I headed out to Orlando Wetlands in mid-March with my 600mm lens, teleconverters, and monopod. I’ve found that a monopod works a lot better than a tripod on a busy boardwalk. I was saddened to see that the Roseate Spoonbill nests close to the boardwalk were gone. I wonder if a raccoon or something got to the birds. But there was still plenty of action with the birds bringing in sticks. Maybe the birds are trying to re-nest. They certainly seemed to be having a competition for who could bring in the biggest stick!

This guy was disqualified. He had a beautiful flight pose but no stick.

Fourth place goes to this Roseate Spoonbill with a decent-sized stick. The birds were so pretty flying in front of a clump of green trees.

Third prize goes to this Spoonie who chose the Golden Hour to escort his stick with moss across the marsh.

Second place goes to…hey, wait, you’re not a Roseate Spoonbill! Only pink birds are eligible for this competition.

Second place goes to this Roseate Spoonbill whose stick was almost as wide as his wingspan. He seems to have found an interesting center of gravity while flying with his stick!

Finally the first place prize goes to this Roseate Spoonbill in gorgeous full breeding plumage whose feathers glistened in the sun as he carried a giant stick across the marsh. That stick is bigger than he is! He somehow managed to keep hold of it all the way back to his nest.