Starr County Nature Photographer Takes First Place in Prestigious “Birds of the Brush” Photo Contest

Starr County nature photographer Alex Maldonado recently earned first place in the amateur photography category at the annual Birds of the Brush bird art contest, organized by the Rio Grande International Study Center and held in conjunction with the annual Laredo Birding Festival.

The exhibition and awards ceremony for the 14th annual Birds of the Brush contest were held Feb. 5 at the Laredo Center for the Arts.

Maldonado’s winning photograph captured a dickcissel, a small, seed-eating songbird that lives mostly in open grasslands and farm fields in the central United States. Reflecting on the recognition, Maldonado expressed gratitude for the honor. “I’m happy to have received first in the amateur photography competition with a picture of a dickcissel singing on a sunflower,” Maldonado said.

The annual Laredo Birding Festival is a long-standing South Texas event that blends environmental awareness with arts and community participation. The contest invites students and community members to submit paintings, drawings and photographs inspired by native bird species of the Rio Grande ecosystem.

Organizers reported receiving more than 300 entries this year, reflecting strong community interest and participation from artists across South Texas and surrounding counties.