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Starling's Caviar


Starling's Caviar
Photo Information
Copyright: Jean Michel Peers (JeanMichel) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 633 W: 87 N: 938] (2864)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-02-04
Categories: Birds
Camera: Sony DSC-F717, Sony/Zeiss teleconverter (1,7)
Exposure: f/2.4, 1/400 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-02-04 18:05
Viewed: 1822
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
STURNUS VULGARIS
Etourneau Sansonnet, Starling, Star, Estornino Pinto, Stare, Spreeuw.

DESCRIPTION
Size: 18-21cm, weight: 80 to 90 g, wingspan 37 cm, lifespan 20 years
The sexes are similar, but in spring and summer the males lose the spots on the breast, and the lower part of the bill becomes bluish towards the base. A wide range of chuckles, whistles, knocking and grating sounds are produced, along with good imitations of the songs of other birds.
POPULATION
Starlings occur throughout Europe, reaching central and southern Asia. Non-migrant, except in Northern Europe. Starlings have been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and North America. Found in a huge range of habitats, the European starling is a gregarious bird; this is particularly in evidence during winter, when individuals feed in flocks and often roost in huge numbers. This is often a spectacular sight, involving a swirling aerial display.
FOOD
A wide variety of food is eaten, such as insects and grains, as well as items from bird tables, rubbish dumps, the seashore and sewage farms. The beak is well adapted for probing the soil, and leatherjackets (cranefly larvae) are a major source of food.
REPRODUCTION
During the breeding season, the nest is made in a hole, typically in a building or a tree. After mid-April, 5-7 bluish eggs are usually laid. Both parents incubate the eggs for up to 15 days, they then feed the chicks for 20-22 days. After fledging, the juveniles are often seen following their parents as they feed, begging for food.

STATUS
The dramatic decline of this species, formerly one of our commonest and most familiar birds is thought to be due to the widespread loss of permanent pasture, an important feeding habitat, as a result of the intensification of agriculture.
The European starling has been up-graded to the Birds of Conservation Concern Red List.

Notes compiled partly from this site
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In winter, male plumage shows more visible white dots. Here, this one shares ivy berries with a few other starlings and blackbirds. They started to eat them after the first frost, when these berries became softer.
Overcast sky, spot metering, ISO 200, auto white balance. Focal lenght 300mm.
rlortie, coasties, marhowie, elroyie, azulu, willie, sAner, liquidsunshine, Janice, red45, Lesley, Luc, gerhardt, extramundi, Callie has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To extramundi: Piece of luck!JeanMichel 2 02-13 18:04
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Critiques [Translate]

Vraiment superbe Jean Michel. L'action, le fruit dans le bec, la composition et l'arrière-plan en font une photo gagnante.

Nice image Jean Michel. Great shot of the flapping wing. Good clear image with a very nice subject. Excellent DoF. Well done. TFS

  • Great 
  • edji Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 83 W: 8 N: 22] (426)
  • [2005-02-04 19:42]

Very nice. I like the movement effect in the wing. Very great DOF and framing. Well done!

Excellent picture, great catch of the moment.
There are a little signs of post processing om the frame, it looks like noise reduction or something like that.

Jean, Great action shot! Like the composition & framing. Maybe a tiny bit off the top IMO.. Excellent note. Well done!

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1674 W: 5 N: 2130] (11898)
  • [2005-02-04 21:26]

En se moment le jour à l'exrerrieur j'ai dans ma cour une 10 d'étourneaux. Quelle oiseau coloré quand il est au soleil. Cet oiseaux est le "boss" des oiseaux. Belle prise de vue avec une très belle composition. Merci pour l'envoi.

  • Great 
  • azulu Gold Star Critiquer [C: 111 W: 0 N: 75] (374)
  • [2005-02-04 23:31]

Very nice shot Jean. I like the composition with nice colors and sharpness. Great moment. Good note as usual.

Congratulations

Alexandre

Great shot Jean Michel, you catch a great moment
Very good pose, composition, DOF and Colours.
I like it very much.
Very well done.

Stunning Jean. I like this so much it goes to my Fav's. Very very good. Well done

  • Great 
  • puffy Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 314 W: 0 N: 352] (1349)
  • [2005-02-05 2:11]

Great capture Jean Michel, what a good action shot! I like it, thanks for sharing... :)

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1648 W: 79 N: 1438] (4742)
  • [2005-02-05 4:19]

Excellent timing! :) Great capture. Well done!

Great shot Jean,
Excellent moment to capture, and superb notes.
Thanks for posting

Wow, impresive capture, great pose and POV.
Very well done.
TFS.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3464 W: 145 N: 5943] (17794)
  • [2005-02-05 5:07]

Excellent action shot Jean Michel. Good compo and the details are very clear. Well done.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2816 W: 75 N: 7977] (26975)
  • [2005-02-05 6:07]

Superb action shot Jean Michel! I like moment you've captured, pose with berry in the beak, blurred wings. Excellent work!

  • Great 
  • puciu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 519 W: 0 N: 16] (2603)
  • [2005-02-05 9:21]

¦wietna fotografia, uchwycone w doskona³ym momencie.

  • Great 
  • Lesley Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 297 W: 13 N: 913] (2988)
  • [2005-02-05 12:00]

Beautiful capture of a wonderful moment. Great timing and execution. Good as well.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2052 W: 315 N: 4301] (14719)
  • [2005-02-05 17:19]

Superbe étourneau, Jean-Michel.
Un quasi-chef-d'oeuvre! ;-) n'eut été de cette aile en mouvement. Je crois qu'à 1/1000 elle aurait été figée.
Excellente composition et pause.
Ils ne se laissent pas approcher de près, ces oiseaux. Nous avons les mêmes ici au Québec. Je crois qu'ils sont arrivé de chez vous il y a deux siècles.
Merci

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
  • [2005-02-06 14:13]

Jean Michel, you captured a great moment. The bird is very beautiful, and you shot shows this well.

Nice composition and POV. The blurred BG highlights the beauty of the bird.

Its a perfect moment captured. I like the natural "bottom" frame the plant gives. Nice OOF BG setting the subject of nicely. Perfect exposure. Great shot!

We have them here in SA too. But I haven't seen one yet. :(

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2192 W: 124 N: 2599] (8406)
  • [2005-02-11 11:40]

Fantastic photo Jean Michel,
Very good capture hered, the fresing of the wings is nice, the details are great, and the pof is great, with a good dof, I realy like the photo, great job

Jean Michel, this one is incredible with the bird shaking only one wing. I know who slow is our cam when pressing the shutter with this action shots, and you did great! Beautiful background for the bird and the plants.

  • Great 
  • Callie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1243 W: 106 N: 2606] (7501)
  • [2005-02-16 14:59]

Hi Jean Michel
Nice, clever title, well depicted action, interesting pose and a good note, what more can a guy ask for? We have these guys down in the Cape as well, imported by the setlers many years ago.

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