Eastern North America has our share of beautiful birds, but one of the prettiest, by far, is the male cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). His bright red plumage and black mask make a striking combination. And if he is lucky enough to be the dominant bird in a territory, like this one is, he just exudes confidence in a regal manner. Something about that makes him even more alluring. Looking at Poppa here, I see a true picture of grace and beauty, which is one of the reasons that I love being a nature photographer. I get to see aspects of these creatures that others sometimes don’t, and I do my best to share those experiences with all of you.