My photograph of great egret chicks in a nest at a bird rookery in St. Augustine, Florida, has won First Place in the NPPA Monthly News Clip Contest, Southeast Region, Feature/Single category, for April 2026. The image was photographed on April 21, 2026.
The judges’ comment: “All the judges laughed at the egret chicks, such a fun moment.”
Great Egret Chicks Florida: The Winning Image
The great egret (Ardea alba) is one of Florida’s most recognizable wading birds. Each spring, great egrets return to colonial nesting sites across the state in large numbers alongside other waterbirds, creating one of the most dramatic wildlife spectacles in Florida.
Great Egret Chicks Florida: The Winning Image
The great egret (Ardea alba) is one of Florida’s most recognizable wading birds. Each spring, great egrets return to colonial nesting sites across the state in large numbers alongside other waterbirds, creating one of the most dramatic wildlife spectacles in Florida.
The image shows great egret chicks in an active nest in St. Augustine, full of the restless, expressive energy that makes rookery photography so compelling. Egret chicks are among the most animated subjects in bird photography. They jostle for position, beg loudly for food, and interact with siblings constantly, producing a continuous stream of behavior that rewards patience and a fast shutter speed.
About the NPPA Monthly News Clip Contest
The National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Monthly News Clip Contest is one of the most respected photojournalism competitions in the United States. It is open to photojournalists working across all media and is judged by independent panels of working photojournalists and picture editors.
Winning First Place in the Southeast Region Feature/Single category places this image among the top photojournalism work produced in the region during April 2026.
Great Egret Chicks Florida: Why Rookeries Are Outstanding for Photography
Great egret chick photography in Florida is best pursued at active colonial nesting sites, known as rookeries, where dozens or hundreds of pairs nest together in close proximity. Florida supports some of the largest and most accessible rookeries in North America, and St. Augustine is among the most productive locations in the state.
Colonial nesting waterbirds, including great egrets, snowy egrets, tricolored herons, and anhingas, congregate in large numbers at several locations in and around St. Augustine each spring. A single visit during peak nesting season can produce dozens of distinct behavioral moments: adults arriving with nesting material, great egret chicks begging for food, siblings competing for position, and the constant motion of a colony at peak activity.
Spring is peak season. Great egrets begin arriving at Florida rookeries as early as mid-February and start nest building shortly after. Egg-laying runs from late March through June, with chicks hatching and growing rapidly through the spring and early summer. April, when this image was made, falls in the heart of the chick-rearing period when great egret chicks are old enough to be visually expressive but still confined to the nest.
Tips for Photographing Great Egret Chicks in Florida
Visit during the chick-rearing period. The most behaviorally rich period for great egret chick photography in Florida is when chicks are two to four weeks old. They are large enough to fill the frame, active enough to produce constant interaction, and still confined to the nest, which keeps them in a predictable location.
Use a fast shutter speed. Great egret chicks move quickly and without warning. A minimum of 1/1600s is a good starting point. In bright conditions, push to 1/2500s or faster to freeze wing flaps and head movements cleanly.
Shoot at eye level with the nest where possible. A shooting angle level with the nest rather than looking up at it creates a more intimate perspective and separates the chicks from a cluttered canopy background.
Stay patient and stay quiet. Colonial nesting birds are tolerant of a calm, stationary observer. Sudden movement or noise disrupts behavior and can flush adults from the nest. Position yourself, stay still, and let the activity come to you.
Look for peak activity windows. Rookery activity peaks in the morning when adults are actively returning with food and the great egret chicks are most energetic. Late afternoon offers better light at many Florida rookery locations.
Part of an Ongoing Florida Wildlife Photography Series
This NPPA First Place award follows recent international publications including four photographs in The Guardian’s “Week in Wildlife” in May 2026, a CNN “Week in 35 Photos” feature in June 2026. All images were photographed in Florida.
Read about the Guardian Week in Wildlife feature.
See More of My Published Work and Awards
About Ronen Tivony
Ronen Tivony is a wildlife photojournalist, Florida Master Naturalist, and photography workshop leader based in Florida. His images have appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, CNN, National Geographic, BBC, TIME, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post, among others.
To book a workshop or inquire about private photography instruction, contact Ronen here or call/text 786-540-9194.