Page 14 - Welcome to Living Luxe Magazine

FLORIDA IS

FOR THE

BIRDS

Photographer Eloy Castroverde on what it’s like to capture the First Coast’s
feathered friends in all their majestic glory

By Angela Lutz
Photography by Eloy Castroverde

I
t’s spring in Northeast Florida, and warmer temperatures and dance along the shore, while ducks, geese and even pelicans swim
longer days are coaxing the landscape back to life. As the sun and playfully in our waterways. You might say Northeast Florida is a
sea salt mingle in the mellow breeze, our region becomes a bird lover’s dream come true.
playground not only for hundreds of species of birds, but also for This wealth of birds is just another reason the Golden Crescent,
wildlife photographers seeking that perfect shot. as we call it, is such a special place to call home. With beaches,
This time of year, it’s not uncommon to find Eloy Castroverde rivers, wetlands and forests nearby, it can be hard not to spot
stalking the shore with his camera in hand. Some days, he waits for something stunning. In fact, great blue herons, wood storks, egrets,
hours before spotting his subject — a tar-colored anhinga, perhaps, bald eagles, anhingas, woodpeckers, hawks and owls are just a few of
popping out of the water to catch some rays before the sun dips the feathered friends that grace these diverse landscapes each spring.
below the horizon, or a sleek great egret building its nest. As an Following a successful corporate career, Castroverde has been
accomplished bird and wildlife photographer, Castroverde considers capturing stunning images of birds and other animals in Florida and
spring his favorite time of year to explore. around the world for more than a decade. While the photos featured
“Living in Florida is a bit of a paradise for a wildlife here could never represent the entirety of birds you’ll see this season
photographer,” he says. — including the Canada geese that congregate here, which
Many newcomers to the First Coast are struck by the abundance Castroverde says are so common he considers them more like large
and variety of birdlife here. Large cranes gracefully cross front lawns. pigeons — they are a few of our favorites for the simple reason that
Ospreys, hawks and eagles soar majestically above. Tiny sandpipers they inspire us to dust off our own cameras and get outdoors.

12 • LIVING LUXE MAGAZINE / SPRING 2019