A 200 Year Old Flag

I had a great meeting at the State Capitol last Thursday to plan the unveiling of my “Flat Lake Sunset” photograph on its release date which will be April 30^th, Louisiana’s two hundredth birthday.  Etta Smith of the United States Postal Service in Washington, DC was there as well as Sarah Augustine, Baton Rouge’s Postmaster.  Michael Wynne, Shelia McCant, and Randy Haynie  of The Bicentennial Commission also were in attendance.

The big treat was seeing a United States flag Randy found at an auction.  It was made in 1812.  It is one of only two US flags made that year that are still in existence.  Etta Smith of the USPS  posed with me and this priceless heirloom.

CC with Etta Smith holding a 200 year old United States flag

The bald cypress trees in my photograph could be over 100 years old, perhaps 200, as they grow slow when submerged year around.  It’s quite an honor to have a picture of my favorite place associated with Louisiana’s celebration of 200 years of statehood.

Eagle Expo

Yesterday I took a boat trip east of Morgan City to scout for next week’s Eagle Expo.  A beautiful day, sunshine with a few wispy clouds and birds everywhere.  The Terrebonne Parish marshes are chocked full of all kinds of birds this time of year and the national symbol is nesting in force.  I visited three of the seventy plus nest that exist in this parish.  All had young birds. I estimate they were about 7 inches tall when standing in site at the edge.  It makes me happy that the bald eagle has come back so well since the well-known synthetic insecticide DDT  put the whammy on eagles, osprey, brown pelicans and other fish eating birds. In 1975 there were only seven known bald eagle nests in the state.

Bald Eagle

On my nineteen mile boat ride I saw and photographed three kinds of egrets, anhingas, common moorhens, American coots,  white ibis, yellow-rumped warblers as well as the bald eagle.  I was preparing for my eagle photography workshop,  on February 9 in Morgan City.  It’s part of Eagle Expo, a three day events celebrating this majestic bird.  Seven years old now and getting better every year. Besides my workshop there are lots of activities and speakers.  The Banquet will feature Ann McCutchan, author of River Music, An Atchafalaya Story, and Earl Robichaux, who has preserved and celebrates the sounds of the basin. Michael Sealy, Donna Dittman, Steve Cardiff, and Reese Lukei, Jr. will speak on a variety of bird subjects.  You can find out more about it : HERE.

Nutria

I also got to photograph nutria, the first green of spring in the black willow leaves and the red of the winged seeds of the swamp red maple tree. For me the best place to photograph nature this time of year is the marshes around Houma and Morgan City.