Mallard Ducks by the Dozens

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Mallard Ducks by the Dozens
Photo Information
Copyright: Bob Airhart (bobair) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 359 W: 73 N: 1090] (4080)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-12-30
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon Digital Rebel XT, Tamron 28-200AF XR
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-01-30 20:22
Viewed: 530
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I hope that this image conveys what in actuality is hundreds of mallards in one place. Here in High River there is an area of water that never completely freezes over during the winter (even when it is as cold as -35c).I have heard that this stream is fed by warm water so it only gets partly covered in ice.This picture was taken while I was looking for the owl I had taken the day before.There were only a few ducks the day before,but to my surprise on this day there were hundreds.This image is cropped so it is hard to see just how many there are;on the full size image I gave up counting after I got to 400 birds,with lots more to count.The thing is this little stream is all of 25-30 feet wide and maybe a couple of feet deep and in places on it you couldn't see the water even if you tried-remarkable! This photo was sharpen and the luminosity bumped down a little. Bob
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To lovenature: Ducks versus Deerfoot maniacs!Shoot_Score 1 02-01 13:17
To Shoot_Score: Mallard Ducksbobair 2 02-01 13:14
To lovenature: Mallard Ducksbobair 2 01-31 20:50
To arfer: Mallard Ducksbobair 1 01-31 20:42
To Adanac: Mallard Ducksbobair 1 01-31 20:39
To greghume: Mallard Ducksbobair 1 01-31 20:35
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Bob
An amazing assemblage of birds, even more amazing that the water has not frozen.
Regards
Greg

It is amazing how ducks and other waterfowl will find places where the water is "warm".
I know of a few places here in Atlantic Canada where we have sewage fallout... These places are crowded with waterbirds.

Another sight we see now is the loons and ducks coming off the lakes and hanging out in the saltwater coves, where it takes longer to see a freeze-over.

I find this an interesting shot Bob, but the water is awefully blue. Did you use PP with colour saturation?

Jay

Hi Bob
Your Mallards in the stream look like another day on the Deerfoot Trail in Calgary. I have to wonder how they land and take off without running over another duck. Nicely composed, great colours and detail.
TFS Janice

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2726 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-01-30 22:46]
  • [+]

Hello Bob

A very impressive gathering of mallards.Very good DOF and POV.You have captured the moment well.TFS

Rob

Hi Bob,
Nice flock shoot. Our river here stays open due to the warm water discharged by the steam turbines the city uses to generate power. So we have a large flock of Mallards and Canada Geese that overwinter here too. Your posting displays yours very well.
Rick

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