Tower Lakes is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,283 at the 2010 census. According to the 2010 census, Tower Lakes has a total area of 1.035 square miles, of which 0.91 square miles is land and 0.125 square miles is water. All images were taken from the southshore of Tower Lakes.

Lake Marion is referred to as South Carolina's inland sea. It has a 315 mile shoreline and cover nearly 110,000 acres. All images were taken on Lake Marion during a photographic excursion from a pontoon boat.