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Eating Dandelions


Eating Dandelions
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1305 W: 0 N: 5107] (15234)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-30
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds MkII, Canon 70-200 f 2.8 L USM
Exposure: f/3.2, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite Bear photos [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-06-09 8:05
Viewed: 719
Points: 62
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took this photgraph from the window of the car. Like most of the black bears we saw it was feasting on dandelions - presumably they are rich in nutrients.

As the bear was quite close I focuused on the head and snout rather than to get the whole bear sharp. I hope you like it.

Black bears are omnivores whose diet includes both plants and meat. They are apex predators in North America, with the exception of areas where they coexist with the brown bear. The black bear eats a wide variety of foods, mainly herbs, nuts and berries. In the state of Washington, black bears eat a large amount of skunk cabbage, horsetail and tree bark during the spring. They also commonly feed on spring acorns in Massachusetts.

They also feed on carrion and insects (mainly for the larvae) such as carpenter ants, yellow jackets, bees, wasps and termites. They do raid bees' nests for honey, but more importantly for the bee larvae which are an easy source of protein. They also kill and eat small mammals (such as rodents) and ungulates, mostly the young. In Michigan and the state of New York, black bears have preyed on white-tailed deer fawns. In addition they have been recorded preying on elk calves in Idaho and moose calves in Alaska

Additionally, black bears will eat salmon, suckers, alligator eggs, crayfish, and trout and will seek out food within orchards, beehives, and agricultural croplands. They may frequent garbage dumps or appropriate food from the trash bins of businesses or private homes.

Black bears often drag their prey to cover, preferring to feed in seclusion and frequently begin feeding on the udder of lactating females, but generally prefer meat from the viscera. The skin of large prey is stripped back and turned inside out with the skeleton usually left largely intact. Unlike wolves and coyotes, black bears rarely scatter the remains of their kills. Vegetation around the carcass is usually matted down by black bears and their droppings are frequently found nearby. Black bears may attempt to cover remains of larger carcasses, though they do not do so with the same frequency as cougars and grizzly bears.
ralfsworld, Gert-Paassen, eng55, jaycee, boreocypriensis, CeltickRanger, ramthakur, iris, anilnediyara, mayuresh, uleko, Adanac, mariki, vanderschelden, Hil, eqshannon, NinaM, rcrick, Argus, anel, rousettus, avallaunius has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Demetrio: NatureJamesp 1 06-10 04:39
To ramthakur: ThanksJamesp 1 06-09 22:27
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi James
Nice shot of this black bear, well composed in thigh composition and good quality.
TFS
Ralf

Hello James,

Very good capture from these bear, Are he be eating now Dandylions?
Nice pov and dof.

Gert

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2130 W: 9 N: 5960] (22528)
  • [2008-06-09 9:49]

Hi. Very short on time tonight so just a note to say a great picture. TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 474 W: 3 N: 474] (1475)
  • [2008-06-09 9:54]

Hi james,
Very nice photo.POV,details,moment you caught,composition and visual impact are wonderful.
Excellent work!
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1911 W: 8 N: 4976] (16095)
  • [2008-06-09 9:59]

Hi James,

How strange (for me) to see this big black bear bending over the small dandelions. Wonderful details of the face and I can clearly see the flower is in his mouth. Wonderful and very unusual shot.

Jane

great focus, nice shot, Good find too. I have been in our mountains so many times yet have never seen a black bear, I know they are there and are quite common, but yet have to see one

Hi James

Reminds of when Iwas young watching "Gentle Ben" and then going looking for Bears in our local woods not realising I did not have a chance.
Lovely focus on the snout with a lovely pose.

Jai

Hi james, a splendid capture of cute black bear eating the dandelions:) my fav. flowers:P!Wonderful in all aspects. TFS.
Cheers,

Bayram
PS. My desktop pc was break down thus I use my small laptop:D it is very hard to use:p

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1888 W: 245 N: 6180] (22002)
  • [2008-06-09 14:48]

Ha! Never thought I'd see a Bear eating Dandelions! :-)
Excellent head-on POV and frame-filling composition.
I like the wrinkled snout and bushy eyebrows :-)
Very sharp and very detailed.
Superb lighting.

Very well done, James!

Cheers,
Joe

hello James

this is a superb close shot of the Black Bear, and with focusing
on the head you got a very fine DOF, also very fine POV,
great contrast, sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

Very good capture of the Black bear eating dandelions, James.
The focus on the snout shows the amount of concentration the bear has on its food.
The Himalayan Black bear is smaller in size but a real omnivore. I remember keeping night watch on our corn fields in the hills in company with my elder brother when I was a school boy. We would sit on a tree machaan (platform) the whole night and keep vigil.
The bears would invade the fields at night for fresh and juicy corn and we would frighten them away by beating tin canisters and shouting ourselves hoarse.
Your picture reminds me of that time.
Thanks and regards.
Ram

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 409 W: 41 N: 785] (2478)
  • [2008-06-09 22:46]

Hi James,
Quite a vegetarian feast for this large bear...:)Frankly a black bear used to evoke in me a really nasty look and here i am looking at one cute fellow eating away "nutricious dandelions"...the focus very mcuh works here,not only do we have fantastic view of its snout but also the beautiful flowers...the ones he is munching away have been picked up with excellent clarity .....and the overall black of the bear looks in sharp contrast to the yellow of the flowers..thank you for sharing another beautiful moment from nature.
Cheers

Hi James,
Great moment frozen ! The viewers eye travels to the action. Very informative notes too. TFS
Regards
Anil

Bonjour,
Un joli contraste pour un angle de vue original.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

Hi James
This is really neat. I like the POV you chose, good colour and composition.
Cheers
Sue

Wow was this taken in a park or out in the nature. Its big! A nice posting, looks gentle and cuddly but I guess to be near this is worrying.

Good post.

Demetrio

Hello James,
very nice shot of black bear,beautiful composition and pov,wonderful moment captured,great focussing.
well done.
TFS.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2585 W: 170 N: 7879] (24911)
  • [2008-06-10 5:06]

Hello James,
Fancy getting that big from eating Dandelions!! Brilliant frontal capture of this beautiful Black bear enjoying its meal. I like the sharp details of its face and coat. Well done!
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1111 W: 1 N: 4518] (15132)
  • [2008-06-10 5:27]

Hello James,
I love this composition you have choosen here, the head on is very appealing and I love the wrinkled nose as it goes for another blossum. Great image and notes James, Thank you.
Rick

Hello James,

Very beautiful composition. Superb close-up of this black bear eating dandelion. Excellent focus. This bear seems to be very precautious in cuting the flower and very choosy.
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-06-10 8:37]

Hello James

An amazing pov for this one.
A bit of a dichotomy if you ask me.A hulking big bear that bulks up on delicate flowers.
Well focused with lovely details.
You must have been excited to see the bears ,it never becomes old hat.
TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1357 W: 72 N: 2886] (9535)
  • [2008-06-10 11:00]

Hello James,
Don't have much time, very beautiful photo.
Regards,
Peter

This is fun, James.
Definitely a Dandelion lover especially stomach-wise, I guess.
TFS
Annick

It is a spring tonic after all, but I think that name came from Europe where certain greens were used as a diuretic...and for cleansing of the liver...truly, but you already knew that I am sure...not saying you had a reason to worry about ethanol...but I do...so I know:-)
Bob

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 655 W: 0 N: 1623] (5300)
  • [2008-06-10 16:15]

Hello James, wow,what a tender sweet picture here, you caught exactly what fascinates me most about bears, they are vegetarians and so huge and strong... this paradox intrigues me much and look at this superb picture you did with this bear. The dof is perfect and focuses perfectly on your subject. Thank you very much!

Francine

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 648 W: 42 N: 1198] (3860)
  • [2008-06-10 20:33]

Hey James,

What a stunning shot mate, love the narrow d.o.f, just isolating the face and head, perfect compositions, all the best,

Cheers Rick :)

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2770 W: 151 N: 7984] (24857)
  • [2008-06-11 4:11]

Hello again, James,
I can't resist this shiny Black Bear guzzling dandelion flowers. Great POV and focusing on the face and wrinkled muzzle.
TFS this beauty,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1812 W: 29 N: 5246] (17188)
  • [2008-06-11 11:06]

Hi James,
Wonderful shot of this bear with amazing sharpness and colours and details on its silky fur. Thank God it was concentrating on Dandelions. Superb lighting and exposure and you show a nice perspective and behaviour here. Excellent DOF, POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1242 W: 0 N: 2237] (9414)
  • [2008-06-12 0:23]

hello james,
I like this one. So funny to see the expression of the bear. Just magnificent natural shot. Good framing to show this big ball of stength in contrast to the flowers. Very well seen
A bientôt
Anne

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 750 W: 13 N: 1442] (4951)
  • [2008-06-12 14:02]

Hi James

Lovely shot of the Black Bear.
Its a great POV and i like the pose as the Bear gently eats the Dandelion.
Nice detail in the fur, and great exposure on the difficult black.

Hil

Hello James
this is really great capture. I like this shots of your very much. It is great from title to timing. wonderful work. thanks.
Ahmet

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