<< Previous Next >>

Portrait of Blue


Portrait of Blue
Photo Information
Copyright: Paul Prince (PDP) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2964 W: 366 N: 3848] (11755)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-02-27
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Tamron 28-300 XR, Digital ISO 400, Hoya skylight (1B)
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Great Portraits [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-03-15 16:06
Viewed: 912
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is a portrait of a Blue duck which I took this at the Wetland and Wildfowl Centre in Barnes. It's the same speciemn as featured here

Blue Duck
Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos
Size
Length: 53 cm
Status
Classified as Endangered
Description
The blue duck, as its name suggests, has dusky blue-grey plumage with chestnut markings on the chest. The eyes are yellow and the bill is pale pink in colour; juveniles have a grey bill and eyes.
Range
Endemic to New Zealand, the blue duck was previously widespread throughout the country. A significant decline has occurred however, and remaining populations are severely fragmented in isolated areas of habitat that remain.
Habitat
Blue ducks are found only in riverine habitats, where the water quality is good and there is bankside vegetation.
Biology
Nests are located in caves and crevices on the riverbank; females are able to breed in their first year and usually lay a clutch of around 6 eggs. These ducks feed on invertebrates, particularly on caddis fly larvae, and the average lifespan is 8 years.
Threats
Habitat loss has been one of the major causes of decline in this species. The clearance and grazing of riverside vegetation has led to the depletion of water quality in many rivers and has restricted the blue duck to less accessible mountainous areas. Predation by introduced mammals such as stoats and competition with introduced trout may also have played a part in the decrease and fragmentation of this species’ range.
Conservation
The New Zealand Department of Conservation published a Blue Duck Recovery Plan in 1997 in an effort to secure the survival of this species in the wild and to downgrade its current threat status. Some of the conservation measures involved include captive breeding and release attempts and the protection of key areas of habitat. Ongoing population monitoring is also a priority in the conservation of this attractive waterbird.

Notes are from this site. I hope you like it.
Fisher, LordPotty, pompey, cafecrem, scottevers7, liquidsunshine, Janice, AndyB, marhowie, pgmoni, red45, Runnerduck, dew77, netfalls, Luc has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To cafecrem: BoringPDP 16 03-16 11:44
To cafecrem: Boring!!!Janice 2 03-16 03:32
To Fisher: WhyPDP 3 03-15 16:43
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2005-03-15 16:19]
  • [2] [+]

Excelent portrait of Blue. The details are superb.
Could you do me a favor? Try posting a future shot at ISO 100. :) :)

Mike

Great portrait of a Whio Paul. (pronounced 'Fio')
I think I told you I found a pair of these after coming out of a big cave once. I'd say there are probably a few out there,but our south island forests are so vast and inaccessible I doubt whether a fraction of them have ever been sighted.
I think its great that other countries are involved in helping to preserve these endangered species. I was actually quite surprised to see that they have them in the UK.
A great post with excellent notes. Thanks for this Paul.

  • Great 
  • pompey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 205 W: 4 N: 780] (2762)
  • [2005-03-15 16:56]

Another great portrait Paul, I love these ducks, real characters. There is one at Arundel that is really bad tempered and tries to fly at people (good job these rare ducks are in an enclosure).
Great angry looking pose, with fine feather details and good clarity.
Good note also.

Very good portrait, excellent exposure and very good background, every detail on the duck's head is clear, well done!

Paul, very nice portrait of this Blue Duck. The color and detail are excellent. I like the framing, and how foxus falls off in just the right location. Nice Shot!

Hi Paul, a cracking detailed portrait shot, nicely composed a well controlled exposure.

Great portrait Paul,
Fantastic detail, sharpness and clarity. Excellent exposure and certainly NOT boring!
Thanks for posting

Not much left to say, other than a another very nice image paul loads of detail in the feathers, TFS

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3452 W: 144 N: 5895] (17468)
  • [2005-03-15 19:12]

Hi Paul, so this is KIWI BLUE? I wondered where he'd got to! It is good to see that England is breeding these endangered species, keeping them going. Good portrait - such an unusual pink bill with the pale yellow eyes. TFS.

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1330 W: 107 N: 4804] (21334)
  • [2005-03-15 19:53]

Wow another great shot here ! The Tamron seems to work very well. Great work !

Mario

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1592 W: 32 N: 1361] (3978)
  • [2005-03-15 19:55]

A lovely portrait shot.
Very nice detail,very sharp and a great background.
Great job,well done.

Superb sharpness Paul..I like the POV with the beak a 45 degrees into the corner. Great note - Great work!

Hi Paul!
I see you joined to the "duckmaker club" :-)))
Great quality but I hope you will be back quickly to other subjects. Ducks are very colorful but.... terribly boring :-))))

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2830 W: 75 N: 8024] (26861)
  • [2005-03-16 4:16]

Nice portrait Paul. I like details and sunlight. Very smart eye and excellent exposure of beak. Good note also.

Nice portrait Paul. good details, very sharp. just one question, how far away were you ??

Elize

This is so sharp - you can even see inside his bill! Amazing detail.
TFS

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1654 W: 79 N: 1456] (4742)
  • [2005-03-16 6:31]

Excellent portrait! Razorsharp details! It's a very good image. Composition, POV & DOF are great. TFS! :)

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2005-03-16 9:15]

Very good detailed Blue Duck!
I didn't know that they choose where the water quality is good.So they are selective ducks!
Perfect shot with perfect notes...TFS

Another gorgeous duck Paul.
Great colours, I like the bill. Very good POV, colours and composition. I wish I had all your ducks here.
Very well done.

Very nice portrait Paul, but it would have been much better with a darker BG.
Well done.
TFS.

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2005-03-16 17:26]

SUPERBE portrait vraiment très net. Magnifique travail.
Toni

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2058 W: 315 N: 4404] (14713)
  • [2005-03-16 19:02]

A great close-up portrait.
An excellent work.
Thanks Paul.

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF