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Edible-Nest Swiftlets


Edible-Nest Swiftlets
Photo Information
Copyright: Anil Nediyara (anilnediyara) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 62 W: 10 N: 172] (750)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-08-25
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, AF-S Nikkor 600mm f/4G ED VR
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-10-08 10:54
Viewed: 794
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello all,
Today I have a rare bird for you, it is called Edible-Nest Swiftlet ( Callocalia fuciphaga as per Grimmett & Inskipp, Callocalia unicolor according to Dr. Salim Ali) Resident along cost and Western Ghats from Konkan to Kerala. Inhabits in large colonies the caves and grottos from sea level to 2200m. They use echo location inside dark caves where they roost at night, roosting birds give out a chittering call throughout the night. The nest is made of pure saliva mixed with feathers, grass and moss. The nest is a much sort after chinese culinary speciality, used for making the Birds nest Soup and is commercially exploited by them.

I had the lucky opertunity to get inside a cave and shoot them, had to use flash for lighting becuase setting up elaborate light sources can disturb their roosting. In the photo you can see a pair roosting and an empty nest in front. Had to depend on the off camera AF illuminator for focus.

Thank you for taking a look.
Regards
Anil
gracious, CLODO, ramthakur has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To CLODO: hianilnediyara 1 10-08 22:26
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nagraj Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 566 W: 94 N: 1194] (4870)
  • [2008-10-08 11:02]

hi anil,
yes, this is very important image and rare one too. hope the location is safe from people. fine capture and good to see them roosting here. tfs.
nagraj.v

Hello Anil,
Thank you heartedly for sharing this beautiful shot which take a hard effort to capture it in a inner cave like this! and done very well with the flash indeed! also the rareness of it in this site! much appreciated
looks cute on them with the sharpness, good colour and details
thanks for the notes as well
take good care and my sincere regards to you and family in India!
Kia Ora from NZ
Tony

  • Great 
  • CLODO (7)
  • [2008-10-08 12:55]
  • [+]

The photgraphy by itself is not extraordinary, but looking at your comments, its a rare speecy you framed. I hope you don't tell where it has been taken
Regards
CLODO

Anil, you are an adventurous explorer!
Getting into caves can be scary.
Nevertheless, you have brought out a gem of a picture from in there.
This is definitely the very first image of this kind on TN.
And the image is perfect, considering the constraints you had inside the cave.
The birds are a bit startled by your intrusion but they look beautiful.
Well done and TFS.

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2008-10-09 1:57]

Hello Anil, thank you for showing this rare bird for us. I am sure you must have delighted to have a look. TFS Ganesh (Why Smitha teacher is not sharing picture now a days?). Ganesh

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2008-10-09 13:39]

Hi Anil,
a really good shot of these rare birds.
It must have been a really great experience.
Sharp with superb detail.
Excellent use of flash.
Great composition.

Well done,
Joe

Hi Anil,

Its very rare capture of these birds at nest, though mostly photographed outside the nest area.Good capture.TFS.

Fantastic shot anil ...amazing details and I wasnt aware of it till i read u r note. tfs

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