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A Social Bird: White Pelican


A Social Bird: White Pelican
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5097 W: 178 N: 12453] (34003)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-07-21
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D-5000, Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG APO HSM, @ ISO 400
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/200 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds from the Middle East and Europe [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-08-11 2:53
Viewed: 410
Points: 58
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Pelecanus onocrotalus (White Pelican) [in Turk. Ak Pelikan]

When I started to Black Sea trip, we visited also Porsuk lake which is located between Kütahya and Eskişehir provinces. Apart from white pelicans, I also observed some additional water birds such as, Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) and Common Crane (Grus grus). But I could take some shots from pelicans and white storks.

TFL hoping that you like this shot!
Cheers,

©Bayram GÖÇMEN, Ege University, Faculty of Science. All Rights Reserved.

*****************************

This enormous bird has a spectacular azure blue bill with a central red stripe, and ending in a small, red hook. Beneath the lower jaw of the pelican, and extending to the base of the throat, is a bright yellow, elastic pouch that can hold a large volume of fish. The area of the face from the eye up to the bill is bare and fleshy pink. The head has a white crest of long, bushy feathers. The body feathers are creamy white with black tips to the wings. The feet are yellow and strongly webbed.

Sedentary populations are found year-round in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. Migratory populations are found from Eastern Europe to Kazakstan during the breeding season and from northeast Africa through Iraq to north India in the winter. Great white pelicans have also been seen in southern Vietnam.

The fishing technique of these birds demands the shallow, warm water of lakes, deltas, marshes and swamps. In Europe and Asia the great white pelican is found on freshwater wetlands with abundant reed beds and grasses for nesting. In Africa the great white pelican is also found in alkaline lakes.

A social and cooperative bird, the great white pelican fishes in the early morning, spending the remainder of the day preening and bathing. Groups of birds bathe in shallow water, ducking their heads and bodies beneath the surface and flapping their wings. Pelicans may also be seen standing on sandbars and small islands with their wings spread and bills open, to cool down. The great white pelican feeds on large fish, mainly carp in Europe and cichlids in Africa, but is also known to take eggs and chicks of the Cape cormorant (Phalacrocorax capensis) in southwest Africa. Despite evidence suggesting that pelicans take fewer fish when fishing as a group, the great white pelican commonly feeds cooperatively. Between 8 and 12 or more birds form a horseshoe shape, herding fish into shallow water, and plunging their bills to catch the fish along the way. Once a pelican has fish in its pouch, it tilts its head vertically and swallows them whole.

During the breeding season, the great white pelican male behaves territorially; gaping, clapping its bill and bowing. It may even attack other males using the bill, should they come too close. Breeding takes place in spring in Europe, but is year-round in Africa, and despite the male's defensive behaviour, the birds nest colonially near water. Males display using the head crest and the bright colours of the pouch. Once pairs have formed, a rudimentary nest is built on the ground from sticks. The female lays an average of two eggs and incubates them for 31 days. The chicks fledge after 75 to 85 days, reaching sexual maturity at three to four years. Great white pelicans can live for up to 30 years.

Reference:

1. Perrins, C. & Attenborough, D. (1987). Collins New Generation Guide to the BIRDS of Britain and Europe. William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd., Glasgow, 320 pp.
2. Wikipedia.
2. ARKive.
cirano, siggi, nkasot, zulfu, cypturk, oanaotilia, yasemin, goatman04, parasbhalla, xTauruSx, Raptorman, SMYRNA, bahadir, Gert-Paassen, Luis52, NinaM, Jamesp, elif, albert, goldyrs, Noisette, montivipera, Hormon_Manyer, CeltickRanger, anemone has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Raptorman: Merhababoreocypriensis 1 08-11 21:26
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Critiques [Translate]

Bayram Merhaba,
Ben hiç canlı Pelikan görmedim,hele sosyaliteleri konusunda hiç bir fikrim yoktu.Bilgi dağarcığıma bunun eklenmesi iyi oldu:) Teşekkür ederim.
Önderin rehberliğinde duruşları ve sıralanışları ile çok güzel bir kompozisyon oluşturmuşlar.Netlik,derinlik ve nerdeyse siyah beyaza yakın sade renkler çok hoş.Eline emeğine sağlık dostum.
Pîroz dikim...
Dûrzan

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1378 W: 56 N: 4747] (16330)
  • [2009-08-11 3:12]

Hello MF Bayram,
This is a very good image showing the group of pelicans. I do like the composition showing the birds in their natural environment. Excellent exposure. Super POV. Perfect DoF. Best regards Siggi

Bayram Hocam, pelikan grubunun harika bir görünümü. Sanırım öndeki uçuş komutu veriyor:)
Elinize sağlık.
Nazım

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1063 W: 0 N: 162] (868)
  • [2009-08-11 3:32]

Bayram hocam, anlaşılan gezinin başından sonuna bolca çekim yapmışsınız. Pelikanların Kütahyada olabileceği aklıma gelmemişti. Elinize sağlık. Hoş bir sosyal grup oluşturmuşlar.
Mehmet

Hello Dayi,
An expertly captured shot of a group of pelican from a charming point of view with wonderful composition and sharpness.
Thanks for sharing this.
Greetings from London.
cypturk

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 411 W: 0 N: 1022] (5516)
  • [2009-08-11 4:11]

Very good photo of this Pelikans!

Bayram cok guzel bir pelikan karesi olmus... En ondeki liderin pozu cok tatli... fotograf sanki uc boyutlu gibi... eline saglik...
Leyla.

Merhaba Bayram,

This is a great capture of these Pelicans with beautiful colors & details. A really nice serene & natural scenery. TFS.

Salam & regards

Umar

Hi Bayram,

Lovely shot of this group of Pelicans, they look so beautiful! Great colors, wonderful sharpness and nice POV make this a great composition. the Pelican leading the other ones, in an action brings mood into the picture. In addition, the black frame suits very well to the shot. Good work!

thanks and regards,
Paras Bhalla

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 649 W: 15 N: 1607] (6263)
  • [2009-08-11 6:21]

Hello Bayram
Nice scene, I like it
Regards
Razvan

Derinlik, netlik ve kompozisyon süper olmuş Bayram hocam.
Oldukça estetik duran bir kare.
Emeğinize sağlık.
Deniz

Bayram hocam merhaba ,
Tüm Doğa kategorilerinde çok başarılı fotoğraflarınızı izlemekteyiz , uzunca bir süredir de Kuş fotoğraflarında da belli bir çizginin üzerine çıktığınızı , bu canlıların biyolojik , davranışsal ve estetik fotoğraflarını bizlerle paylaştığınızı gözlemledim .
Şunu samimi olarak söylemeliyimki Kuş fotoğraflarınız da yıllardır çeşitli sitelere yüklenen birçok fotoğraftan daha çizgi üstü ve öğretici .
Bir Prime Lensle ve daha fazla Kuş türleri peşinde koştuğunuzda çok daha mükemmel fotoğraflarla bizleri buluşturacağınıza inancım tamdır .
Çalışmalarınızda ve uğraşlarınızda başarılar dilerim .
İlk göz ağrım , memleketim İzmire ve size Selamlar , Sevgiler .

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2395 W: 94 N: 5542] (17634)
  • [2009-08-11 9:25]

Hello Bayram,
Beautiful photo of these pelicans. Very nice to see the left one with open wings, like a commander who is leading its troups. Beautiful natural colours and excellent sharpness and composition.
Regards,
Peter

hello Bayram
great composition
super sharpness and a great picture of this beautiful birds
i like this one
greeting lou

Kanka çok güzel bir zamanlama, sayende kuuşların bazılarında da sosyal davranışların olduğunu öğrenmiş oldum. Eline sağlık.
Gökhan

Merhaba Bayram Hocam, bu kareyi çekerken bataklığa saplandığınızı biliyorum:) Ama değmiş. Elinize ve meğinize sağlık.
Bahadır

Hi lil bro Bayram,

what an nice pov on these family of Pelicans.
Good notes.

Gert

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2009-08-11 13:38]

Hi Bayram,these birds are very funny and nice.I remember to see in Mykonos,where the pelican is the symbol of the island ,and i see a lot too in Senegal,like in your pic.And your group is very nice,top quality of sharpness and colors,have a nice day,Luciano

Pelikanlar çok güzel sıralanmış ve doyumsuz bir kompozisyon oluşturmuşlar.
Harika bir paylaşım, ellerinize sağlık hocam...

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1110 W: 5 N: 3457] (12761)
  • [2009-08-11 16:46]

Hola Bayram.
Bella foto de estos Pelicanos en familia. La imagen de alta calidad y muy buen recorte para la presentacion.
Saludos Bayram.
Luis52.

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 801 W: 3 N: 2100] (6596)
  • [2009-08-11 20:07]

Hello Bayram, it is a very nice picture with very soft pastel colours. I really like the colours and the simplicity of these birds floating gently to their destination. Wouldn't it be great to enjoy lasting hours like this? ;-) Thank you,

Francine

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16522)
  • [2009-08-11 23:58]

Hi Bayram

A great shot - of one of my favourite birds. I like the composition and pov. The lead bird adjusting its wings is great.

James

Hello Bayram,
Great composition and well captured pastel coloursgood timing too
Well done
Albert

Hi Bayram,

Magnificent birds and a really nice photo of them, nicely composed. They look a lot like the huge American White Pelicans which I saw once many years ago when I didn't have photo equipment good enough to get a good shot of them, so pictures of them exist only in my mind. ;-)

John

A very well defined shot, Big Bro!
I love the way you have the entire flock in sharp focus...
Bravo!
Goldy

Merhaba Bayram
superb shot of this group of pelicans swimming on the lake, each bird is well detailed
i ike the wings position of the first one, beautiful light and nice environment
Have a good night
Jacqueline

  • Great 
  • elif Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 169 W: 0 N: 98] (458)
  • [2009-08-14 2:42]

Merhaba Bayram Hocam,
Bu seneki arazilerimde hiç pelikan göremedim ama sizin böylesine güzel bir karenizi izlerken görmeüş kadar oldum.Ayrıca eklemiş olduğunuz notlar da çok güzel, notlarınız sayesinde yeni bilgiler ediniyoruz.
Selamlar, saygılar.
Elif

Merhaba Hocam,
Güzel bir kare olmuş, elinize sağlık.
Saygılarımla, Naşit

hello Bayram

excellent photo of this group of White Pelican
with fine POV & DOF, fine focus on them excellent
sharpness and details, it is funny the first one
the wing up like if it was the leader of the group,

TFS

Asbed

Owww..çok güzel ve şirin bir olayı çekmişsiniz Hocam.
Lider uçmayı işaret ediyor galiba. Elinize sağlık...
Saygılarımla,
Özgür

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