davidcreebirder's photostream  

I have been blessed with what some would call a charmed life!

I grew up in Dallas, Texas, attended Christ the King, Jesuit High School , Texas A&M, the U.S. Air Force Academy and the University of North Texas.

While growing up, my Dad always had an airplane and my love of aviation was inspired by him. First plane I remember my Dad owning was a Navion- He also had a Bonanza, Cessna 182, and a Comanche 250. While growing up, I went flying almost every weekend with my Father and eventually soloed @ 16 yrs old.

Dad went on to buy the Cessna Aircraft dealership in Dallas and flew a 421 Golden Eagle (seated 8) until he and Mom bought their first jet--a Citation. Dad is 90, and he still flies his own jet !!---with a co-pilot!!!!

During high school, I was also very interested in Folk music, and personally met The Kingston Trio, The Brothers Four, Peter, Paul and Mary and The Smothers Brothers.

I formed a group with 2 other guys in Dallas called The Lost River Trio. One of those guys was MIchael Martin Murphey and the other was Owens 'Boomer' Castleman. They wrote and MIchael recorded his only #1 hit 'Wildfire' back in 1975-6!!! They formed the Lewis & Clark Expedition when they moved to California and their guitarist was Michael Nesmith ---who became a Monkee!!!!

I was torn between a career in Show Business as a singer/entertainer or becoming a Jet Fighter Pilot in the Air Force. I did end up flying a few jets in the Air Force--biggest thrill was the first time I exceeded the speed of sound in a fighter F-100 Super Sabre!!!

I eventually ended up in Management with Eastern Airlines for 21 years where I met my Flight Attendant wife,Trudi, here in Atlanta. We both worked out of the world's busiest airport-- Atlanta Hartsfield! Man is that place a ZOO, or what?!

During those golden years of aviation BEFORE airline deregulation, (thank you, Jimmy Carter!) I traveled the world with my indestructible Nikon F.

I have taken photographs from Bangkok to Boston, Paris to Papeete, Sidney to Stockholm, and the rain forests of the Amazon to the grassy plains of the Serengeti.
While on numerous trips to Central and South America in the 70's and 80's, I collected orchids for my greenhouse back in the Atlanta area. Orchids were my passion back then!

In 1993 the bird watching bug bit me and I now have 612 North American birds on my life list.

I took up digital SLR photography Aug 2007, and have now become a voracious bird photographer. I just LOVE taking pictures of birds!!!!

I am so very grateful for my wife in that she has been so supportive of me pursuing my hobbies and passions!

Lastly, I do also want to say that one of the greatest thrills and privileges of my life was to meet Tom and Elisha Landry at one of Mom and Dad's Christmas parties just before that idiot Jerry Jones fired him as Coach of the Cowboys. He was truly one of my life role models and one of the greatest men I have ever met.

With all this said**********************

I hope those who visit my photo-stream will enjoy viewing my bird pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them.

David Cree