Short Picture Stories from Noble Coast Photography: Early Birds

A great thing about living on beautiful Lake Norman http://www.visitlakenorman.org/, in Denver, NC http://www.denvernc.com/index.html is waking to the many sounds of nature. Every morning we hear a choir of birds chirping for their breakfast. In addition to small mockingbirds, sparrows, cardinals, finch, and blue jays we see and hear blue heron, mallard, owls, and some very loud red tailed hawks. When you see these birds make their nest, feed and care for their young you begin to realize how many creatures are sharing their small world with us.

The non profit Carolina Raptor Center http://www.carolinaraptorcenter.org/ is located in nearby Huntersville, NC http://www.huntersville.org/ . The Carolina Raptor Center is a place where injured and orphaned birds of prey are rehabilitated and then released back into their natural habitat. The Raptor Center is home to over 23 species of raptors and is one of the only centers in the Southeast that cares for the American Bald Eagle. Over 700 orphaned raptors are brought to the Carolina Raptor Center for a chance to grow and fly free.

I had the opportunity to do some nature photography at the Raptor Center and I was able to get up close and personal with some of the beautiful residents.