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Juvenile Mute Swan


Juvenile Mute Swan
Photo Information
Copyright: Loot Eksteen (loot) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5747 W: 606 N: 3505] (9407)
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 400, UV 62mm Kenko
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/50 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): A study in Ornithology, Birds / Aves, Aquatic Birds III, Birds of Africa [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-03-19 23:07
Viewed: 1048
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Mute swan - Cygnus olor

The photo was taken at the Umgeni Bird Park in Durban. This youngster was sleeping in a shady area when I interrupted its sleep to get this shot.

Description
A large, all-white waterfowl, with a long, curved neck and an orange bill and black face. Size: 127-152 cm (50-60 in). Wingspan: 208-238 cm (82-94 in). Weight: 5,5-14,3 kg (12-31,5 pound). Sexes look alike, male slightly larger and with larger knob on bill.

Distribution
A native of northern and central Eurasia, they were introduced into many parts of the world to grace the ponds of parks and estates. Escaped individuals have established breeding populations in several areas, where their aggressive behaviour threatens native waterfowl.

Habitat
Prefers shallow coastal ponds, estuaries, ponds, bogs, and streams flowing into lakes.

Status
As an introduced species it is of concern because of its effects on native wildlife. Its aggressive nature can disrupt the nesting of native waterfowl. It is protected in some places, but not others. Some areas are attempting to control their numbers.

Sound
Not mute. Calls quiet and do not carry. A snorting "heorrr". Hisses aggressively. Wings make singing noise in flight.

Cool facts
- Downy young Mute Swans (called cygnets) come in two colour morphs: a grey form and a white form. The grey (or "Royal") chicks start off with grey down and grow in grey-brown and white feathers, giving them a mottled look. White (or "Polish") chicks have all white down and juvenal feathers. Adults of the white morph may have pink or grey legs and feet instead of black, but otherwise the adults look alike.
- They are reported to mate for life. However, changing of mates does occur infrequently, and swans will re-mate if their partner dies. If a male loses his mate and pairs with a young female, she joins him on his territory. If he mates with an older female, they go to hers. If a female loses her mate, she re-mates quickly and usually chooses a younger male.
- The black knob at the base of the male’s bill swells during the breeding season and becomes noticeably larger than the female's.

Food
Aquatic plants and some aquatic animals.

Reproduction
Nest an open bowl in a large mound of aquatic vegetation, grasses, and rushes, lined with softer vegetation and a little down. Usually placed on mound on bank, island, or reed bed. Clutch size: Usually 5-8 eggs and could vary between 1 and 11 eggs. Eggs are blue-green when laid, turn white, then brown with staining. Hatchlings are covered with down and eyes open. Leaves nest within 24 hours of hatching and have the ability to swim and feed. Source.

Post Processing was done with Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0.
Adjusted levels,
Saturation +12,
Hue -3,
Brightness -5,
USM=50% at 0.3 and 0,
Cropped & resized for TN.
marhowie, wkshelton, Luc, anavazao, coasties, jeanpaul, SkyF, Dyker, Miss_Piggy, Rehanna, betsie has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To marhowie: Learning curveloot 4 03-20 21:55
To scottevers7: Frame fillerloot 1 03-20 13:37
To Janice: Swans in the parkloot 1 03-20 13:15
To manyee: Pink tingeloot 1 03-20 13:01
To goutham_ramesh: NoiseWare Community editionloot 3 03-20 12:53
To ellis49: Thanks for workshoploot 1 03-20 00:22
To goutham_ramesh: The vanishing factorloot 1 03-19 23:19
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi,
Excellent Composition, colors ,DOF and good POV
The picture has a bit of noise, did a small WS ( With previosly uploaded picture i think, it was there in the gallery for some time and it vanished!! While i was editing it) let me know if you like it
TFS
Goutham R

Hi Loot,
it's a nice portrait of the mute swan.
The noise is not disturbing but I thing you got a reddish tone in the white.
Well composed, good POV and DOF. Good details and the shallow DOF brinks the swan out icely from the BG.
Well done.
I did a WS to correct the white.

Now this is quite a close-up, Loot.
What a cute cygnet. He looks like he still has downy fuzz on his neck instead of true feathers. I can see the hairs in his nostril, and the tiny bumps on his "bald spot" in front of his eyes. You managed the whites very well in that they are not overexposed, but I agree with Gert that there is a pink tinge in the whites. Still, a very well composed portrait. TFS. : )

Hi Loot, I see you captured this swan at a bird park in Durban. I wondered if swans could live in the wild life park close to your home.
Lovely portrait of this young swan. I can see how young it still is, and you show her really well. The look in her eye is very wary of you!
The 2 workshops are good, and you definitely are in very good hands for help from Gert.
Kia ora
Janice

Hi Loot,
I really like the frame filling composition of this shot. This shows great detail in the plumage and face area of this young swan. Flash exposure looks good with the whits retaing the fine detail. Well seperated from the nice OOF backround.
Scott

Hi Loot,
Nice closeup profile capture. Good exposure and details. I won't add to the others comments except to say...it's a learning curve ;-} Well done.

Hi Loot,
great Portrait, Back ground has a bit of noise but great colors, details capture and composed, Excellent work. TFS Kyle

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 884 W: 2 N: 616] (2070)
  • [2006-03-20 15:10]

Hello Loot ,A lovely portret from the swan ,i like it ,
good compositie sharpnes and colours ,greetings Teunie .

Hi,
nice head with nice details, compostion and note!
Good idea!
Thanks Ana:)

Hi Loot

Hmmm... somehow I managed to miss this young beauty.... sorry, but I guess better late than never! You have captured this young charachter well. Very good close portrait. Nice clear details and a lovely catchlight to bring the eye to life. :-)

Bonjour Loot
C'est une belle prise de vue de ce cygne. Belle présentation, lescouleurs et les détails sont jolis. Il a un le regard vers toi
Merci et au revoir....JP

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-03-22 8:37]

Hello Loot,
this is a wonderful portrait, great capture of the distinguished features of this species. Excellent sharpness and beautiful POV. Great work.
Sky

Hallo Loot
An absolute stunning portrait! A very beautiful and colourful bird with an elegant and supple neckline. The details of this photo are very well displayed and clear and here I especially refer to the oval shaped eye. The feathers of this swan appear so fine, soft and fluffy, and one gets the feeling to stroke it to feel the texture. As per my previous comment this image is also worth much more than the smiley's received at present. Thanks for sharing this super close-up.
Love
Anna

Hello Loot

Die sagste ou dons veertjies is so duidelik sigbaar op hierdie jongeling. Ek hou van die oog kontak (nogmaals) en dit lyk amper of die swan so 'n klein bietjie "verdwaasd" of "skamerig" is nadat jy dit aan die slaap gevang het. Ek sien die "workshop" het gepoog om die "rooierige" skynsel op die vere weg te neem, maar ek dink dit het toe 'n groenerige skynsel veroorsaak so ek verkies jou oorspronklike foto meer. Dit het miskien meer 'n pienkerige kleur en veroorsaak 'n sagter beeld van die swan wat vir my meer in lyn is met die romatiese indrukke wat ons mos maar altyd van 'n swan het. Die donker agtergrond maak die voël so duidelik uitstaan op die foto. Me likes thank you.

Groete
Rehanna

Mooi foto van hierdie swaan Loot. Jammer mens sien hulle nie meer sommer in die natuur nie. Meestal net in voelparke ens?
Groete]
Betsie

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