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10 Meters Straight Down
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Rick Price (Adanac)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif) (17609) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2009-02-05 |
| Categories: Mammals |
| Camera: Canon 40D, Canon 100-400/4.5-5.6L IS |
| Exposure: f/7.1, 1/320 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2009-02-07 16:36 |
| Viewed: 783 |
| Points: 34 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Hi All,
Todays posting is a Bighorn Sheep ewe coming down a ten meter rock face without a care in the world. Lucy says they have to have suction cups for feet. My son wanted to go to Waterton one last time before he heads off to Australia with his girlfriend, who is going there to teach for a year. Like his Dad he has a soft spot for Waterton. Hope you are having a great weekend.
Rick
Bighorn Sheep
Ovis canadensis
>
General Description
By Gustave J. Yaki
The Bighorn Sheep has the distinction of being named Alberta's provincial mammal.
Its naming distinction does not stop there; nor does its Albertaconnection. The Bighorn Sheep had been seen by Europeans much earlier. The Spanish explorer Francisco Vazquez de Coronado had met it in the American southwest between 1540-1552 and although it was well-illustrated in the 1691 account of southern California by the Spanish missionary Father Piccolo, it was not until 1804, after Duncan MacGillivray (of MacGillivrays Warbler fame) first encountered it on the Bow River, near Exshaw, AB. on 30 Nov. 1800 that the species was given its official scientific name. At the time of MacGillivray's sighting, he was with explorer David Thompson on his survey of the Canadian Rockies. Today, this species is perhaps the best known of all North
American mammals, worldwide. The magnificent head-battering battles of the rams during courtship have been repeatedly seen in films, aired on TV and even featured in corporate advertising. Banfield, in Mammals of Canada, described their jousting perfectly. "The contest usually begins with pushing and shoving at close quarters, often accompanied by slashing jabs of a foreleg. Then, according to an established ritual, the antagonists part and walk away about ten yards, turn, rear up on their hind legs, twist their head to one side 'as if sighting down their noses,' and advance slowly toward each other, still erect. As they approach, their pace quickens, and they lunge forward onto their forelegs, crashing head-on, horn to horn, with a crack [so loud] that it can be heard a mile away. So great is the impact that a shock wave ripples back the length of their bodies."
These courtship battles take place during the mating or rutting season. In Alberta, this occurs in late autumn. About 180 days later, in late May or early June, the ewes seek ledges on steep rocky cliff near mountain streams where they give birth to the lambs, usually single, occasionally twins. The lambs wear a creamy-fawn-coloured, soft, woolly coat and stand about 40 cm (16 inches) high on wobbly legs. The mothers hide them during their first week, but they soon are able follow her at a fast pace, nursing or nibbling grass along the way as they join the rest of the herd, which is always led by an old ewe. The lambs gambol and soon can climb expertly. At five to six months of age they are fully weaned. The ewes, lambs, yearlings and two year olds remain together as a group of about ten but sometimes as many as 100 individuals, all year. The young females reach reproductive maturity at two to three years; the rams at three years. The three-year old rams form into bands of their own, and led by an older, experienced male, migrate to separate, higher alpine summer pastures. Not until autumn do they rejoin the ewes.
Always alert, they can see movement a mile away. In areas where they are not hunted, such as in parks, they have become fearless, and will readily allow approach, especially in areas where there is escape terrain in the form of sparsely-treed, rocky cliffs nearby. They require salt and will travel miles to find a natural salt-lick. They have now learned that salt is applied to highways in winter and will often lick and eat debris along the road-edge, unfortunately setting them up for auto accidents.
The crowning glory of the Bighorn sheep is the ram's big horn, a massive brown spiral, which curls back and down, close to its head. The tips project forward and outward just below its eye. Because of it, the ram has a price on his head. The one with the biggest set is most sought be the hunting fraternity. Unfortunately, by always culling the biggest and best, the future generations will have ever diminishing-sized horns. The Bighorn Sheep have largely been eliminated from much of their former range, but some have been reintroduced successfully, most often with Alberta stock. Their distribution is in the drier areas of the mountainous country of western North America, from south of the Peace River in Alberta all the way into northern Mexico and eastward, formerly to the badlands in western North Dakota along the Missouri River, and to the Black Hills of South Dakota.
from Weaselhead.org |
jaycee, boreocypriensis, siggi, uleko, Noisette, NinaM, Alex99, eqshannon, CeltickRanger, Athila, mala-zaba, eng55 has marked this note useful
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Hello Rick,
Decisive moment capture. Nicely one. Aparently you were very close.
Very good photo.
TFS
Annick
- jaycee
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(21912) - [2009-02-07 21:16]
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Hi Rick,
The one time I had an opportunity to get a shot of a Bighorn Sheep one never came close enough. A major disappointment. This is fantastic - amazing how he can maneuver this rock. Lucy may be right! I love the expression on his face. Beautiful natural colors and excellent details from head to tail. The composition is superb. Nice to see you back.
Jane
Hello Rick!
Well captured Bighorn Sheep. You choose very exciting moment to made this shot. Great composition, with interesting background, excellent quality.
Regards
Jacek
Hi Rick, another excellent capture from you my friend. i loved its posture with its wonderful comomposition.
TFS. Habve a nice Sunday!
Cheers,
Bayram
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- bobair
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 397 W: 118 N: 1424]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(5142) - [2009-02-07 22:49]
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Hi Rick,
this is an excellent capture that shows well just how sure footed these animals really are.I would not care to be stumbling around rocks with a 35 foot drop to contend and yet bighorn sheep make it look so easy.This image is well exposed with a wealth of sharp detail and great colour.Thanks for sharing this one with us. Bob
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- siggi
(16252)
- [2009-02-07 23:36]
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Hi Rick
Great scenery.Very good capture of Bighorn Sheep. Fantastic light and stone mosaic in foreground. Very good composition.
Very very good job
Best regards Siggi
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- uleko
(2789)
- [2009-02-08 0:00]
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Hello Rick,
It's amazing how these sheep can manouvre on the steep rocks. It does seem to hesitate a moment here though! A lovely capture, very well-timed, sharp and beautiful. A very fine composition too in beautiful light and colours.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla
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- zetu
(6203)
- [2009-02-08 0:39]
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Hello Rick
Nice capture with great moment, good details and natural colors.
Regards
Razvan
hello Rick
you have taken this bighorn sheep at the right moment
in a beautiful pose
great natural colors and a lot of details on his fur
excellent shot
have a nice sunday
Jacqueline
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- PeterZ
(17576)
- [2009-02-08 3:10]
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Hello Rick,
Wonderful photo of an exciting moment. Perfect natural colours and very sharp. How can you come so close?
Great DOF, POV and composition.
Regards,
Peter
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- NinaM
(6594)
- [2009-02-08 6:36]
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I can understand why your son and you like it there, the nature in Alberta is amazingly beautiful and you made me discover it, along with Bobair. This is such a nice picture, Rick, it's worthed being framed. The colour of the rock is fascinating me, it's like hard sand. I also like the dof, leaving enough details to see the environment, yet being sharped only on the rock and goat. Great shot my friend!
Francine
Hey there guy! Good seeing you here...although I knew you were still kicking..perhaps as good as this little one..leap of faith eh? I have seen a famous painting called such and is one of these between tow high cliffs...on my doctors wall...it like tells me that even coming to the doctor is a leap of faith...much for my wallet!
Bob
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- Alex99
(18533)
- [2009-02-08 8:04]
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Hi Rick.
Superb three-dimensional shot of an amazing scene. I can imagine where you stood. It is very attractive. Fantastic clearness of the lights and colours and sharpness of the rocks and fine animal are perfect. Trees on the BG with blue sky are wonderful decoration of the expressive scene. My congratulations and TFS.
Alexei.
hello Rick
an excellent photography of the Bighorn Sheep,
shot with fine POV, DOF and framing, beautiful luminosity,
great sharpness and details, excellent timing to shoot the photo,
TFS
Asbed
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- Athila
(1564)
- [2009-02-08 19:16]
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Hi Rick,
Nice shot. Clear sharp image well exposed. Looks like you took as much risk as him to get this shot. Nice work and TFS.
Alain
Hello Rick,
Nice capture of this scene. Good light, even if the capture is close to 12h00.
TFS
Eric
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- eng55
(3574)
- [2009-02-09 7:27]
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Hi Rick,
Very nice capture.POV,lighting,natural colors,details and composition are wonderful.
Thanks for posting.
![Silver Star Critiquer [C: 24 W: 6 N: 7]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-n.gif)
(574)