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Camouflage


Camouflage
Photo Information
Copyright: Rick Price (Adanac) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1111 W: 1 N: 4518] (15132)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-17
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 40D, Canon 100-400/4.5-5.6L IS
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/800 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Where They Really Live [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-18 13:02
Viewed: 571
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This Gray Partridge is hiding in some weeds near a reed bed on the shore of Murray Lake near Medicine Hat. I thought I would share this as it is a great example of natures' camouflage. Many times I have nearly stepped on Gray Partridge or Ring-necked Pheasants only to have them flush and scare the living daylights out of me.

Gray Partridge
Perdix perdix
Also known as - Hun, Hungarian Partridge.


General Description

By Gustave J. Yaki


This introduced species' normal range is in western Eurasia from Britain east to northern Russia, and south to southern Europe, Turkey, northern Iran, Turkestan and Mongolia. Stock was brought to North America and widely introduced for hunting purposes, from Hungary (hence its alternate name, Hungarian Partridge) in the early 1900s. It is now believed that some of introduced species may have carried diseases which caused major declines in native gamebird populations, similar to the impact that Europeans had on the native Indians. Now, many once well-established introduced populations have also recently declined or disappeared altogether. Gray Partridges are still abundant in the prairie provinces. The Alberta population apparently is still thriving where it occurs in the southern and central part of the province.

It is a common permanent resident in the agricultural areas of the province -- the grassland and parkland regions, with an isolated population in the Peace River area. Its diet includes waste grain, weed seeds, green plants and many insects.

The nest is a hollow on the ground, lined with grasses. The 9-20 eggs are incubated by the female for about 24 days. As soon as the young have all hatched and are dry, the family leaves the nest. The young find their own food but are brooded and guarded by both adults. Wing-feathers soon appear, and they can flutter at 10-11 days and fully fly at 16 days. The family remains together until the next spring.
nglen, gerbilratz, jaycee, flashpoint, mariki, eqshannon, CeltickRanger, NinaM, JPlumb, ramthakur, Jamesp has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2130 W: 9 N: 5960] (22528)
  • [2008-03-18 13:08]

Hi Rick. I had to look hard in the thumbnail picture to see what it was. The bird is well hidden . good detail and natural colours. well done TFS.
Nick..

truly amazing image,to get this close and get such a sharp image is really impressive. You have captured the eye and perfectly. Stunning colourisation and perfect camouflage.TFS

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1911 W: 8 N: 4976] (16095)
  • [2008-03-18 13:24]

Hi Rick,

A perfect example of camouflage. But you show him off very clearly. I love his eye!! Beautiful natural colors. You have captured this Partridge perfectly.

Jane

Great capture Rick... and good eye on your part and nice eye on the partridge too! I am surprised that you were able to get close to a pheasant. Be careful...we don't want the living daylights scared out of you!

TFS
Evelynn : )

I wonder if I have ever seen any in the wilderness area, since it was imported...? It looks somewhat a familiar however I might have seen some pheasant which looked like it...I'll not know but this is a fine image of a breed which likes to hide in the bush..This is where it belongs!
Bob

hello Rick

what a lovely shot of this Gray Partridge perfectly camouflaged
and hided in the vegetations, i love your POV from his back
and by side, and i love the low POV, lovely luminosity of the image
and great details of his lovely plumage, TFS

Asbed

Rick,
Very good focus through all the hay to catch this beautiful partridge in its environment. Very good clarity and the bird is clear and sharp. Good note too.
way

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 655 W: 0 N: 1623] (5300)
  • [2008-03-18 17:36]

You're so funny, Rick, how many times I have laughed reading your notes, a single line! This is another great picture, camouflage and the colours of the animals corresponding to their environment amaze me all the time, in almost everey single picture of an animal here on TN. This reminds me one day I was walking in the wood with a friend and we saw two partridges ahead of us... two minutes later we saw two hunters looking for partridges and crossing their path, totally in the wrong way. We had a good laugh. Thanks for your picture, real nice in great natural colours, nice notes,

Francine

  • Great 
  • JPlumb Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 644 W: 160 N: 894] (2837)
  • [2008-03-18 22:26]

Very fitting title Rick. He is very plain when you open up the shot, but looking at the thumbnail, not quite so obvious. Even though he blends in so well, you've managed to present to us very good sharp detail with excellent colour on the bird. The eye especially stands out very well here. Very nicely done.

Thanks, John

Very effective camouflage this Patridge has gone for, Rick.
In fact it is the very sharp focus on the eye of the bird that helps in identifying the bird hiding in the reeds.
Brilliant natural shot.
Thanks and best regards.
Ram

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1305 W: 0 N: 5107] (15234)
  • [2008-03-18 23:51]

Hi Rick

A great shot - good composition and POV with wonderful colour and detail. Well observed and captured.

James

Hello Rick,

Beautiful picture of this partridge in the high herbs. Very good POV, DOF and focus on the bird. Superb colours and light.
Well done,
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1888 W: 245 N: 6180] (22002)
  • [2008-03-19 5:18]

Wow! Excellent capture of this Grey Partridge!
This photo is really natural and the POV makes me feel like I'm actually there watching it!
Incredibly good focusing through the dense reeds.
Brilliant lighting and exposure.
Great composition.
Nice work Rick!

Joe

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1836 W: 94 N: 2340] (8406)
  • [2008-03-19 11:21]

Hi Rick,
Very well camouflaged, but not for your eyes! Excellent details, colours and approach.
TFS, José M.

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-03-27 7:32]

Hello Rick

A very sharp image of this partridge.
The colour palette is wonderful.
Great eye detail and colour.
A very good example camo.
TFS

Rob

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