Marie Read / Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus), gathering Pinyon Pine seeds in autumn. Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, October.

Marie Read / Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) male calling and performing courtship / territorial display in cattail marsh, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) male perched by clinging between two cattail stems in marsh, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) taking flight from tufa tower carrying a fish, Mono Lake, California, USA

Charlie Summers / African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) bulls in dominance fight, Mono Pools national Park, Zimbabwe, Southern Africa

Jack Dykinga / Tufa pinnacles in the sunset afterglow at the edge of Mono Lake, Mono Lake State Reserve, California, USA

Tim Fitzharris / Full moon over Mono Lake with wind and rain eroded tufa towers and the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background, California

Marie Read / Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus) female incubating egg on its nest. Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, June.

Marie Read / Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber), outside entrance to nest cavity in treetrunk, holding beakful of insects for young. Lee Vining Canyon, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, June.

Marie Read / Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus), gathering Pinyon Pine seeds in autumn. Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, October.

Marie Read / Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus), gathering Pinyon Pine seeds in autumn. Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, October.

Marie Read / Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus), gathering Pinyon Pine seeds in autumn. Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, October.

Marie Read / Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus), gathering Pinyon Pine seeds in autumn. Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, October.

Marie Read / Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) calling from Pinyon Pine. Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, October.

Marie Read / American Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) flock visiting muddy puddle to gather mud as nesting material. Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, June.

Marie Read / American Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) forced copulation attempt at muddy puddle where they are gathering mud as nesting material. Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, June.

Marie Read / American Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) forced copulation (attempt at muddy puddle where they are gathering mud as nesting material. Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, June.

Marie Read / American Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) forced copulation attempt at muddy puddle where they are gathering mud as nesting material. Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, June.

Marie Read / American Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) fluttering its wings while it gathers mud in its bill to use as nesting material. Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, June.

Marie Read / American Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) fluttering its wings while it gathers mud in its bill to use as nesting material. Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, June.

Marie Read / American Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) fluttering its wings while it gathers mud in its bill to use as nesting material. Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, June.

Marie Read / American Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) in flight. Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, June.

Marie Read / Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) portrait. Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, April.

Marie Read / Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) portrait. Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, April.

Marie Read / Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) perched with cocked tail. Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, April.

Marie Read / American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) in flight over white water rapids. Lee Vining Creek, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, April.

Marie Read / Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) male in breeding plumage singing, in a cattail marsh, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) male in breeding plumage, preening its wing, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, June.

Marie Read / Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) male in breeding plumage displaying with raised wings, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, June.

Marie Read / Wilson's Phalaropes (Phalaropus tricolor) large flock swimming/foraging near the shoreline at Mono Lake, tufa formations in the background, late July, Mono Lake, California, USA. July.

Marie Read / Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor), female in breeding plumage, stretching its wing and foot, perched on small tufa outcrop in the water, Mono Lake, California, USA, July.

Marie Read / Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor), female feeding by using surface tension of water to pick up small prey item, probably brine shrimp (Artemia monica), while swimming, Mono Lake, California, US...

Marie Read / Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana), male in breeding plumage, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, May.

Marie Read / Wilson's Phalaropes (Phalaropus tricolor), flock resting on partly-submerged tufa formation Mono Lake, California, USA, July.

Marie Read / Wilson's Phalaropes (Phalaropus tricolor) group on low tufa outcrop at Mono Lake California, Sierra Nevada in background, USA, July.

Marie Read / Wilson's Phalaropes (Phalaropus tricolor), flock flying over tufa formations at Mono Lake, just after sunrise, California, USA.

Marie Read / Wilson's Phalaropes (Phalaropus tricolor), flock in flight, coming in to land near shoreline, Mono Lake, California, USA, July.

Marie Read / Wilson's Phalaropes (Phalaropus tricolor) large flock swimming/in flight near the shoreline at Mono Lake, tufa formations in the background, late July, Mono Lake, California, USA. July.

Marie Read / Wilson's Phalaropes (Phalaropus tricolor), flock flying past tufa formations, Mono Lake, California, USA, July.

Marie Read / Wilson's Phalaropes (Phalaropus tricolor) large flock flying over tufa formations, late July, Mono Lake, California, USA, July.

Marie Read / Wilson's Phalaropes (Phalaropus tricolor), flock turning in flight showing both ventral and dorsal views of birds, late July, tufa formation in center of frame, Mono Lake, California, USA, July.

Marie Read / Wilson's Phalaropes (Phalaropus tricolor) large flock in flight, late July, Mono Lake, California, USA, July.

Marie Read / Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina), female in flight carrying a feather for nest lining, spring, Mono Lake, California, USA, July.

Marie Read / Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina), female taking flight from tufa formation, carrying a feather for nest lining, spring, Mono Lake, California, USA, June.

Marie Read / Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia), adult in breeding plumage walking along shore of Mono Lake, spring, California, USA, June.

Marie Read / Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea), clinging head-downward on Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi) trunk, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, May.

Marie Read / Single-leaf pinyon pine (Pinus monophylla) trees, with dramatic clouds in late summer Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, July.

Marie Read / Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides), male hovering to investigate potential nest hole in burned Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi), Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, June.

Marie Read / Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides), male hovering to investigate potential nest hole in burned Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi), Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, June.

Marie Read / Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) outside its nest hole in a burned Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi), Mono Lake Basin, California, USA, June.

Marie Read / Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) male in breeding plumage, singing, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA. July.

Mark Taylor / Swarm of Alkali flies (Ephydra hians) swarming over Mono Lake, California, USA

Tim Fitzharris / Tufa at Mono Lake, Sierra Nevada, California

Pete Oxford / Silhouette of a Sword-billed Hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera), the only species of bird to have a bill longer than the rest of its body. Yanacocha Reserve cloud forest, Ecuador.

Marie Read / California Quail (Callipepla californica), male on snow-covered ground with falling snow in winter, Mono Basin, California, USA, February.

Marie Read / California Quail (Callipepla californica), male on snow-covered ground with falling snow in winter, Mono Basin, California, USA, February.

Marie Read / Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus), male eating a seed, perching on snowy ground. Mono Basin, California, USA, February.

Marie Read / California Quail (Callipepla californica), male and female on snow-covered ground with falling snow in winter, Mono Basin, California, USA, February.

Marie Read / California Quail (Callipepla californica) female walking over snow-covered ground. Mono Basin, California, USA, February.

Jenny E. Ross / A crop-dusting plane sprays insecticide on a field of lettuce in California's Imperial Valley near the Salton Sea. Imperial Valley, California, USA.

Jenny E. Ross / An autumn storm sweeps across the Mono Basin from the east slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Mono Lake, Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area, October 1997.

Charlie Summers / Irrigation crop circles as seen from the air east of Potchefstroom, South Africa, April 2009

Kevin Schafer / California gull (Larus californicus) catching Alkali flies (Ephydra hians) in the air, Mono Lake, Eastern California, USA, August

Kevin Schafer / California gull (Larus californicus) catching Alkali flies (Ephydra hians) in the air, Mono Lake, Eastern California, USA, August

Kevin Schafer / California gull (Larus californicus) catching Alkali flies (Ephydra hians) in the air, Mono Lake, Eastern California, USA, August

Kevin Schafer / California gull (Larus californicus) catching Alkali flies (Ephydra hians) in the air, Mono Lake, Eastern California, USA, August

Marie Read / Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) male calling and performing courtship / territorial display in cattail marsh, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA.

Marie Read / Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) male calling and [performing courtship/territorial display in cattail marsh, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus), female carrying damselfly prey young in her bill, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) female perched in willow, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) portrait of adult in marsh vegetation, Mono Lake, California, USA (Digitally retouched image - selective lightening on plant to left of bird)

Marie Read / Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola), wading in shallow water over submerged dead reeds in wetland, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) male using its bill to preen its feathers, while perched on tufa, Mono Lake, California, USA

Marie Read / Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) portrait of male facing camera, perched on tufa, Mono Lake, California, USA

Marie Read / Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) male perched on tufa formation, Mono Lake, California, USA

Marie Read / Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) female perched on tufa formation. This species nests in holes in the tufa formations. Mono Lake, California, USA.

Marie Read / Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) perched on Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) branch, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) perched on branch of Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) in early spring, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) perched on Juniper branch, with berries, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) male singing while perched in flowering Desert Peach (Prunus andersonii) Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja coccinea) flowering amid dead Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) stems, on the desert floor, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA. (Paintbrush grows as a partial root-parasite...

Marie Read / Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber), clinging to Aspen trunk in spring, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) male, red-shafted race, looking out of its nest hole in Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) trunk, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) female, red-shafted race, landing at its nest hole in Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) trunk, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA.

Marie Read / Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli) perched in Jeffrey Pine, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Mountain Bluebird (Sialis currucoides), outside its nest hole in Aspen trunk, carrying caterpillar prey in its bill for young, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Mountain Bluebird (Sialis currucoides) male looking out of its nest hole in Aspen trunk, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Mountain Bluebird (Sialis currucoides) carrying inspect prey in its bill for young, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) male with food (caterpillar) for young in its bill, Mono Basin, California, USA (Digitally retouched image - stick removed at top)

Marie Read / Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) female at nest hole in burned Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi) Mono Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) outside its nest hole in burned Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi), with beakful of insects to feed its young, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA. (Digitally retouched...

Marie Read / Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) male in breeding plumage, singing in spring, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) nest building, at its nest hole in an Aspen (Populus tremuloides) trunk, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) male singing, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) perched on branch, Mono Lake Basin, California, US perched on branch,

Marie Read / Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis), Oregon race, with food in its bill for young, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA