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Shoebill


Shoebill
Photo Information
Copyright: Chris Chafer (sandpiper2) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1841 W: 109 N: 4244] (14071)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-09-11
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon Powershot S2-IS, Canon 12x zoom 36-432mm equivalent
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/450 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): My trips to Thailand, Malaysia & Singapore, Funny Faces, Unusual critters [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-10-17 8:11
Viewed: 2103
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Whilst in Singapore I took the opportunity of going to the famous Jurong Bird Park. They had just opened the African wetland exhibit and I was pleasantly astonished to find a Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex), a species I had always want to see.

Shoebills live in eastern central Africa , principally in the papyrus swamps of the vast wetland known as the Sudd in southern Sudan and northern Uganda. It also occurs in Zaire, Malawi, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia.

Shoebills are about 1.2m tall and the large bill is up to 19cm long and 15cm wide.

Although Shoebills look superficially like storks and herons, they appear to be more closely related to pelicans, based on DNA analysis. They are generally solitary and only come together to breed. Food is predominantly fish, which are taken by lunging forward to engulf the prey in its huge bill. Lungfish are the preferred prey, however water snakes, turtles, frogs and lizards are also taken occasionally.

Thanks for looking.
ellis49, mikou, BEHRAD, elefantino, Leace, fthsm, SkyF, ramthakur, gerhardt has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To dotuan: thankssandpiper2 1 10-17 16:55
To uleko: yes Jurong is greatsandpiper2 1 10-17 16:44
To elefantino: lucky yousandpiper2 1 10-17 16:40
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Chris,
this is a very good portrait of the "Swe,wood shoebill".
It looks very funny with the enormous bill, it must heavy to carry.;-)
Nice colours, good POV and compo. I like the look too.
Well done, mf.

Very nice and fun shot. Quite good portrait but abit blured and the frame dont make the pic setoff yet. I have WS for you. Hope you like it.
Regards,
DT.

  • Great 
  • mikou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 840 W: 67 N: 1311] (5269)
  • [2006-10-17 10:50]

Hi Chris.
Very nice portrait this funny bird - his look at is thereabouts arch smile :-).
I like POV and fine sharp details.Very good light.Good work!
TFS
Greetings Milos.

Hi Chris
Great shot.This bird is really amazing.
Perfect sharpness& colour composition.
Ilike it.
Regards
Behrad

Hey Chris, do you know I've seen shoebill in the wild in Uganda at Murchison Falls National Park.
It was a great day for me because I know it's a rare bird and it was a dream coming true.
Nice portrait!!
Andrea

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2983 W: 162 N: 911] (2687)
  • [2006-10-17 11:49]
  • [+]

Hi Chris,
What a super close-up of this peculiar bird! Interesting details and I love the look on his "face"! Must try and get to Jurong once more in my life - the park is brilliant.
TFS,Ulla

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 856 W: 2 N: 617] (2142)
  • [2006-10-17 12:51]

Hoi Cris , A Great portret from the bird ,never seen before , very nice and so complete well taken shot , good in pov and details , very good job , Greetings Teunie .

  • Great 
  • fthsm Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 147 W: 47 N: 435] (2889)
  • [2006-10-18 0:26]

What an intereseting species. It exactly deserves the name :)
TFS

Hello Chris,
Very fine portrait of this great guy!
Looks like he means business...
Expression very well captured, fine details all over!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2244 W: 188 N: 1929] (8127)
  • [2006-10-18 7:10]

Hi Chris,
this is quite a strange looking bird. Very well captured, great eyecontact and the details are fabulous. Very nice closeup.
TFS..Sky

Hello Chris!
Thanks for your visit and kind remarks on my recent picture.
This is a lovely image of the Shoebill, so sharp, clear and colourful. I have seen this bird for the first time; it is aptly named because the bill truly looks like a shoe!
TFS and take care.
Ram

  • Great 
  • dkaved Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 266 W: 18 N: 433] (2106)
  • [2006-10-20 16:12]

Hi Chris,
Looks a bit upset this chap.Reminds me of the "dodo" images in "Ice Age" animation (that my girls watch endlessly!!).The clarity is very good and shows the lovley texture of its feathers.I like its pose.The cut makes it a good portrait.Well done and keep well.
Regards, david

Howzit, Chris. Its been a while I know. :)

This is a stunning portrait with the facial expression adding the impact. It does look menacing though. Very well done.

strange bird..like a dodo..??
good capture though with a pretty good pose
good eye contact and feather textures
i see you are a user of the S2 as well as others here who take excellent shots of wildlife
cheers
geof

Really cool shot of this shoebill, the details and colors are fantastic. I really like the stern look on its face, shows lots of character to this really interesting looking bird. :)

  • Great 
  • puciu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 519 W: 0 N: 16] (2603)
  • [2006-11-19 5:15]

Cześć Chris. Świetny portret, ciekawy ptak. Przez chwilę poczułem się jak w epoce dinozaurów.

This look and this smile!
It seems he's about to do something very nasty (people should run away from me when I look like that)
Very great pic.
TFS

hello chris
tres jolie macro, cet jolie petite bęte a l' air de te regarder d' un drole d' air
belles couleurs nettes
bravo et merci
edith

Muy buena la composición y la expresión del ave.

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2377 W: 94 N: 5465] (17432)
  • [2007-02-14 8:33]

Hello Chris,
Excellent protrait of this shoebill.
As supplement: I've seen this birds (from a great distance) in the south-west of Uganda (The delta near Lake Albert)
Regards,
Peter

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