Two roseate spoonbills squabble at the St Augustine alligator farm zoological park’s bird rookery in Florida. Photo: Ronen Tivony
I am happy and honored to share that two of my images were selected by the editors of The Guardian for their year-end collection: “Year in wildlife – in pictures: We look back over the year’s wildlife photographs, and hand out some much deserved gongs to brilliant and beautiful creatures around the world.”
To be featured alongside 32 other incredible images from around the world is an honor, both as a photojournalist and a naturalist
You can view the full gallery of 34 images on The Guardian’s website here: 👉 The Guardian: Year in wildlife – in pictures
The Stories Behind the Lens
Both of these selected images were captured right here in our beautiful Florida backyard, highlighting the spectacular bird life that makes our state a world-class photography destination.
Behind the Scenes: Florida’s Premiere Rookeries
Both of my featured images were captured at locations that I frequent during my photography workshops. These sites offer unparalleled access to nesting behavior, but they each have a very different atmosphere and set of challenges.
1. Squabbling Spoonbills | St. Augustine, FL
The first image captures a moment of high drama: Two Roseate Spoonbills squabbling at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park’s bird rookery. Captured in April, this shot illustrates the intense competition for space and resources during the height of the breeding season.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park is home to a unique symbiotic environments in nature. Hundreds of native wading birds – including Roseate Spoonbills, Wood Storks, and Great Egrets – choose to nest in the trees directly above the alligator swamp.
The alligators act as a natural security force, keeping nest-raiding predators like raccoons and opossums away. The result is a high-density, high-action environment where birds are habituated to people, allowing us to capture intimate behaviors from the boardwalk that would be nearly impossible to witness in the remote wilderness.
2. The “Brotherly Love” Award | Delray Beach, FL
Taken in March at the Wakodahatchee Wetlands, my second featured image shows two Great Egret chicks snuggling in their nest. The Guardian editors dubbed this the “Brotherly Love” award. It is a tender, quiet moment that contrasts beautifully with the often harsh reality of survival in the wild.
“Wakodahatchee” is a Seminole word meaning “created waters,” and these 50 acres of constructed wetlands are a masterpiece of conservation and habitat restoration. What makes Wakodahatchee a photographer’s dream is the ¾-mile elevated boardwalk that snakes through the marsh. It puts you at eye level with the nesting islands. Unlike many wild locations where you are looking up into the canopy, here you can often look directly into the nests of Great Egrets, Anhingas, and Wood Storks.
About Ronen Tivony
Ronen Tivony is an award-winning wildlife photojournalist and a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society (FRPS). Based in Florida, he is also a Certified Florida Master Naturalist through the University of Florida, a credential that allows him to blend professional-grade photography with a deep understanding of wetland ecosystems and animal behavior.
His work has been published in world-renowned outlets including National Geographic, The New York Times, The Guardian, CNN, BBC, The Atlantic and many more.
If you enjoyed this post, you can explore my full portfolio of published wildlife photography or check out my upcoming Florida photography workshops to improve your own field craft.