This week the assignment theme is one near and dear to my nature photographer heart. This week's assignment is "birds." No, not the obscene hand gesture, the feathered kind of bird. Whether you choose a waterbird like the male Wood Duck pictured here or a hummingbird, just make it a bird (or birds). Remember that with animal photographs, especially bird images, sharp focus on the eyes is essential. If the eyes are blurry, the entire photograph often looses its impact. Also, while most birds will flee instead of fighting, some birds can be rather aggressive (spend a few hours in the middle of a flock of geese and you'll believe me). Swans in particular have been known to charge people who stray too close to their territory. Hummingbirds and Mockingbirds are two other types that seem to love to see how close their beaks can come to hitting skin. So whatever bird you choose as a subject, please be careful. Since birds can be very fast you may want to practice your quick-snap techniques with Snapshot Adventures: Secret of Bird Island, a bird photography game.

The deadline for entry in the contest will be Tuesday, January 15th at Midnight Eastern time.

The prize for this contest is having your winning photo posted in this blog Thursday, January 17th. The winning image and up to 8 finalists will also be posted in a photo gallery on the site where your images can be seen by thousands of people.

Be sure to check out the Weekly Assignment Theme Suggestion thread in the forums as well. This is your chance to help decide future Weekly Assignment Themes!

Contest Rules

• Photos must be posted in this forum thread (please use the reply button within that thread - do NOT start a new thread)
• Instructions for posting images in the forum can be found under Forum Rules, Help, and Tips.
• Contest photos must be posted no later than Tuesday, January 15th at Midnight Eastern Time (you can post images to the assignment that are not for the contest at any time)
• Photos must be no larger than 640x480 pixels (horizontal or vertical being the longest) at a resolution of 72 pixels per inch
• No more than 3 entries per person per week (note that only 1 entry per person can make it to the finalist list)
• Photos must be YOURS - you must own the copyright to the photos
• READ the terms of service before posting
• NO non-work safe images
• If recognizable people are in the photo you MUST email a model release to me by the entry deadline (photography.guide@about.com)

Photo © Liz Masoner, licensed to About.com, Inc.