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White Storks


White Storks
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2386 W: 94 N: 5517] (17564)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-09-20
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G, Digital JPEG
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/640 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-10-02 8:34
Viewed: 298
Points: 64
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This summer I’ve seen a lot of storks in the North and West Netherlands. Thirty years ago there weren’t any White Storks left in the wild in the Netherlands. But after reintroducing and the interdiction of pesticides in agriculture they increased since then.

The White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae, breeding in the warmer parts of Europe (north to Estonia), northwest Africa, and southwest Asia (east to southern Kazakhstan). It is a strong migrant, wintering mainly in tropical Africa, down to the south of South Africa, and also in the Indian subcontinent.

It is a huge bird, 100-125 cm tall, with a 155-200 cm wingspan and a weight of 2.3-4.5 kg. It is completely white except for the black wing flight feathers, and its red bill and legs, which are black on juveniles. It walks slowly and steadily on the ground. Like all storks with the exception of the Leptoptilos genus, it flies with its neck outstretched.

There are two subspecies (HBW):
• Ciconia ciconia ciconia Linnaeus, 1758. Europe, northwest Africa, westernmost Asia; wintering in Africa.
• Ciconia ciconia asiatica Severtsov, 1873. West-central Asia; wintering in India.

The Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana), now regarded as a distinct species, was formerly treated as a subspecies of the White Stork.

Conservation and population
Notable breeding totals occur mainly in central and eastern Europe, with 52,500 pairs in Poland (6th International Census of White Stork, 2004), 12,000-18,000 pairs in Ukraine, 10,500-13,000 pairs in Belarus, 10,000 pairs in Lithuania, the highest known density of this species in the world, and 8,500 pairs in Latvia. In Estonia the population has also been increasing, numbering about 4000 pairs in 2004. In Germany, 3,000 of the total 3,400 pairs are in the former East Germany. There also exists a consistent number of pairs in Romania. In southwestern Asia, Turkey has the highest population, with 15,000-35,000 pairs. Apart from Spain (14,000 pairs) and Portugal (ca. 10,000 pairs in 2008), numbers in western Europe are much less healthy, with the once sizable Danish population declining to just five pairs in 1995, while re-introductions of zoo-reared birds have halted declines in Italy (30 pairs), the Netherlands (9-12 pairs), and Switzerland (120-160 pairs). A few pairs also breed in South Africa, recent colonists from within the normal wintering population (HBW). Bulgaria also plays host to thousands of breeding pairs every year, The last count of white storks in Bulgaria has been conducted in 2004/ 2005 and the Bulgarian Bird Protection Society found 4,818 breeding pairs (Novinte.com March 7, 2009, Saturday). North of the breeding range, it is a passage migrant or vagrant in Finland, Great Britain, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden, and also west to the Azores and Madeira. Data (except Poland and South Africa): Snow & Perrins 1998.

Threats to the species include the drainage of wetlands and other agricultural intensification, collisions with overhead power lines, use of persistent pesticides (such as DDT) to combat locusts in Africa, and (largely illegal) hunting on passage and the wintering grounds (HBW). Some birds, known in German as Pfeilstorch ("arrow storks"), have been found in Europe with African arrows embedded in their bodies.

The White Stork is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

Behaviour
White Storks rely on movement between thermals of hot air for long distance flight, taking great advantage of them during annual migrations between Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. The shortest route south would take them over the Mediterranean, but since thermals only form over land, storks take a detour. The options are limited, because to the east lies the Arabian Desert, where it is difficult to find food and water - and to the west lies the Atlantic Ocean. This leaves two narrow migration corridors: eastern storks cross the straits of Bosporus to Turkey, traverse the Levant (Syria-Lebanon-Israel-Palestine), and then bypass the Sahara Desert by following the Nile, while western ones fly through the straits of Gibraltar. Either way, the storks can get help from the thermals for almost the entire trip and thus save energy.

White storks breed in open farmland areas with access to marshy wetlands, building a stick nest in trees, on buildings, or special platforms. Because it is viewed as bird of good luck, it is not persecuted, and often nests close to human habitation. In southern Europe, storks' nests can be seen on churches and other buildings. It often forms small colonies. Like most of its relatives, it feeds on fish, frogs and insects but also eats small reptiles, rodents and smaller birds.
The white stork is almost silent except for the noisy mutual bill-clattering when adults meet at the nest.

Source: Most: Wikipedia
nasokoun, goatman04, siggi, xTauruSx, cjcampbell, roges, zulfu, boreocypriensis, ferranjlloret, cirano, rousettus, maurydv, Argus, flashpoint, anemone, Jamesp, jmirah, nglen, bahadir, valy67, Gert-Paassen, anel, Adanac, Noisette, horia has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Ciao Peter, wonderful capture of lovely couple in same pose, fantastic colors, good DOF, perfect focus, splendid sharpness and fine details, very well done my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

Peter
Wonderful capture!

They bring children?
Congratulation!
Horia

hello my neighbour with the splendid scene today,
great close up sharp output!
TFS Peter thanks for sharing
Nasos

Hello Peter,

An excellent capture of this pair of White Storks with beautiful coloration, sharpness & fine details. Great POV, pose & BG.

Very nicely done & TFS.

Best wishes

Umar

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1373 W: 56 N: 4716] (16222)
  • [2009-10-02 9:27]

Hello Peter,
This is awesome, I like the their pose for your camera and the angle you captured it. very good details and BG.
Best regards Siggi

Hello Peter, lovely shot of these pretty storks in a wonderful composition.
TFS and regards,
Deniz

Absolutely lovely pair of storks. Wonderful depth of field, great background, and nice color. Very sharp.

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 597 W: 0 N: 515] (3068)
  • [2009-10-02 10:06]

Hallo Peter,

Uitstekend beeld. Een macro gemaakt met een aantal perfecte kleuren.
Have a nice weekend,
Adrian

Ciao Peter. Nice double capture today. Excellentedetails and DOF. Amazing perspective and interesting BG.

Roberto

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1055 W: 0 N: 162] (866)
  • [2009-10-02 10:37]

Hello Peter, great shot of these lovely white storks with nice composition and details.
TFS and R's,
Mehmet

Hi Peter,

Amazingly beutiful capture of these fine looking two white storks from nice POV with great DOF, perfect focussing and composition.
TFS and have a nice WE MF!
Cheers,

Bayram

Hello Peter,
Great close up of these ciconia ciconia, excellent sharpnees and BG.
Have a nice weekend.
Ferran

hallo Peter
ze staan er weer goed op
super!!zo achter elkaar
super scherp en zo mooi die lichtval midden op de veren
mooie 3d achtergrond
een super shot
bedankt !
groetjes lou

  • Great 
  • cirano Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 654 W: 0 N: 228] (4916)
  • [2009-10-02 11:53]

Slav Peter,
A wonderful capture with excellent sharpness and taken from a great point of view.Very nice colors and very well composition.Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Dûrzan

hello Peter
very lovely couple white stork and their great shot. focus, POV/DOF great; but also exposure and light using great. nicely composed.
I am pleaure to learn success of reintroction.
thanks for sharing, have a nice weekend
Ahmet

Hello Peter,
what a wonderful capture of these White Storks, very lovely pose of the birds with a perfect symmetry, marvelllous white colour tones, superb sharpness, very pleasing composition with a splendid light.
TFS
Have a good weekend
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3813 W: 190 N: 11346] (34981)
  • [2009-10-02 13:09]

Hello Peter,
A nice and unusual capture of a couple of white Storks resting with their feathers fluffed up to make them look like they are covered in snow!.
The POV, BG, sharpness and lighting are excellent.
Thanks and have a good weekend,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 406 W: 0 N: 1011] (5434)
  • [2009-10-02 20:02]

Very nice colors, great details!

Bravo Peter
Un splendide couple, et des détails superbes
Merci
Amicalement
Laurent

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2573] (9077)
  • [2009-10-03 3:39]

Hi Peter,
thanks for liking my rhodo shot.
this is an excellent example of repeating line and pattern. you have composed it wonderfully.
Brilliant moment and superbs presentation.

regards,
foozi

Hello Peter..
Lovly and professional shot.. nice composition too.
TFS
Best Regards
Özgür..

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16522)
  • [2009-10-03 8:35]

Hi Peter

A wonderful composition - the framing is excellent - a very professional shot. Well done.

James

  • Great 
  • jmirah Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 506 W: 5 N: 1135] (4665)
  • [2009-10-03 10:24]

Hi Peter
Outstanding detail, color and comp...Very well captured...TFS
Jim

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2908 W: 34 N: 8623] (32138)
  • [2009-10-03 11:00]

Hi Peter. The exposure on the white feathers is spot on. Good timing to get the pair in the same pose. We can see all of the detail in the feathers. Your use of the light has given bright colours. The red in the bills stand out so clearly. Well taken TFS.
Nick..

Hello Peter, perfect shot of these two cute white storks.
TFS and regards,
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1880 W: 59 N: 2915] (8733)
  • [2009-10-03 22:16]

Hello Peter !
The White Stork is the symbol of Alsace, the French region where I live, and I really LOVE this bird ! Here I like you you have captured two birds next to one other, in exactly the same pose. Looks fantastic. Exposure on the white feathers is very well-managed, colors are wonderful, composition and POV are perfect. Very well done !
Valérie.

Hallo Peter,

Deze mooie portret mag er ook zijn van de ooievaar.
Mooie diepte erin door dubbele portret.
goede detailering in de witte veren.
mooie natuurlijke kleuren.

Gert

Hey peter!
Very beautiful shot of these storks
Bravo,
Goldy

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1723 W: 0 N: 3903] (15686)
  • [2009-10-05 5:15]

Hello Peter,
Two very serious storks shown in an excellent decentred composition. The white plumage is very well shown by your shot. Like in Netherland, storks were reintroduced in Switzerland too in the last decennies and there is a stable population now. We even can follow one stork called Max in its peregrination on internet.
Kind regards
Anne

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
  • [2009-10-05 10:36]

Hello Peter,
Well finally I am sitting and TrekNaturing the way it should be, not rushed but enjoyed. It has been a long time my friend. This is a wonderfully composed image with great details in the white plumage. They are looking very relaxed Peter, thank you for sharing this fine image.
Rick

Hello Peter
a great capture of this two storks taken in a nice pose, wonderful details on her plumage,
no OE on the white feathers in spite the sunlight, superb colors and composition
have a good night
Jacqueline

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2171 W: 218 N: 4383] (14900)
  • [2009-10-12 0:26]

Hi Peter

This is a really beautiful shot from you!
The couple of white storks that you've captured here are most lovely and the pose in which you've caught them is just outstanding - parallel to your view plan and at different level from each other, so that they would look excellent in a shot like this. You've seized the moment and came back with a spot-on shot.
Even if you've lost a tiny amount of details in the highlights, you've done well to expose for the brighter areas of the plumage. The sharpness is good and the depth is also very well controlled.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

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