Great egret banking in flight

Great egrets were hunted nearly to extinction in the late 1800s for their breeding plumes, which were used in the hat trade — the outrage over that is part of what led to the founding of the National Audubon Society.

Why it matters

Their recovery over the last century is one of the earliest wins for American bird conservation, long before ospreys or bald eagles.

Getting the shot

Panned with the bird as it banked, keeping the shutter fast enough to freeze the wingtips while letting the background blur slightly.