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Kori Bustard


Kori Bustard
Photo Information
Copyright: Annick Vanderschelden (vanderschelden) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2712 W: 78 N: 7405] (30147)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-12-12
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III, Canon 400mm 2.8 IS
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Namibia, a photographer's dream
Theme(s): Birds of Namibia, Etosha National Park, vanderschelden's birds, Eliz strange, exotic or little known species - 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-02-11 10:12
Viewed: 981
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Last year I was able to photograph the Black-bellied Bustard in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
The above mentioned specie isn't illustrated in the 'Map of Etosha' though.
Another specie that can be spotted in Kruger National Park and is listed both in Kruger and Etosha, is the huge Kori Bustard. I didn't spot this Bustard in Kruger though.
In Etosha National Park I spotted it several times.
This Kori Bustard is photographed at 08:16 capture time
somewhere between Okaukuejo and Gemsboksvlakte.
Altitude is 1108m. GPS coordinates S19 11.918 E16 01.194.

From wikipedia...
This is a large and heavy bird, and avoids flying if possible. It spends most of its time on the ground, foraging for the seeds and lizards which make up most of its diet.

The male Kori Bustard averages at about 110 cm (3.7 feet) in length and stands 60-90 cm (2-3 ft) tall. An average male bird would weigh about 12.4 kg (26-27 lb), but exceptional birds may weigh over 20 kg (44 lb). A report exists of a 34 kg (75 lb) bird, but it is not verified and must be beheld with skepticism because it so much heavier than any other recorded weight for a Kori Bustard. The female Kori Bustard averages 5.7 kg (11 lb) and is usually 20% shorter than a male.

Like all bustards, Kori Bustards have polygynous breeding habits, where one male displays to attract several females and mates with them all. He then leaves the females to care for the young by themselves. The females build a nest on the ground and incubate the eggs, foregoing eating for days. When the chicks hatch, the mother brings them a steady stream of food, most of it soft so the chicks can eat it easily.

Robin or Jan Hendrik or both told me about their mating display which is really spectacular.
I observed this in Namibia. They take off following an almost vertical line. Some kind of huge jump until they reach a momentum and then go down at a super speed.

Thanks for looking...
valy67, nglen, haraprasan, robindb, Gert-Paassen, pekkavalo1, crs, LordPotty, anel, MMM, Argus has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1880 W: 59 N: 2915] (8733)
  • [2009-02-11 10:17]

Hello Annick !
What a strange bird you have captured here ! I like his markings, and you have captured him in a fine pose. The details on his plumage are excellent, and I also like the soft, very natural colors. Compostion and POV are excellent, too. Really a pleasant picture, of a bird we do not see very often. Very well done !
Valérie.

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2926 W: 34 N: 8678] (32330)
  • [2009-02-11 10:33]

Hi Annick. This is sure a big looking bird and as you say in your notes not to keen on flying. I think the thing that stands out most is the large neck that it has it makes it head look small. You have taken this with fine detail and natural looking colours. your side and low POV let us see all of the markings. well done TFS.
Nick..

Hi Annick,
A lovely capture of this beautiful Kori bird. Superb sharp details and a lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hi Annick,

Glad you could see this bird as well. They also puff up the neck feathers and push out the chest in the display ritual. Quite the show off.
Well taken with the back lighting but still giving detail on the plumage and showing the large stride that these birds give.
The vegetation shown here is also very different from Kruger.

Robin

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2413 W: 94 N: 5586] (17766)
  • [2009-02-11 11:05]

Hi Annick,
Dit is wel een indrukwekkend exemplaar. Vaak zijn ze toch wat slanker gebouwd. In NO-Afrika heb je een iets andere ondersoort, de Ardeotis kori struthiunculus. Dit is de a.k. kori. Het licht is niet optimaal, maar desondanks toch prachtige details. De onderbegroeiing is ook heel mooi.
Vanuit een uitstekend laag standpunt genomen en een goede compositie.
Groet,
Peter

hallo Annick
great shot
wat mooi!zo helder
mooie opname in het groen
groetjes lou

je me préparais à poster une outarde de Kori prochainement mais moins bonne. je vais donc attendre un peu. Ici j'aime beaucoup le BG et surtout le tapis d'herbes sur lequel elle marche. Netteté, lumière ... impeccables comme d'habitude. très haut niveau de qualité
Patrick

Hallo Annick,

Alweer zo'n mooie foto en van een Trap denk ik.
Mooie dof en laag pov.
Prachtigvan kleur.

Gert

  • Great 
  • eliz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 167 W: 22 N: 269] (1535)
  • [2009-02-11 13:26]

another beautiful image and interesting species from you

Hi Annick,
Excellent capture of this magnificant Black-bellied Bustard; great low POV, good DOF and composition, sharp fine details, bright beautiful colours.
TFS
Pekka

  • Great 
  • crs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 523 W: 0 N: 920] (3543)
  • [2009-02-11 21:20]

Hello Annick,

You have made a very good photo with this bird. With the light comming from behind the bird you have rendered nicely plumage colors. Image is very sharp showing excelent details of the plumage. It is very nice how the sharply shown bird stays against the blurry background.

Thank you for sharing,
Cristian

Realy wonderful details Annick, wonderful shots as always. I have seen one myself, really funny looking bird. Very nice.
Way

Wow!
An impressive shot Annick!
Not just because of the fantastic backlight,but also the fact that you still managed to capture so much intricate detail on the shaded side toward you.
Its an awesome looking bird too.
Great work!
Cheers & TFS
Steve

  • Great 
  • efsus Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 436 W: 10 N: 738] (3212)
  • [2009-02-12 0:15]

Merhaba Annick,
Bu devasa kuşun çok ihtişamlı bir karesini sunmuşsun dostum. Bkuş gerçekten çok özel bir ve etkileyici bir hayvan. Eskiden ülkemizde de sık görüldüğü söylenirken, şu ana kadar hiçbir yerde görmediğimi üzülerek söylemeliyim. Yoğun avlanma, çevre tahribatı, bilinçsiz tarım ve ilaçlama nedeniyle olsa gerek. Bizimle bu güzelliği paylaştığınız için teşekkürler.

Hüseyin

  • Great 
  • vral Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 64 W: 1 N: 218] (1049)
  • [2009-02-12 2:40]

Hello Annick,

This is becoming a rare sighting in India and you've captured it so well with back light.Neck plumage looks gorgeous. I like the striding pose in its habitat.
Thanks for sharing
vral

hi annick,
beautiful image using backlight to great effect but i felt it is too tight frame. some more space particularly on top would have made this image much better. tfs.
nagraj.v

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1733 W: 0 N: 3953] (15852)
  • [2009-02-12 5:13]

Bonjour Annick,
Quel étrange oiseau! Cela doit être absolument étonnant de le voir ainsi déambuler..J'aurais bien aimé le voir. Un grand merci de nous faire connaître des espèces peu connues et en plus avec une magnifique photo.
Vraiment très intéressant!
A bientôt
Anne

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 926 W: 0 N: 1998] (8963)
  • [2009-02-12 5:44]

Hi Annick
Great image of a species I did not know.Excellent detail with nice back light.I like that side POV that give us a goood view of the Bustard.
TFS Michel

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3833 W: 190 N: 11412] (35173)
  • [2009-02-13 8:47]

Hello Annick,
I like Bustards a lot and you captured this Cory's with a fine exposure against the light with maximum sharpness against a good OOF natural BG in a nearly full frame composition.
Excellent portait and TFS!
Have a good weekend,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2009-02-13 13:56]

Very fine capture of this Kori Bustard.
Excellent detail and sharpness.
Well composed.
Great DOF.

Very well done,

Joe

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