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Young grebe fishing


Young grebe fishing
Photo Information
Copyright: Helene Provencher (chouette) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 0 N: 843] (3000)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07-24
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Canon EF300mm 4/L IS
Exposure: f/8, 1/500 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-07-16 23:02
Viewed: 1086
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello!
I just wanted to share this one with you. This is a capture of a young grebe catching his breakfast! I know this is not the best quality image, and that the fish is a little OE, but I was so exited when I saw this young grebe with that big fish! I was not sure what will happen after... Will the grebe be able to eat that fish? As you can see on the small photos, he had no problem to swallow the entire fish!

Thanks for looking!

Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps

Characteristics 
12-15" (30-38 cm). Pigeon-sized. The pied-billed grebe has brownish feathers and a short whitish bill. Its bill has a dark ring around it during breeding season.

Range
The pied-billed grebe's range covers most of eastern Canada and all of the United States. It the northern parts of its range, the pied-billed grebe will migrate to areas with open water. It will live year-round In the southern part of its range as long as the water doesn't freeze over.
 
Habitat
The pied-billed grebe can be found in marshes and ponds. It may move to saltwater habitats when freshwater habitats freeze.

Diet
The pied-billed grebe eats mostly aquatic invertebrates, although it will sometimes eat fish, reptiles and amphibians.

Life Cycle
The male pied-billed grebe or a male and female pair will establish a territory during breeding season. Both the male and female gather vegetation from the pond or marsh bottom and build a floating nest in shallow water. The female pied-billed grebe lays two to ten eggs. Both the male and female incubate the eggs. Incubation takes about 23-27 days. The chicks are precocial and leave the nest within an hour of hatching. Although they can swim and dive as soon as they leave the nest, the parents will protect the chicks and will sometimes carry them on their backs. They will leave their parents when they are a month to two months old. In the southern parts of their range, females may have two broods a year.

Behavior
The pied-billed grebe is an excellent swimmer and diver. It often dives to evade predators. In fact, another name for the pied-billed grebe is the Hell-diver.


Speed: 1/500
F-Stop: f/8
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 300mm
elefantino, coasties, marhowie, liquidsunshine has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Helene, TN is a great place to share such experience. The fish is really big for this grebe!!! As you said the pic has not the best quality but the moment freeze is amazing and important to show the grebe way of life.
TSF,
Andrea

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3069 W: 231 N: 5841] (19634)
  • [2006-07-17 2:39]

Bonsoir Helene,
This is a fantastic series of shots.
What an amazing catch for you and for this young grebe.
I am quite amazed that he was able to swallow such a huge fish.
Wonderful POV with sharp details and beautiful light.
TFS. : )

Hi Helene

Well done on a great shot. Well composed, good POV and clarity and sharpness are spot on. :-)

Hello Helene, excllent colors, Bg, POV DOF Perfect details, great work, TFs Kyle

Hi Helene,
When you have the chance to get a great action shot like this, you just have to try and do the best you can with the light and conditions. You did well here. That is a big mouthful. Well done!
Scott

Well presented Helene,
The details are nice, clear and sharp.
Good colours, lighting and exposure. DOF is spot on and the POV is good.
Well composed and nicely framed.
Thanks for posting, have a great week

Hi Helene,
Great series of shots, nicely sequenced..
I especially like the opening shot, and POV there..
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • hibou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 194 W: 1 N: 345] (1509)
  • [2006-07-18 12:03]

Bonjour Hélène,
Superbe clichés ... et le montage nous montre bien les étapes crutiales de l'actions. Bravo et merci de partager. Donald

Salut Hélène!

Superbe capture que tu a réussie ici! Tout comme ce canard dailleur! J'aime ton idée d'inclure les médaillons pour nous montrer d'autre instant de cette action. Félicitation!
Jean.

  • Great 
  • pac Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 84 W: 14 N: 158] (1727)
  • [2006-07-30 14:00]

What a SUPER grebe photo. I'm a great grebe fan myself, but I've never come across a grebe like the one on your picture.

/Dan

Hi Helene a superb catch with a cute young grebe nice detail and good write up TFS rgds Necip,

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