White Stork

"Oh father stork, father stork, fly to your nest;
Three featherless fledglings await your return.
The first of your chicks shall be stuck through the breast,
The second shall hang, and the third shall burn."
-Hans Christian Anderson

I was raised on Hans Christian Anderson because I'm of Danish heritage. And to this day, I contend that the Little Mermaid dies and turns into foam. FOAM, I say. 

Not that that has anything to do with storks.

Eurasian Nutcracker

I am particularly pleased with this one. The angle of his head, the composition... He's one of the few birds that's not in profile.

California Tern

He says "This is my rock! Get away!" In the full picture, there were three other terns surrounding this guy. I can only imagine what they were saying.

Black Necked Stilt

A little wading bird with the eyes of a Japanese cartoon. Also, a California native.

Cormorant

California version of the Great Cormorant. Dignified birds with black, black feathers.

Common Tern

The curving wing, the moving feathers. Joy.

Sandhill Crane

This is my least favorite bird. I am not happy with his butt region. Apparently, you can't rush butt feathers.

I might like to surgically remove his head and put it on a cuter butt. I think that might be dishonest, though.