The best 25 Photo of birds

Advances in digital photography have given us the opportunity to capture the beauty and freedom of birds in the wild like never before. In January 2011, the Wild Bird Trust set up a Facebook page with the intention of celebrating free flight and birds in the wild from around the world. Here are the “Top 25 Wild Bird Photographs of the Week” drawn from thousands of photographs submitted to the Wild Bird Trust. Almost 15,000 photographs from 87 photographers from around the world have been emailed to us or posted on our Facebook wall so far. Celebrate the freedom and splendor of birds in the wild with us and stimulate positive change by sharing how beautiful the birds of the world really are with the world…

Please join the Wild Bird Trust page on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to receive all wild bird photo updates and join the Wild Bird Revolution. Submit your own photos and become part of this important effort to bring the magic of wild birds to the world. Prepare to be blown away every week…

Magical photograph of a Karoo prinia perched on grass... Mesmerizing! (Louis Groenewald)

Sociable weaver arriving at a communal nest in Tswalu Kalahari (South Africa). These little birds join forces to construct gigantic nests that can weigh well over a tonne (James Kydd / www.rangerdiaries.com)

Almost prehistoric? Helmeted guineafowl in Kirstenbosch Gardens (Cape Town, South Africa) (Trevor Hardaker)

Spotted eagle-owl photographed on the ground. A common owl in South Africa. (Trevor Hardaker)

South Africa's national parrot: A pair of young Cape Parrot photographed in 2010. We have seen no youngsters this year so far due to significant losses last year due to beak and feather disease in 2011. (Rodnick Biljon)

Northern shoveler looking at a perfect reflection. So many birds do this. Why? (Lennart Hessel)

Toucanets, are much smaller than toucans but have similarly shaped bills (Peru). (© Art Wolfe / Art Wolfe Stock)

Screech Owl are named for their piercing calls. (Black Hills, South Dakota (USA)) (Ron Linton)

Cuban emerald in Las Terrazas (Cuba). The "Zun-zun" is the national bird of Cuba. (Adam Riley / www.rockjumperbirding.com)

White-throated swallow in De Hoop Nature Reserve (South Africa). Collecting mud to build a nest... (Trevor Hardaker)

Black-shouldered kite. Up close and personal. These kites are able to hover over their prey before dropping for the kill... (Ron Rijs)

Great northern loon in an icy sea. Beautiful blue... (Netherlands) (Karel Mauer)

Malachite kingfisher landing on a perch with a tadpole... Amazing photograph! (Louis Groenewald)

Lilac-breasted roller showing off amazing colors in the sunlight. Truly beautiful... (Ron Rijs)

Yellow bittern in a wetland in Thailand. They breed in much of the Indian Subcontinent, east to Japan and Indonesia... (Trevor Hardaker)

Lesser striped swallow calling for more research into their movement patterns and migratory routes to avoid collisions with wind farms... (Edward Peach)

Greater flamingos "dancing" together in France. Love is in the air...(Karel Mauer)

Massive flock of Demoiselle cranes in Khichan (India). Birds from western Eurasia will spend the winter in Africa whilst the birds from Asia, Mongolia and China will spend the winter in the Indian subcontinent... (Art Wolfe / www.artwolfe.com)

Acacia pied barbet carrying a berry. Stunning photograph. (Louis Groenewald)

Rare photograph of a blue-naped chlorophonia at the Hotel do Ype Itatiaia (Brazil) (Adam Riley / www.rockjumperbirding.com)

A lone hippopotamus interrupts a flock of flamingos on Lake Narasha (Kenya)... (Art Wolfe / www.artwolfe.com)

Cattle egret using a zebra as a vantage point to catch insects that the zebra disturbs in the grass. Team work... The egret is also looking for ticks on the zebra's back... (Annelize Vorster De Beer)

Barn swallow launching off a perch. Designed for aviation...(Brian Culver)

Two emus take turns to drink at a desert waterhole... (Geoff Spanner)

Red-necked falcon swooping down from a perch to pick up some speed... (Etosha National Park, Namibia) (Adam Riley / www.rockjumperbirding.com)

See the last “Top 25 Wild Bird Photographs of the Week” blog post on National Geographic News Watch:
Link: http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/03/10/top-25-wild-bird-photographs-of-the-week-5/

The Wild Bird Trust was founded in South Africa in August 2009 with the primary objective of keeping birds safe in the wild. The trust aims to encourage the use of flagship endangered bird species as “ecosystem ambassadors” in their indigenous habitat. The trust focusses on linking ordinary people with conservation action in the field through innovative marketing campaigns and brand development. Saving Africa’s birds is going to take a determined effort from all of us.

The main aims and objectives of the WBT are to:

• To advance the research in, education about and conservation of all birds in the wild as well as the related habitat.
• Focus will be placed primarily on African species that act as ecosystem and biodiversity indicators although other species and geographical areas will be considered as well.
• To work with all interested and involved parties including government, private sector, NGOs, education and research institutions, aviculture and bird-watching sectors without losing objectivity and independence.

In the pursuit of these aims and objectives the Wild Bird trust works closely with relevant local and international entities and persons, including: government authorities; educational institutions; conservation organizations; and avicultural organizations. The trust is funded entirely by its founder members, charitable donations and conservation grants.   The National Geographic Society Conservation Trust was the first to award a large grant to the Wild Bird Trust for our work on the Cape Parrot Project.
See: http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2011/12/16/upholi-want-a-forest-rescuing-africas-most-endangered-parrot-from-extinction/
Dr Steve Boyes