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Blue in the face


Blue in the face
Photo Information
Copyright: Gerhard Theron (gerhardt) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2210 W: 268 N: 4098] (11541)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-09-19
Categories: Birds
Camera: Minolta Dimage Z1
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2004-09-22 4:51
Viewed: 1348
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres)
Translated means “Faeces eating vulture”
Also known as: Cape Griffon or Kolbe's Griffon

I found it very difficult to distinguish between the Cape Vulture and the White Backed Vulture (Gyps africanus). I chose the Cape Vulture because of the light eye and the patches of blue skin at the base of the neck.

The Cape vulture is endemic to Southern Africa. Vultures fly at about 50 kilometres an hour for very long distances in search of carcasses. They float on air currents to save energy. A vulture reaches sexual maturity at between five and six years of age. Their lifespan is about 25 years. They breed in winter, laying only a single egg. They live in colonies on often-inaccessible cliffs.

One of the reasons why vultures are struggling to survive is because of starvation. There is a definite decline in game numbers. With the decline in game numbers and therefore also in hyenas, another problem has arisen. Cape vultures have been found to suffer from a calcium deficiency. This is particularly noticeable during breeding time. Chicks are born with malformed bone structures. Previously, hyenas would tear a carcass apart before vultures had their turn in leaning them up. In the absence of these scavengers, there would be no bone fragments.

Another reason is because vultures find pylons irresistible. Perching on them has shocked so many. Eskom (SA Electricity suppliers) has tried to create "safe" pylons, but still casualties occur. Farmers, too, are responsible for many vultures' deaths. They poison carcasses and leave them out to kill unwanted predators – instead they affect the vultures. Traditionally, vulture skins were part of the African witchdoctor's dress. This practice has been eliminated to some extent in SA by strict legislation.

A vulture restaurant is an artificial feeding place for vultures. This is no new idea. Centuries ago, human corpses have been made available for vultures in places like Tibet and Bombay. Even South African history tells of King Dingaan's “Kwa Matuwane”, the feeding place of the vultures and the destination of those who suffered under Dingaan's wrath. The idea of an artificial feeding place as a conservation concept, started in the Pyrenees in 1970 and spread to other countries. I posted a photo of a vulture restaurant here.

Vultures are very wary creatures. A peaceful environment is essential for the vulture to eat and search for bone fragments at leisure. They take the food back to the young on the rock ledges. I believe that the future of these vultures depend on the farmers.
Oldtree, japie, marhowie, extramundi, Crypton, Lourens, PDP, Robbrown, CaptiveLight, AndyB, Signal-Womb, Luc, deud, touristdidi, Janice has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Yepp, I would look also a bit disturbed if someone stick a lens into my face.
WOW, Gerhard. This is a great shot with wonderful details. The tonal range you managed is just perfect. Thanks for posting.

Very good close up with lots of clear details on this bird. Great depth of field enabeling his head fluff to show up nicely.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2004-09-22 5:39]

Dink jy nie as jy 140 addisionele kliente het dat dit inbreek gaan maak op jou tyd hier op TN nie:) This is a stunning portrait wit excellent sharpness, DOF and color. The eye/eyebrow combo looks the same as my wife's when I walk into the house with a new lens that is way to big to hide from her. It gets worse after she has listened to my explanation why I actually "needed" this new piece of equipment. I will rather not post her reaction when she find out the price.

Very good Gerhard.
Great sharpness with good details , nice colours and good DOF.
Very good note.
Well done.

Gerhard, Another great one! Very nice close-up with superb detail. Especially like the hooked beak close in like this & the stern/mean look in its eye. Excellent comprehensive note. Excellent profile portrait!!

Fantastic shot, Gerhard, congratulations for this one. Nothing else to say.

his regard is beautifull, the sharpness is perfect !
it's a real good foto :)

This ones going to have Callie going green I think, it's asthough the bird is with you in reality, and I cannt say any better than that it is just stunning.

Gerhard, this the best photo you have posted!!!!
Absolutely stunning! Onverbeterlik!!

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2951 W: 366 N: 3779] (11761)
  • [2004-09-22 14:03]

Gerhard, I like all of your photo's but I do think this has to be up there as one of your best. It's perfect. Really good. Perfect note too....perfect 10 if I could give it.

Superbe. Quel relief et quel définition. Merci. Rudy.

Stunning photo, detail is superb, and that beak looks like metal!

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2004-09-22 16:23]

Impresionante primer plano, por su claridad y agudeza, por su colorido y el encuadre.
La vision de los finos pelos sobre la cabeza y las texturas son maravillosas.

Impressive close up, by its clarity and sharpness, its colorful and frame.
The vision of the fine hairs on the head and the textures is wonderful.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1586 W: 32 N: 1350] (3980)
  • [2004-09-22 16:32]

An excellent shot.
Very nice and sharp with great detail and DoF.
I especially like the detail of the water drops on its beak and that mean look in its eye!
Great work and note too.

Now thats very sharp and need I say close and for some reason I cant stop looking and studying its beak. It has a certain quality about it especially the top of it cus it looks almost like marble. Its a very interesting head in fact full of details. Great note as always.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2058 W: 315 N: 4404] (14713)
  • [2004-09-23 3:26]

Bonne photo. On a l'impression qu'il est tout près de nous cet oiseau. Bravo Gerhard!

Good photograph. It give the impression that it is very close to us this bird. Gerhard Cheer!
(Babel Fish traduction)

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 497 W: 2 N: 466] (2160)
  • [2004-09-23 4:42]

Extraordinar! It looks like a hollywood star (genre of Klint Eastwood)!

I have seen few wild ones for so many years. I camped all over the western halt of the USA, went other places too, and even Nepal , India, Tibet..........When I was young, they flew over the ancient Spanish graveyard near where I lived in Imperial Beach. It seemed fitting. I guess someone dumped eatable stuff near there maybe.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3461 W: 145 N: 5914] (17724)
  • [2005-08-01 5:12]

Gerhard, after the initial fright, I think I like this blue-faced, blond haired, black nosed creature that just jumped out at me!! And look at the pretty pink/purple colours in his neck - just beautiful.
I have 4 sons, and they all had this coloured hair as children, so it is doubly funny for me.
Super shot, thank you for telling me about it. I love him. I love my boys too... (and my daughter).

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