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Endangered Cape Griffon Vulture


Endangered Cape Griffon Vulture
Photo Information
Copyright: Loot Eksteen (loot) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5452 W: 594 N: 3651] (10035)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-03-01
Categories: Birds
Camera: Cannon EOS 350D, Sigma 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 HZ DG Macro, Digital ISO 100, UV 62mm Kenko
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/125 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Birds of South Africa 1, Wildlife of Africa, Vulture, Different Birds, Birds of Africa, Birds / Aves, A study in Ornithology [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-03-08 19:09
Viewed: 6637
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Cape Griffon vulture - Gyps coprotheres

The Umgeni Bird Park in Durban is well known for their "Free flight Bird Show", with critically endangered species like the wattled and blue cranes, as well as owls, storks, hornbills, huge cape vulture and African fish eagle in free unrestricted flight.

The photo shows this impressive bird, with a wingspan of ±3m, going through one of its daily routines. Please also view the workshop where I’ve posted a detailed close-up rear view showing its impressive back feathers.

Size
Cape Griffons are arguably the largest of all the African Vultures, being similar in size to the Lappet-Faced vulture. Although Lappet-Faced vultures appear more aggressive, they are easily dominated by the powerful Cape Griffon.

Voice
Like other members of the Griffon family, the Cape Griffon utters a combination of high-pitched, hoarse squeals. They are particularly vocal when feeding, defending their food noisily from smaller vultures as well as each other.

Diet/Feeding
Feeding solely on dead animals, the Cape Griffon's diet consists of nothing smaller than antelope. They are invariably the dominant figure at feeding sites, capable of holding out against jackals and even warthogs.

Range/Habitat
The Cape Griffon is found throughout southern Africa, but its distribution is becoming patchy due to excessive impacts of inadvertent poisoning.

Breeding
Reaching sexual maturity no earlier than five years of age. This extremely social vulture breeds in colonies, on cliff faces. The female lays a single egg, and shares the responsibilities of incubation and feeding with her lifelong mate.

Status
The cape griffon vulture is endemic to southern Africa. It is officially listed as "vulnerable", a status similar to "threatened”. This species suffers from secondary poisoning, disturbance of nesting sites, and electrocution. Recognised as the most endangered species in the country, actions are being taken to re-introduce captive bred Cape Griffons.

Folklore, Miscellaneous Information
Not only is the Cape Griffon persecuted by farmers, but the body parts of this culturally significant bird are commonly harvested for use in "muti", or witch-doctor medicine. Among the many myths surrounding the use of vulture parts is the consumption of the bird's brain. The vulture is believed to have clairvoyant properties which explain their ability to find carcasses almost immediately after their death. The individual who consumes the brain supposedly receives the same clairvoyance. Also, possessing the dried foot of a Cape Griffon vulture is believed to bring luck in betting.

Scientific Name:
Gyps coprotheres (meaning faeces-eating vulture).

English Name:
Cape Griffon Vulture, Cape Vulture, Kolbe's Griffon.

French Name:
Vautour du Cap. Source.

Post Processing was done with Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0.
manyee, Luc, dew77, SunToucher, scottevers7, coasties, thistle, Dyker, Miss_Piggy, Rehanna, betsie has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To coasties: Victim of Poisonloot 1 03-09 21:37
To manyee: Its that blue sky againloot 1 03-08 21:03
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6166] (21070)
  • [2006-03-08 20:15]
  • [+]

An impressive bird indeed, Loot.
Three meter wingspan... Wow,!
You caught him in a menacing stance,
and I, for one, would certainly not try to tangle with him.
Great posture, really!
Beautiful details on the feathers.
Is that a blue tinge on the head and upperwing, or is that his natural color? Quite amazing. TFS. : )

Hi Loot,
Wonderful shot! I really like the POV and the composition. You have captured the detail and motion very well. Lovely colours too. Good job!
Claudia

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2006-03-09 5:52]

Hello Loot!
Excellent capture.POV,details on feathers,clear eyes,framing
and composition are wonderful.TFS...:-)

it's a fantastic one Loot,
a well taken shot good in pov and a nice composition, good in pov, very good quality, good job.
gr. jaap

Hi Loot.
What a great shot. I'm amazed how close you got to the vulture. Great detail in the entire bird.
TFS,
Niek

Hi Loot,
An excellent shot on this very impressive looking bird. Your flash did a good job on the exposure. Nice colors and sharp detail in this shot.
Great informative notes. Excellent work!
Scott

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 856 W: 2 N: 617] (2142)
  • [2006-03-09 13:35]

Hello , What a very great shot ,compositie
details colours pov and dof ar very good ,
thanks Greeting Teunie .

Hi Loot

Wow... this guy is pretty...... hmmmm pretty ugly! I would not like to meet him on a dark cloudy night. He has menacing claws and beak. You have captured him well. Good exposure and the clarity and sharpness are both good. The catchlight has brought his eye to life. You have provided a comprehensive note too. Thank you from sharing with us this endangered species........ humans have a lot to answer for!................. :-)

Hello Loot,
It's a very interesting post. I like the picture very much, mostly because of the subject captured in a very nice pose. POV is really good too. It's not a big nit, but the picture is a little bit unsharp and oversaturated. What I find distracting is the yellow band in the upper part of the pictrue. It looks quite unnatural and the colour is strong enough to draw the attection.
Anyway, well done on this one!

Such a beautiful, powerful looking bird. His posture is so nice, the lighting on his feathers really make him stand out. The notes are excellent, I didn't know so much about this bird, and in fact had never heard of him, so TFS, well done.

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 469 W: 60 N: 947] (3016)
  • [2008-06-30 4:39]

Hello Loot,
Vultures....fast turning into birds of yore ...in my country as well..I am pleased to find this intimate portrayal of the species here in your gallery.The capture of the bird in stride is with fine clarity and sharpness. The light highlights the features of the Griffon.The shades of blue on the head and little red rump on the necks are interesting features.The details in the WS also make a good addition to the post.It would be quite sight to see them soar and fly.

My knowledge of vultures is limited, but i know enough to say that they are a very very fast dwindling population here in our country too.According to an expert 99% of the birds in India have vanished. You might already know that the Parsi way of disposing of the dead is by keeping the corpse on serrated platforms on terrace they call "Towers of Silence" to be eaten away by mainly by vultures.The dwindling population of these birds have been a cause of concern for Parsi community's disposal of the dead bodies and they are taking initiatives to build vuture aviaries related activites.
Thank you very much for sharing a very special bird.
Cheers

Hello Loot

Dit is so hartseer dat hierdie "pragtige" voëls wat so 'n belangrike taak moet uitvoer in die natuur ook so gevoelig is vir impak van die mens. Die aasvoël getalle het so drasties afgeneem en as dit nie was vir die ingryping deur mense wat omgee nie, dan was daar seker ook niks oor van hierdie voëls.

Jou foto van die kransaasvoël wys die blou kleure van die gesig en nek baie mooi. So ook die pragtige veredos en ek is heel beindruk met die "workshop" foto wat die fyn besonderhede van die rug vere baie mooi wys. Wel gedaan.

Groete
Rehanna

Hi Loot
Hierdie voels speel een van die grootste rolle in die skoonhou van die natuur. Eintlik 'n baie mooier voel as wat hy die eer kry voor.
Groete
Betsie

Hallo Loot
Sharp and clear, beautiful walking pose and interesting posture displayed. This bird looks like an old wise man, thinking hard about all his life, walking to and through. I find the blue tint in the bended neck and face rather fascinating. The colour of the feather coat is very special and soft on the eye. I especially like the fine feathers around the paws and partly in the neckline. It looks soft and fluffy. Thanks for interesting subject and notes.
Love
Anna

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