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Scarlet Macaw


Scarlet Macaw
Photo Information
Copyright: Chris Chafer (sandpiper2) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1666 W: 111 N: 3531] (11475)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-12-22
Categories: Birds
Camera: Pentax K100D Super, Sigma 70-300 DG Macro, Digital ISO-400, Matin 58mm UV
Exposure: f/8, 1/180 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): My trip to Belize and Costa Rica [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-04-17 12:50
Viewed: 1109
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
In Tarcoles, on the west coast of Costa Rica is the famous Hotel Carrara. Situated behind the attractive black sandy beach, the hotel is renowned for the frequent visitation of the very impressive Scarlet Macaws. They are wild birds and can be seen all over town, along the adjacent Rio Tarcoles and they breed in the nearby Carrara National Park. But the hotel’s trees are where they come to roost for the night and we saw up to 7 birds on each of the three evenings we were there.

On the second morning they hung around until well after dawn and I was able to get a few shots including this one, but they are naturally nervous and don’t allow you get too close. On the third evening, as we watched the sun setting over Pacific Ocean, the group flew around in a dazzling display that I will never forget, but I’ll post those ones next time.

Have a look in the WORKSHOP for a distant flight shot.

The Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) is a large impressive parrot with a length of 96 cm (36 in) and a wingspan of over a metre (38 in). They live in a variety of habitat from humid lowland rainforests and adjacent open scrubs, through savannah woodlands and larger urban gardens. They are found from locally coastal Mexico through Central America south into the Amazon basin of South America, but are not common anywhere except some parts of Amazonia. Unfortunately, the population of macaws has declined in Costa Rica since the 1960’s and there they are now only found on the west coast. Destruction of habitat and pesticide spraying were apparently the cause of the decline. The pet trade has also been responsible for their decline in some areas.

In the wild they can live to in excess of 70 years. They feed on a variety of large nuts, fruits and even flowers. They are also known to eat clay from river banks, which is thought to contain minerals that helps break down toxins in some of the unripe fruit they like to eat. They pair for life and only raise young every two years. The nest is usually in a large tree hallow.

Thanks for looking.
zulfu, vanderschelden, Luis52, Proframe, Gert-Paassen, JPlumb, JORAPAVI, SelenE, ramthakur, Hormon_Manyer has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 527 W: 0 N: 95] (585)
  • [2008-04-17 12:55]

Helle Chris,
Superb capture of this beautifully coloured Tarcole.
TFS.
Regards,

Mehmet

very colorful bird, great close up with nice focus

Hi Chris,
Wild thing you make my heart sing:-)
Probably much easier to capture them in captivity.
You have the wild version.
Very interesting note.
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1022 W: 5 N: 2802] (10144)
  • [2008-04-17 15:42]

Hola Chris.
Hermosos los colores de este Tarcole. Image muy bien lograda, mostrando sus bellos atributos. Exelente encuadre escogido para la presentacion.
Saludos Chris.
Luis52.

Hello Chris,

Great saturated colors and wonderful feather details.
Love the pose of the Macaw.
Perfect sharpness andd the way the bird does stand out against the duller soft color tones in the BG is perfect.
Very well done and excellent note aswell. TFS!!!

Warm regards, Harry

Hello Chris,

Lovely portrait with beautiful colors and good of sharpness.

Regards Gert

  • Great 
  • JPlumb Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 160 N: 894] (2837)
  • [2008-04-17 23:23]

Wow Chris, I've only seen these as pets, and even then, very rarely. To see 7 birds in one tree at once would be awesome, and in flight yet. This bird has given you an amazing pose. I like how he's showing off those back and wing feathers yet turning to look at you to display that awesome head. Your colour is very good and you have excellent detail seen on this bird.
Enjoyed!

Thanks, John

Hi Chris
This guys are really colorful ones :) Cool shot and nice workshop too.
TFS
Ralf

  • Great 
  • mariki Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 989 W: 65 N: 2013] (8401)
  • [2008-04-18 10:37]

Hello Chris,

Very nice picture of this macaw. Excellent sharpness. Wonderful colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1210 W: 68 N: 2509] (8277)
  • [2008-04-18 11:51]

Hello Chris,
Very beautiful photo of this Macaw. Excellent sharpness and DOF. Great colours, BG and pose. And this all in the wild!
Regards,
Peter

Hola Chris,
Precioso ejemplar el que retrataste en una bonita composición llena de color, buena definición con un fondo muy agradable. Saludos
José Ramón

Hi Chris,

Nice shot of this Scarlet Macaw, with nice focus and great depth of field. Lovely vivid colours in the plumage and a nice pose.

Cheers,

Mike

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2349 W: 61 N: 3802] (12200)
  • [2008-04-21 6:16]

Hi Chris,
I am looking forward to see them in May in the Peruvian Amazon. Colors of the plumage are great. TFS
Greetings,
Selen

A fine portrait of this beautiful bird, Chris.
When I see the pupil in a bird's eye in sharp focus, I rate that picture very high in my priorities.
In addition to that, your image is extra rich in colours and details.
TFS and regards.
Ram

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-04-22 9:35]

Hello Chris

What a beautiful bird,the colours are striking.
The plumage detail is wonderful with excellent definition.
Lovely eye contact.
The focus is good and the details are sharp.
Very good POV and DOF.
Nicely done.
TFS

Rob

Chris,
This picture is amazing. The colors and clarity are perfect. You really captured the beauty of these birds. Well done.
-Matt

Hi Chris,
Another wonderful shot with stunning colors and sharpness. Great bird portrait with nice blurry bg, clever choice of placing the parrot off-centered. Tfs, also the interesting note. Best regards, László

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