will47...I personally use curves most all the time. It gives a photo that little bit of extra "pop." I tend to make my adjustments more on the conservative side. I also use levels, but not nearly as often. I am just more familiar with curves.
Nice shots, jederick. I was photographing at a wildlife refuge in my area and was seeing most of the same birds you photographed. I got a shot of a yellow-headed blackbird that almost looks like it was at the same tule patch as the one you captured.