<< Previous Next >>

Touch Down in 5,4,3,...


Touch Down in 5,4,3,...
Photo Information
Copyright: Sebastien Burel (sburel) Silver Note Writer [C: 2 W: 2 N: 39] (335)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-12-23
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon D70S, Sigma 80-400 OS
Exposure: f/8, 1/1000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2006-03-08 20:03
Viewed: 2600
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
These flamingoes were taking off and landing non-stop. They were fearful of a Kite flighting nearby.

Here's some additional commentary from one of my previous post:
http://www.treknature.com/gallery/Africa/Tanzania/photo41541.htm

The Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor is the smallest of the world's six flamingo species. It occurs primarily on the alkaline lakes of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa, but also in small populations in other African countries and in northwest India/eastern Pakistan.

The alkaline lakes of the Rift Valley are the primary feeding areas for the East African population. During non-breeding periods, these lakes often hold almost the entire population, estimated to be between two and four million birds. Huge feeding flocks of up to one million birds regularly gather on lakes Bogoria and Nakuru, one of the world's most stunning wildlife spectacles.

In East Africa, Lesser Flamingos eat the microscopic cyanobacteria (sometimes called a blue-green algae) Spirulina platensis almost exclusively. In the Great Rift Valley, Spirulina platensis live only in alkaline lakes - Bogoria, Nakuru, Elmenteita and Magadi in Kenya and lake Natron in Tanzania - as well as others in Ethiopia. The Lesser Flamingos filter this microscopic food near the surface of the water with a very specialised bill that contains up to 10,000 microscopic platelets called lamellae. The flamingos swing their bills back and forth through the water while their tongues move in and out 20 times per second like pistons, filtering up to 20 litres per day through the lamellae to net 60 g of Spirulina, their daily requirement.

Although it is the most numerous of the five flamingo species, the Lesser Flamingo is classified as "near threatened" due primarily to its dependence on a limited number of breeding sites. During the past 30 years, the East African population is known to have bred successfully only at Lake Natron in Tanzania, while the southern African population is known to have bred successfully only at the Makgadikgadi salt pans in Botswana and the Etosha Pan in Namibia.

Historically, it was thought that the two populations are separate and that no regular interchange takes place. However, circumstantial evidence has been assembled that indicates East African Lesser Flamingos may fly to Botswana to breed during periods when the Lake Makgadikgadi saltpans are flooded. However, this has not been shown definitively and their flight paths, flight speed and stopover places are still unknown.

Normally, the Lesser Flamingo is not migratory in the accepted sense but is highly nomadic, moving daily in large numbers from lake to lake within the Rift Valley and amongst the saltpans of southern Africa. The reasons for these frequent movements are not understood.
cdplayer, nardophoto, SunToucher, aido, coasties, gelor has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6166] (21070)
  • [2006-03-08 20:07]

That is fantastic, Sebastien.
How did you get them all so sharp???
1/1000th of a second, huh !!!
An amazing scene that I would love to witness some day.
TFS. : )

Very nice tones! Wonderful image Sebastien! The simultaneous movement of the birds are breathtaking! Excellent DOF and POV! Nice colors!

I'm so jealous. What a great shot.

I think you may be able to make it just a bit better, though. First, based largely on the background, I think you could rotate this just a bit. If the background is straighter, it will disappear more. Second, I always have trouble when part of the subjects are cutt off, as they almost always are of birds in a big group. But I wonder if some sort of selective blur might make it less noticeable.

Best,
Mike

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2006-03-08 21:49]

Bonsoir

Excellente prise nature,les détails sont excellents.

Merci Sebastien!

  • Great 
  • eev Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 67 W: 34 N: 65] (744)
  • [2006-03-08 22:29]

Just like dancers on a stage.. Wonderful colours and motion. I wish that shot could fill my screen..

Hi Sebastien,
Superb shot with great colours and details. You have captured the action very well. Good composition. Well done!
Claudia

Visually very striking. Well composed and good exposure. Well done.

Hi Sebastien,
Beautiful composition with a funny title. The colors and sharpness are perfect. I like the reflection of some of the birds in the water.
TFS,
Niek

Great moment, Sebastien!!!

Hi, this is nice and interesting shot. Good POV and good coloures.TFS
Marjan

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1044 W: 156 N: 1218] (4046)
  • [2006-03-09 9:08]

Hi Sebastien,
Excellent shot, nice composition, the single direction of all the birds and the colours are excellent. I would love to be in a position to take this kind of photograph, one day perhaps!
Regards,
Adrian

  • Great 
  • Aramok Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 886 W: 101 N: 1425] (4931)
  • [2006-03-09 11:41]

what amazing colours and sharpness you have managed to capture!

Well done and TFS

Hi Sebastein

Wow... what a huge flock! Well done on the timing and getting so many in-flight. Lovely exposure with rich colours. Nice one! :-)

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1740 W: 95 N: 2273] (8411)
  • [2006-03-15 17:09]

Hi Sebastien,
Very good capture of motion, very sharp and good colors! Well done.
José Miguel

A beautiful splash of flamigoes sweeping across the digital canvas, This takes my breath away. Wow! :)

great pic, TFS Ori

merhaba Sebastien,
Mükemmel renkler.

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF