Why Did the Chicken Artfully Cross the Lens?

Feverish from fear of bird flu, the Internet is becoming little more than a ballooning collection of hysterical articles about society's impending doom at the hands of a sneezing ostrich. Notably, many of these pieces feature artsy, close-up images of a panoply of birds any one of which may, in fact, have your name on it.

We are treated regularly to the four stages of chicken development (egg, chick, chicken, cutlet.) And lots of roosters. Parrots. Swans. Turkeys.

But these are quality shots, aren't they? They have balance, movement and form. Try and tell me these apocalyptic, eerie and grotesque photos were taken by just any old news photographer. Silhouetted hens? I won't believe you.

This sudden and growing preponderance of bird photos has me wondering if the cooped-up lenses of an untapped flock of bird photographers are finally seeing daylight. Or, rather, if the demand for bird photos has inspired a new generation of talent.

Which came first? Which came first, indeed. Regardless, I applaud these photographers' good work.