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An Uninvited Guest


An Uninvited Guest
Photo Information
Copyright: Jane Magen (jaycee) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-08-13
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon SX10IS
Exposure: f/5.7, 1/200 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-09-18 8:17
Viewed: 364
Points: 50
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The light was terrible - there was no time to change the camera settings - I managed one shot through the window. When I saw this monster land on my wall for the very first time I just had to make an attempt to get a picture. I had seen him circling for days while I walked my Chihuaha and thought he was a huge hawk. He seemed to me the size of a small private plane.

Turkey Vulture

The Turkey Vulture is one of North America's largest birds of prey. It reaches a length of 32 inches with a wing span of 6 feet. Its overall color is brown-black with a featherless, red head, white bill and yellow feet among mature adults. Immature birds have a darker face. Although usually silent, the bird will occasionally emit a soft hiss or groan.

In flight, the Turkey Vulture rocks from side to side, rarely flapping its wings which are held at a V-angle called a dihedral. Silver-gray flight feathers look lighter than the black lining feathers of the underwing. Its long tail extends beyond its legs and feet in flight.

Vultures are best known for their practice of feeding on dead animal carcasses, but will occasionally attack young and helpless animals as well. They obtain much of their water from the moisture in carrion, and their powerful kidneys enable them to excrete less water when expelling waste products.

Turkey vultures, like other carrion birds, are protected from disease associated with decaying animals by a very sophisticated immune system. Their unfeathered "bald" head is easy to keep clean and is characteristic of vultures and condors throughout the world.

Mating occurs in all deserts except the Mojave. One to three blotched eggs are laid in cliff hollows, logs or among rocks on the ground; no nest is built. Both parents participate in incubation of the eggs for up to a month. Newly hatched young are fed with regurgitated food for the first few days and fly from the nest within 10 weeks.

Unlike most birds, vultures have a keen sense of smell. The Turkey Vulture's olfactory sense is estimated to be 3 times that of the smaller Black Vulture, which is also found in the North American Deserts. The California Condor, now almost extinct, is the third member of the Cathartidae Family, referred to as the American Vultures. Vultures are sometimes mistakenly called buzzards, the British name for buteos -- hawks of the Buteo genus.

www.desertusa.com
Miss_Piggy, siggi, roges, uduputuk, CeltickRanger, xTauruSx, maurydv, nglen, goatman04, sranjan, zulfu, bahadir, PeterZ, yasemin, boreocypriensis, nasokoun, ferranjlloret, jcoowanitwong, anemone, Gert-Paassen, rousettus, tuslaw, jmirah has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To tuslaw: First Timejaycee 1 09-21 17:11
To goatman04: Vulturesjaycee 1 09-18 16:25
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Critiques [Translate]

Hallo Jane
Well done for the outcome with this image in only one attempt. The facial expression captured on this vulture is about the same as your description of the light condition. It looks as if it is real unhappy or grumpy and you have captured the facial language so well. I can only but believe your excitement when you where able to capture this bird of prey, as I had the same experience when a hawk circled in the air and landed on one of the trees in the back yard. Thanks for sharing this unspoiled, unposed image. It was a pleasure to stop by and read your story. Best regards.
Anna

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1380 W: 56 N: 4759] (16364)
  • [2009-09-18 8:33]

Hello Jane
Wonderfrul capture.I liked POV,details on black feathers,framing and composition a lot.TFS.Best regards Siggi

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 613 W: 0 N: 546] (3180)
  • [2009-09-18 8:41]

Hi Jane,

Nice catch. Excellent presented.
Have a beautiful day,
Adrian

Wonderful capture?

hello Jane

today we are almost neighbors, an excellent photo
of the Turkey Vulture, fine POV and framing,
i love the pose of the bird, your photo reminder me
western cartoons or western films (cinéma), TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2398 W: 94 N: 5543] (17640)
  • [2009-09-18 9:35]

Hello Jane,
What a coincidence: For the thirth time in a row we are neighbours.
Wonderful moment when something like this is landing on your garden wall. Great moment. Good photo in an excellent POV and composition.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Jane, excellent shot of a vulture.
Nice pose and fine composition.
TFS and regards,
Deniz

Hello Jane,
a very beautiful and interesting capture of the Turkey Vulture taken in a great posture, good sharpness and beautiful natural colours, excellent POV and composition
with a splendid BG only caught a glimpse of rocks.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2916 W: 34 N: 8651] (32250)
  • [2009-09-18 10:24]

Hi Jane. Very well done for getting this picture as you say in your notes you had one chance and you took it. Its a huge bird and to have one land in the garden. I like the way the large wings are open. wel ldone TFS.
Nick..

Have a nice weekend.

Hello Jane,

This is a beautiful capture of this huge Turkey Vulture with lovely coloration & fine details. Great POV, pose & timing.

I am just wondering what was this Vulture doing in the neighborhood?

Very nicely done & TFS.

Best wishes & regards

Umar

Hello Jane,
Great shot with perfect timing & luminosity. Very informative interesting notes too.
Regards-Subhash

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1065 W: 0 N: 162] (870)
  • [2009-09-18 10:36]

Hello Jane, great shot of a vulture species with nice composition, details and lovely pose.
TFS and R's,
Mehmet

hello Jane
super ,this is a beauty
a great composition with good details
great shot
greeting lou

HelloJane.
Excellent shot of this vulture. Great timing and details.
Nice composition too!
TFS and regards,
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2009-09-18 11:31]

Hi Jane,it's certainly not your best pic,but this very interesting specie must to be showed! Impressive the moment of the capture,a nice work..have a nice weekend,LUCIANO

Hi Sister.
Very nice picture of this Pretty and cute huge bird..
I like pose color and details is perfect...TFS.
Regards
Leyla

Hi BSJ,

An excellent capture of this beautiful faced vulture while landing. Your POV is great and colours are natural.
TFP and have a nice WE Sis!
Cheers,

Bayram

hello Jane
interesting scene sure a impressive bird, you present a good photo
TFS thanks for sharing
Nasos

Ciao Jane, great capture of wonderful volture, difficult light, but you reprise it very well with fine details and excellent sharpness, I like a lot, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

Hello Jane,
Wonderful moment. Very interesting especies. TFS.
Happy weekend, Ferran.

Hello Jane,
This is a monster indeed. Nice shot with on attempt. You must be very excited with this rare opportunity. TFS,
JC

Hi Jane, lovely capture of this vulture with splendid details and colors, excellent composition.
thanks for sharing,
Özgür

Hello Jane,

what a nice surprice have you got.
Yes the light were terrible but the moment unbelieveble and great.
Good pov and nce pose from the bird.

Gert

Hello Jane
your uninvited guest must be big surprise. I wish for me too.
you greatly captured it with a nice shot. you used your luck very well. great POV and timing. focus, colors and composition also nice. thanks for sharing
best regards
Ahmet

Great capture Jane, especially through a window!!
I have yet to get a close up of a vulture, even though they are fairly common in our area. They seem to have the looks only a mother could appreciate. TFS
Ron

  • Great 
  • jmirah Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 506 W: 5 N: 1135] (4665)
  • [2009-10-05 16:36]

Hi Jane
Excellent shot of the buzzard...Great timing, details and nice composition...
TFS, Jim

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