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Young Storks


Young Storks
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16522)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-06-29
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds MkII, Canon EF 300mm f2.8 USM IS
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/640 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-03 9:28
Viewed: 950
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took this picture in the Bucovina area, near one of the painted monastaries. I have never seen as many storks as I did in Romania. I will post some more delta pictures later - they are not as good as I hoped - the boat had a chug-chug motion that has not helped!

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 (40-50 in.) tall, with a 155-200 cm (61-79 in) wingspan and a weight of 2.3-4.5 kg (5-10 lbs). 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, 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.

Notable breeding totals occur mainly in central and eastern Europe, with 52,500 pairs in Poland (6th International Census of White Stork, 2004)[2], 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 Germany, 3,000 of the total 3,400 pairs are in the former East Germany. Also exist 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 (1,000-2,000 pairs), 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). North of the breeding range, it is a rare 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.
CeltickRanger, eqshannon, uleko, nglen, pekkavalo1, jaycee, boreocypriensis, Royaldevon, Gert-Paassen, goldyrs, rcrick, gracious, ramthakur, oanaotilia, Alex99 has marked this note useful
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To joey: EmailJamesp 2 07-04 15:12
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Critiques [Translate]

Super neat image James. Considering its location where we don't really see too many images. I wonder why? Perhaps a cultural thing...or maybe I just have not been paying attention. When one thinks of a certain area it conjures up Hollywood scenes...and this natural image is almost a contraindication in my mind which already thinks it knows that only vultures live there near the Counts home:-) Strange how mythical things stick with us..Very nice image James. You have temporarily demystifie3d Romania!
Bob

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2992 W: 162 N: 950] (2789)
  • [2008-07-03 11:02]

Hello James,
I love the White Stork and this is a very good capture considering you were in a boat. Excellent focus, sharp details and beautiful light. It looks good against the blue sky! I expect it was very hot when you were there?´
TFS and regards, Ulla

Hello James
Again you share a sight most of us will never see....I see you used the convertor on this one and the image quality is fabulous...I look forward to the chug boat pictures of the delta!!.I am sure they are fine even if they are not quite what you hoped for.
Paul

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2908 W: 34 N: 8625] (32146)
  • [2008-07-03 11:26]

Hi James. Looks good to me . very good detail in the feathers with natural colours against the blue sky. It looks like he is waiting for you to take its picture. TFS. interesting notes too.
Nick..

Hi James,

Excellent picture of these White Storks. Great composition, good eye contact, sharp details and good licghting and colours.

TFS

Pekka

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-07-03 12:36]

Hi James,

I have seen Storks and their huge nests only once and was enthralled by them. The chug-chug of the boat didn't interfere with you getting this wonderful shot. Beautiful colors and details of the feathers and of the face we can see. The eye and beak are wonderful. I'm still amazed by the size of the nest.

Jane

Hello James,

You have done well to gain such sharp and detailed images of the storks when they were obviously high up. The clear blue sky makes a lovely backdrop.
Good composition, using the rule of thirds.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

Hi James,

great capture from these Storks.

Super inmage and looks a little on a picture I have been placed a few weeks ago.

Gert

Putna?There's a place in India called Patna(the "Pat" pronounced like "But")which was earlier called Patliputra, a city that was seven times larger than Ancient Rome, and much older!Sorry i digressed!
This is a lovely shot, You do manage such exotic shots!
I wonder if I'll ever travel half the amont you've done!
Great work, mate!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 713 W: 36 N: 1554] (5001)
  • [2008-07-03 20:05]

Hi James,

Superb shot of these storks, the detail in the plumage is just superb, perfect exposure with the whites in the feathers, they look stunning up against that blue sky, really nice work, all the best,

Cheers Rick :)

Hello James,
Many thanks for this wonderful shot from Romania again!
this is a total beauty and the best, I loved it very much!
perfect in every aspect and sorry for the delay
greeting
Tony

Hi James,
A lovely shot of a white stork family members. Great composition my friend! TFS this.
Cheers,

Bayram

Oh, I see, you were in Romania recently, James.
I find the blue sky as the backdrop to this picture extremely fascinating. It just elevates the true beauty and technical excellence of the capture by several notches.
The storks on their nest look wonderful.
Presumably they have chicks in the nest.
Thanks and all the best.
Ram

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1110 W: 23 N: 3656] (13083)
  • [2008-07-04 3:03]

Hi James, well seen, a good composition and nicely exposed too. Hope to see some landscapes of the Delta area.
tfs and have a good weekend,
Paul

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2008-07-04 14:20]
  • [+]

Excellent shot!
Very sharp and clear.
I love how they partly bury there faces in their neck feathers :-)
Nice composition, great light, superb DOF.

Well done,
Joe

p.s did you get my email?

hello James

excellent shot of these young Storks on their nets,
with POV and framing, beautiful luminosity of the image,
i love the blue sky of this image, excellent sharpness and details,

TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3585 W: 143 N: 5669] (18533)
  • [2008-07-04 23:09]

Hi James.
Odessa is so close to Romania. Ah.
Wonderful shot and terrific quality of reproduction of charming birds and nest. Exposure is spot on. White and black feathers are reflected outstandingly. Bravo. Well done.
Alexei.

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