Cornell lab of Ornithology Tribute to birds of the Gulf Coast

Take a moment to enjoy these photographs of healthy birds the rely on the Gulf Coast to live, bread, and stop on their northward migration.

This month, as an oil spill looms in the Gulf of Mexico, we present a tribute to the vistas of saltmarsh, bayou, estuary, and barrier island. We've selected 17 species, photographed by members of our Flickr group, Birdshare, as reminders of the magic of the Gulf Coast.

More than 1,200 photographers have contributed nearly 40,000 photos to Birdshare over the last two years. Their photos cover the breadth of the continent and capture intimate images of birds both common and rare.