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Feeding the youngsters


Feeding the youngsters
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2419 W: 94 N: 5591] (17778)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-07-31
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G, Digital JPEG
Exposure: f/8, 1/250 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-07-31 7:34
Viewed: 466
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 68
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
It is a sunny day today. Excellent weather to make a bicycle tour. After a few hours suddenly in the shadow of a willow there were three juvenile Barn Swallows sitting on a branch. I waited till one of the parents came to feed them. I had to use the fill-flash, because the BG was extremely light with the sunshine on the grasslands. This is the original version, not cropped. The birds were made lighter and were sharpened.

Facts
The Barn Swallow is the most abundant and widely distributed swallow species in the world. It breeds throughout the northern hemisphere and winters in much of the southern hemisphere.
The long tail of a Barn Swallow may indicate the quality of the individual bird. Females prefer to mate with males that have the longest and most symmetrical tails.
An unmated male Barn Swallow may kill the nestlings of a nesting pair. His actions often succeed in breaking up the pair and afford him the opportunity to mate with the female.
Female Barn Swallows favor males that have a darker reddish chest color.

Habitat
Found in many habitats with open areas for foraging and structures for nesting, including agricultural areas, cities, and along highways. Needs mud for nest building.

Food
Flying insects.

Nesting
Nesting Facts
Egg Description
Creamy white with small dark spots.
Condition at Hatching
Helpless, with tufts of down.

Nest Description
An open cup of mud and grass. Lined with fine grass stems, hair, and feathers. Nest is fastened to a vertical wall under an overhang or placed on a ledge.

Behavior
Catches insects in flight, often low to the ground.
Conservation
The Barn Swallow has benefited greatly from human activity. Artificial structures have allowed it to move into new areas and nest in higher densities than ever before. As a result, populations are much greater than they were before European settlement of North America. You can help scientists learn more about this species by participating in the Celebrate Urban Birds!

Source: Allaboutbirds.org

zetu, maurydv, robindb, roges, goldyrs, nazirbadar, goatman04, Arjun, horias, nglen, anel, parasbhalla, jignasi, jaycee, oscarromulus, albert, rkailas, Noisette, Gert-Paassen, jojo1984, SelenE, uleko, Hormon_Manyer, boreocypriensis, peter_stoeckl has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To euroblinkie: Chinees schilderijPeterZ 1 07-31 12:01
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 663 W: 15 N: 1650] (6423)
  • [2009-07-31 7:40]

Hello Peter
Wonderful scene capture with vivid colors and excellent details
regards
Razvan

Hello Peter,
a wonderful scene, excellent POV and very good sharpness, i like this dynamic composition with very beatiful colours and BG:
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

Hi Peter,

Well seen and caught action on the parent bird. The composition is enhanced by the inclusion of the bird to the right who seems to be watching if the feeding is done properly. It really makes a beautifull picture.

Robin

Ciao Peter, fantastic capture, beautiful composition with lovely birds in nice pose, fantastic colors, splendid sharpness and fine details, wonderful blurry BG, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 627 W: 0 N: 574] (3284)
  • [2009-07-31 8:19]

Hello Peter,

Een prachtige scène presenteren we vandaag.
Gefeliciteerd en verwachten en meer.
Een mooie dag,
Adrian

A beautiful composition, Peter.
I couldn't have asked for any shot more beautifully balanced!
Bravo!
Goldy

Really excellent POV. great picture.best scene to capture.
Regards
Nazir

Hello Peter,

A great capture with beautiful colors, sharpness & details. Very well done natural scene.

TFS & Regards

Umar

  • Great 
  • Arjun Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 359 W: 7 N: 1114] (5420)
  • [2009-07-31 10:12]

hello sir,
beautiful picture of these swallows.
good action captured
TFS

  • Great 
  • horias Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 400 W: 59 N: 871] (4110)
  • [2009-07-31 10:30]

Peter,
Lovely capture. Is a photograph or a painting? Because is so wonderful, like in the romantic books.
Congratulation!
Horia

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2926 W: 34 N: 8678] (32334)
  • [2009-07-31 10:35]

Hi peter. You have worked well with the fill flash. I like the one on the right its looking for its food. Good detail and bright colours. All with interestng notes. Well done TFs.
Nick..

Have a nice weekend.

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1735 W: 0 N: 3954] (15862)
  • [2009-07-31 11:22]

Hello Peter,
Very vivid and natural scene!Im sure you looked at these birds quite a while. We can imagine a whole story. The colors are so light and clear, a sunny and touching picture.
Interesting note too.
Thanks and nice evening
Anne

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1982 W: 6 N: 5529] (19689)
  • [2009-07-31 11:34]

Hi Peter,a very nice composition and a decisive moment to take the pic.Caught in the act! Excellent sharpness and colors too,very tender situation!My best compliments,have a nice weekend,LUCIANO.

Hi Peter,

Superb composition with harmony of blue and green colors all over...wow!

the sharpnmess and POV are just great with nice DOF. In addition, you capture a great moment. The birds seems to be having a good time with eachother. A wonderful shot!

Thanks for sharing!

regards,
paras Bhalla

Hello Peter,
Excellent capture, well composed, with the decive moment. The flash was helpful here! Best regards,
Catherine

hallo Peter
dit is echt een mooie compositie
het klijkt wel een Chinees schilderij
mooie kleuren en een goede achtergrond
super mooi!!
groetjes lou

Preciosa imagen del interesante adistramiento de las golondrinas adultas a los polluelos. He visto alguna vez esta escena y es tierna e instructiva.
Lo interesante es lo bien que la captaste: luz, colores, congelación del vuelo del adulto ... y además ese pequeño de la izquierda observando la escena con cara de enfado !!
Un trabajo impresionante: enhorabuena Peter:
Josep Ignasi.

Witaj Peter
WOW! Very dynamic scene. Incredible. All is here! Moreover beautiful colours and super sharpness.
I congratulate and greet - Roma

  • Great 
  • cirano Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 657 W: 0 N: 228] (4956)
  • [2009-07-31 15:41]

Slav Peter,
A wonderful action capture with nice colors and excellent sharpness.Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Dûrzan

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-07-31 16:37]

Hi Peter,

A magnificent action shot! I think Barn Swallows can open their mouths wider than any other bird. The parents hovering over the youngster with their wings spread are wonderful. I think the scene stealer is the swallow watching them - not sure he looks too pleased. Captured perfectly and composed beautifully.

Jane

Peter,
Love swallows.... all the birds in general.... even the most ugly owl.

A very well presented scene with crisp details.
Loved it. Great notes too.

Mario with friendly greetings.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3840 W: 190 N: 11430] (35227)
  • [2009-07-31 22:16]

Hello Peter,
A superb capture, especially as this is uncropped!
The lighting, sharpness and colours are excellent and the the composition of the three barn Swallow fledgelings sitting on the willow branch while the parent is feeding them is great. The natural OOF ligt green BG is also very good.
Thanks and have a good weekend,
Ivan

Hello Peter,
Great timing ,beautiful composition
Well done and TFS
Albert

Hi Peter

This is a very appealing capture - excellent moment and composition. Lovely, richly green, even BG.

TFS
Ravi

Hello Peter,
Generally I float over the bird pictures, as time is just too short to look at everything, but this really caught my eye, both for the action and the colours. Very well done.
Alan

Hello Peter
what a lovely image, it's a great action shot with superb colors, i love the green BG
the details are very sharp, i like the expression in the face from the one on the right
Have a great sunday
jacqueline

  • Great 
  • Nilson Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 442 W: 0 N: 427] (3110)
  • [2009-08-01 14:29]

Hello Peter

Wonderful shot with natural colors, great sharpness and lighting. The comositon is splendid. You caught a beautiful moment of this birds.
Well done
Nilson

Hallo Peter,

Wat een mazzeltje deze mooie plaat.
Mooie compositie en moment.
dit is mij nog niet overkomen maar nou ben ik ook geen specialist in vogelfotografie.
Heb meer verstand van andere zaken mbt. natuur.
Prachtige kleuren ook en ik kan niet zie dat je geflitst hebt.


groet Gert

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1347 W: 0 N: 2588] (9129)
  • [2009-08-02 0:25]

Hi Peter,
moment well taken and excellently executed. The sharpness is brilliant as the flying and swapping wings are frozen right on time.
Well taken in excellent composition, especially the lone bird at the corner.

Regards,
Foozi

hello Peter!
tres sympa !! j aime beaucoup le BG qui fait ressortir les oiseaux!
tres bon details !
tres belle photo!
merci pour ton partage a tres bientot
Joffrey

Wow Peter, What a superb capture this one! Amazing! Absolutely stunning moment to press the shutter. Lovely capture of multiple birds. Superb composition1

TFS,
Kedar

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4227] (13822)
  • [2009-08-03 10:23]

Hi Peter,
Looks like a painting. I like the colors and moment you captured a lot.
TFS
All the best,
Selen

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3012 W: 162 N: 1012] (2959)
  • [2009-08-07 12:16]

Hello Peter,
A wonderful composition showing this family of Swallows that reminds me of a Chinese painting! Fine sharp details and beautiful colours of their plumage that looks very nice against the light background.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

Hi Peter,
Absolutely great shot: perfect composition, sharpness and use of flash - the "extremely bright" background became a warm, yellowish green "carpet". Excellent use of the equipment, and above all, a very nice moment. Congrats for capturing it and of course, tfs.
Friendly regards from Hungary, László

Hi Peter,
A lovely and perfect capture of these cute barn swallows while feeding with fine details and composition.
TFS and have a nice Sunday!
Cheers,
Bayram

Hi Peter,
very lively gathering of swallows, captured in exquisite composition with splendidly uniform shiningly sunny background.
Thank you! With best regards,
Peter

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