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Naughty by Nature


Naughty by Nature
Photo Information
Copyright: Paul Prince (PDP) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2964 W: 366 N: 3848] (11751)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-12-04
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX APO RF, Digital ISO 200, Hoya skylight (1B)
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/800 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-12-14 8:05
Viewed: 1532
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Red-billed Hornbill, this was taken on my final day in South Africa. We visited a Nature reserve in Krugersdorp where they have an aviary. I had previously visited this place with Callie the week earlier. On this day I was joined by Gerhard, Odette and Gerhard’s wife Charmaine. The weather was very hot and the light was a bit harsh so we had to make do. I had wanted a decent shot of a hornbill as they had eluded me so far. I got a few nice shots (I think) and this is one of them.

These birds are great to watch. They hop and run about and if you were a bird you wouldn’t trust them. They always look like they are up to no good and I’m sure they have the type of personality that would sell their own grandmother for a decent meal. In fact maybe they would eat their own grandmother. Nevertheless, I like them because of their naughty look.

Description
Thin red bill and pale head distinctive, crown and nape dark gray, neck and face white, back sooty brown with white stripe down center, underparts white, primaries black with white spots, tail black. Circumorbital and throat skin creamy yellow to pale pink. 3 subspecies. Males and females similar but males slightly larger.

Diet:
Obtains almost all food on the ground while running about. Feeds largely on insects - beetles, grasshoppers, termites, ants, fly larvae. Also takes geckos, birds' eggs and nestlings and scavenges dead rodents.

Life cycle/Social structure
Usually found in pairs or small family parties, but during the dry season may congregate in flocks of several hundred at good feeding areas, such as around water holes. They are territorial and will defend their territories against their own species, but not other species, so that several species of hornbill may have overlapping territories. Birds move to feeding areas early in the morning, but usually return to a regular roost site within their territories at night. They roost in a tree close to the trunk or large branch. Like all hornbills except the large ground hornbills of Africa, Red-billed Hornbills nest in holes in trees where the female is sealed up for two to three months while she incubates the eggs and feeds the young with insects brought by the male. The female lays 3-5 eggs which she incubates from 23-25 days. The female molts and re-grows her feathers during incubation. She breaks out of the nest when the eldest chick is 21-22 days old. The chicks reseal the entrance alone using their droppings and food remains. Chicks fly well on first emergence from nest, never returning. They may remain with their parents for 6 months.


The notes are from here

I hope you like it.

PS I promise to write about the rhinos as soon as I track down some suitable pictures :-)
deud, scottevers7, red45, dew77, metcher, chiliu, Dave, alejandroguzman, thistle, marhowie, livios, lovenature has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To thistle: Thank youPDP 1 12-16 05:54
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Paul,
I think your exposure is excellent in what looks to be some very bright sunlight. The composition and and framing here look great. Nice sharp detail and a good pose.
Scott

Hi Paul,

Nice capture. Yes the light was not perfect, but you still managed to take a very good picture. Well done. I like these birds as well. What I like most about them is their call, which they do in duet. I hope you were fortunate enough to hear that.

Jan-Hendrik

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2805 W: 75 N: 7845] (26275)
  • [2005-12-14 9:31]

Hi Paul!

Excellent portrait of this great looking bird. First of all - warm colours - they're look just great. Quality is very high. Note interesting. What I like also? Shadow of eyelash on its eye. Great job!

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3065 W: 231 N: 5834] (19602)
  • [2005-12-14 10:33]

Hi Paul. I love the curves in this shot. The colors are very warm, and the bug at the tip of the beak is a bonus. Sharp details and very beautiful POV and composition. Well done and TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2005-12-14 10:47]

Hello Paul!
Wonderful portrait.POV,lighting,warm colors,details,framing,blurred BG and composition are excellent.TFS...:-)

Hi Paul

This is a beautiful shot. The details is sharp and the BG looks nice. I like it very much. Nice note too.

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1549 W: 0 N: 1158] (6414)
  • [2005-12-14 14:44]

Hi Paul,
Excellent shot!
Very good exposure and DOF,
great pose and framing, amazing details.
Very well done and thank you!

Well composed and interesting bird portrait. Sharp, with good details and background. Food? in it's mouth adds much.

Superb capture Paul,
Good detail and colours. Great POV and sharpness.
Nicely composed and good exposure. love the sparkle in his eye...very crafty!
Thanks for posting. Enjoy the rest of the week.

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 517 W: 47 N: 663] (2127)
  • [2005-12-14 16:46]

He almost blends in with his background more or less, but regardless the bird is very clear and looks good. Your descripting of this character is quite graphic. He doesn't sound like a very nice bird...;-)
Great shot!
Thanks,
Dave

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1676 W: 5 N: 2144] (11868)
  • [2005-12-14 17:16]

Un superbe portrait,l'éclairage est vraiment parfait et les couleurs sont justes. Félicitation pour la beautée de l'oiseau et la netteté.

Merci Paul!

Hi Paul:

Magnificent colors... I really like the composition and DOF

hugs
alejandro

Hi Paul,
It's a great shot with lovely colours.
The DOF is very good, the birds is well seen form the BG.
Good details and POV. Maybe little more space above the beak.
Excellent work.

Wonderful photo, composition and technically wise! Thanks for sharing - Xplorator Radu

  • Great 
  • klemmg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 40 N: 484] (1719)
  • [2005-12-15 16:46]

Great portrait, technically perfect and the action caught is wonderful, very nice capture of the delicate use of the large beak, excellent impact.
Gabi

Hello Paul,
That's a great capture. I love the warm colours, the POV, framing and... everyting else :)
Nice note too. I've always liked to read the things you write ;)

:)

This is an excellent capture Paul. The 20D sure helps to nail down the colors, don't you agree? Very good DOF, sharpness & POV. I like the light and the eyelash shadow I see across the iris. Very well done!

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 491 W: 2 N: 459] (2079)
  • [2005-12-17 4:39]

very intresting specie! absolutely great note.
excellent close-up! very good focus, colors. the eye is great.

tfs

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16850)
  • [2005-12-18 20:23]

Paul, this is an excellent shot of this very nice creature.

Lovely colors, composition, lighting and sharpness.

I like bg and dof too.

  • Great 
  • Callie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 106 N: 2658] (7487)
  • [2005-12-19 13:51]

Paul my Friend
This is a VERY NICE mugshot of this critter, Well done!

Amazing capture. I know how harsh this light was. Lovely BG and details. Amazing DOF for F7.1 and the distance you took this at. Great shot Paul.

Hi Paul,
What an interesting bird, almost prehistoric looking. Vivid colours and nice composition. Your notes are very interesting. TFS Janice

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