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Star/Journal editor’s magpie photo in Cornell calender

Star/Journal editor and photographer Jill Hayward was notified in November of last year that one of her bird photographs had been chosen for the Cornell University ‘Celebrate Urban Birds’ calendar for 2011.
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Star/Journal editor and photographer Jill Hayward was notified in November of last year that one of her bird photographs had been chosen for the Cornell University ‘Celebrate Urban Birds’ calendar for 2011.  

A Cornell representative contacted her and said, “We have had a wonderful time poring over images, although making final selections was pretty hard as we love so many of the entries we received.  Over 100 different people’s work is included in this year’s calendar, and we thank you very much for sharing your creative work with us.”  

Hayward said she submitted the photo a year ago, and had almost forgotten about it until she heard from Cornell in November.

“It was a great to hear a photograph of a North Thompson Valley magpie is included in the calendar,” said Hayward, “I think they picked the 100 photos that were used out of approximately 5,000 submissions. I’m pretty pleased about that.”

She noted that the magpie she photographed was on her ranch in Louis Creek. It had a nest with three fledglings inside, and when it saw the human close by, the momma bird flew onto a fence post and started to squawk “the riot act” to the intruder.

“It made for a great shot,” said Hayward, “The sun was just right, and the lighting brought out the beautiful iridescent blue highlights in her feathers; something magpies are known for.”

 You can find out more about the Celebrate Urban Birds calendar, or birds in general, by going to: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/celebration/temporary/celebrate-urban-birds-calendar-2011/