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Barn Swallow-for Nicholas


Barn Swallow-for Nicholas
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3993 W: 153 N: 4803] (12728)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-20
Categories: Birds
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Bayram's dedications, Dedications at TrekNature Part Three [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-04-20 14:20
Viewed: 967
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hirundo rustica (Barn Swallow) [in Turk. Kırlangıç]

Dear Friends, Today I would like to dedicate this capture of this beautifull bird to one of my beloved and heartfelt friends in TN, Nicholas GLEN (nglen) who is an expert on the photographing the birds. This is also my second posting on the birds :-) I hope you can like this!
Greetings from Cyprus Nick, I wish you all the best my friend!

The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is the most widespread species of swallow in the world. A distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts, a long, deeply forked tail and curved, pointed wings, it is found in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. In Anglophone Europe it is just called the Swallow; in Northern Europe it is the only common species called a "swallow" rather than a "martin".

There are six subspecies of Barn Swallow, which breed across the Northern Hemisphere. Four are strongly migratory, and their wintering grounds cover much of the Southern Hemisphere as far south as central Argentina, the Cape Province of South Africa, and northern Australia. Its huge range means that the Barn Swallow is not endangered, although there may be local population declines due to specific threats, such as the construction of an international airport near Durban.

The Barn Swallow is a bird of open country which normally uses man-made structures to breed and consequently has spread with human expansion. It builds a cup nest from mud pellets in barns or similar structures and feeds on insects caught in flight. This species lives in close association with humans, and its insect-eating habits mean that it is tolerated by man; this acceptance was reinforced in the past by superstitions regarding the bird and its nest. There are frequent cultural references to the Barn Swallow in literary and religious works due to both its living in close proximity to humans and its conspicuous annual migration. The Barn Swallow is the national bird of Estonia.

The preferred habitat of the Barn Swallow is open country with low vegetation, such as pasture, meadows and farmland, preferably with nearby water. This swallow avoids heavily wooded or precipitous areas and densely built-up locations. The presence of accessible open structures such as barns, stables, or culverts to provide nesting sites, and exposed locations such as wires, roof ridges or bare branches for perching, are also important in the bird's selection of its breeding range.

The Barn Swallow is similar in its habits to other aerial insectivores, including other swallow species and the unrelated swifts. It is not a particularly fast flier, with a speed estimated at about 11 m/s (36 ft/s) and a wing beat rate of approximately 7–9 times each second, but it has the manoeuvrability necessary to feed on flying insects while airborne. It is often seen flying relatively low in open or semi-open areas.

It typically feeds 7–8 metres (23–26 ft) above shallow water or the ground, often following animals, humans or farm machinery to catch disturbed insects, but it will occasionally pick prey items from the water surface, walls and plants. In the breeding areas, large flies make up around 70% of the diet, with aphids also a significant component. However, in Europe, the Barn Swallow consumes fewer aphids than the House or Sand Martins. On the wintering grounds, Hymenoptera, especially flying ants, are important food items. When egg-laying, Barn Swallows hunt in pairs, but will form often large flocks otherwise.

I took this photo in the garden of the Saint Barnabas and Church in Famagusta, near the Salamis Ruins.

Reference: Wikipedia

Bayram
Jamesp, nkasot, gerbilratz, zulfu, bahadir, xTauruSx, jaycee, spalaxtr, montivipera, haraprasan, nglen, mariki, rousettus, CeltickRanger, Luis52, matatur, goldyrs, gracious, valy67, yasemin, degani, cypturk has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To rousettus: muğlarousettus 1 04-21 15:26
To rousettus: :=)boreocypriensis 1 04-21 13:48
To montivipera: Slm Naşitboreocypriensis 1 04-21 12:40
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 0 N: 4842] (14380)
  • [2008-04-20 14:25]

Hi Bayram

A lovely shot with grat colours and good detail - a worthy dedication to a talented member.

James

Bayram Hocam incir agacında nefis bir ev kırlangıcı karesi hem de Kıbrıs'tan ve yeni çekilmiş. Elinize sağlık.
Bu arada Manastırın adı ile Kuşun Ingilizce adındaki benzerlik tesadür olmasa gerek!

Hi Bayram, good looking bird you have there, good colours and an excellent composition.

tfs and best regards h

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 527 W: 0 N: 95] (585)
  • [2008-04-20 14:35]

Kıbrıs'tan nefis bir kırlangıç pozu yakalamışsınız hocam.
Elinize sağlık!
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • Nilson Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 349 W: 0 N: 294] (2224)
  • [2008-04-20 14:40]

Ola Bayram lindo passaro muito bem fotografado e qualidade exelente meus parabéns.
Nilson

Mükemmel bir kırlangıç resmi olmuş Bayram Hocam elinize sağlık.
Teşekkürler.
Bahadır

Hocam walla görünüşe göre Kıbrıs'ta hiç boş durmuyorsunuz. Güzel renklerle nefis bir Kırlangıç resmi çekmişsiniz.
Elinize sağlık.
Gözlerimiz yollarda kaldı! Arkadaşlara selamlar.
Deniz

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1788 W: 8 N: 4639] (15001)
  • [2008-04-20 14:52]

Hi Bayram,

A wonderful dedication to a wonderful photographer and friend, Nick. I have only seen Barn Swallows once when in Europe and thought they were adorable. Nice shot of this one in the tree. His colors show off beautifully. I love the composition.

Jane

Bayram merhaba,
Kırlangıcı bu güne kadar hiç ağaçta görmedim. Şanslısın ve güzel bir fotoğrafını çekebilmişsin. Eline sağlık. Selamlar
Mustafa

Selamlar Hocam,
Kuşların devamı gelecek gibi görünüyor. Bu kuşlara olan ilginin nedeni fazla sürüngen olmaması değildir umarım :) Fotoğraf güzel ve Mustafa Hoca'ya ben de katılıyorum, ben de hiç ağaçta fotoğraflanan bir kırlangıç görmemiştim. Paylaşım için teşekkür ederiz.
Saygılar
Naşit

Hi Bayram,
Another beautiful bird post. Nick is surely going to like this. Excellent sharp details and lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1696 W: 242 N: 5596] (19883)
  • [2008-04-21 8:25]

Nice capture, Bayram!
A fitting dedication to Nick!
Very sharp though at the expense of some noise.
Nice colours and great lighting.
Excellent composition.
Well done Geckoman!

Joe

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1993 W: 5 N: 5571] (21050)
  • [2008-04-21 12:43]

Hi Bayram. Only your second bird and you have dedicated it to me i am so touched and thank you so much. This is a fine close up of the Barn Swallow. you have captured a good POV from below. good detail and colours. well done TFS.
Nick..

Once again thanks

  • Great 
  • mariki Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 989 W: 65 N: 2016] (8413)
  • [2008-04-21 12:48]

Hello Bayram,

Good composition. Sharp picture of this swallow. Very nice colours. I have the impression you tried to sharpen too much which has created a lot of noise.
Cheers,
Mariki

üstad kuş hastalığı diğerlerine pek benzemiyor, sana da bulaştı anlaşılan:) ama en güzel hastalıklardan biri. yakına bir 400lük zoom veya teleyle dolaşırsan şaşırmaz kimse.
eline sağlık güzel çekim. arkadaşımız Nicholas için de güzel bir hediye. eline sağlık
Muğladan selamlar.
Ahmet

hello Bayram

another beautiful shot of a bird, fine POV showing
in same time the up and underpart of the plumage,
alos fine framing and DOF, beautiful luminosity of the image,
with great sharpness and details of the foreground, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 927 W: 4 N: 2317] (10792)
  • [2008-04-21 18:23]

Hello Bayram,
Well dedicated shot and a very very nice one. The focus is perfect and superb view.Ganesh

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1022 W: 5 N: 2802] (10144)
  • [2008-04-21 18:58]

Hola Bayram.
Wellcome to the club of Birds fans.
It is a great honor to have You here.
Great image of this "Golondrina"
Nicolas (nglen) is going to be happy for this present.
saludos My friend.
Luis52.

Hullo Bayram,
Nice shot of a barn swallow displaying its rustic colourings. The branches of the fig tree look quite healthy my friend, wish to be there when its figs are matured!
Mehmet

Wow, bro,
You're great at birding shots as well..
Cheers!
Goldy

Hi Bayram, splendid bird in lovely pose, wonderful colors and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Merhaba Bayram,
Selam!!
A great size to enjoy and view the closeness of the Barn Swallow! a well captured and composed image also a very nice dedication to our friend Nick!
good sharpness, nice colour and details in the shot
my compliment! Bayram!
take care and best wishes
Tony

Hello Bayram !
I have two of these birds building their nest at home, I love to watch them fly around the house, they are so beautiful ! You captured this one very nicely, I love his pose, but I also like the vivid colors, the composition and the POV. I don't know, but I think maybe the picture is a bit over-sharpened ? But not a big problem, it remains a fantastic picture and a wonderful dedication to a very talented photographer. Very well done !
Valérie.

Kilise bahcesinde hem de en cok sevdigim meyvenin agacinda:) harika olmus. Selamlar kardesim. Hersey gonlunce olur insallah.
Leyla

Great image my friend, you catched this nice bird with a beautiful picture, intersting note too, as always Bayram,
kind regards
franco

Papazin kusu deselermis girlangica yakisirmis yani:) manastiri isgal etmisler... cok guzel cektin dayi eline saglik. detaylar muthis... tfs... cypturk

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