Have the Egrets returned?

While shooting birds in Audubon Park recently, I spotted four couples of great egrets. It was a welcome and unexpected sight. Until two years ago, the island in Audubon Park lagoon was covered this time of year with nesting egrets. Then a film crew arrived in the park with noise, bustle, and lights to shoot nocturnal scenes for Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, one of the stupidest movies ever made and a well-deserved box office flop. All that commotion disturbed the sleep of the egrets, who apparently decided “there goes the neighborhood” and disappeared overnight. That was in 2011. I hadn’t spotted more than the occasional egret in the park since then and lamented their absence. I am hoping my sighting of the four couples signals a return en masse to their island.

visit my website: sylvainesancton.com

Back With my Birds

Now that our sculpture show is up and running, I am turning my attention back to photography. My

current project is a children’s book of bird photos for Pelican Publishing. I have been photographing birds in and around the New Orleans region for the past two years. The idea of the book is to show a wide variety of bird species doing interesting things, accompanied by short comments meant to appeal to children. My hope is to charm, entertain, and educate young children about bird habits and habitats. One thing I particularly enjoy about this project is getting out into fresh air and open spaces. I also feel a certain sense of kinship with the birds. I may be imagining things, but I have the impression they have gotten to know me and accept my presence.

Visit my website: sylvainesancton.com