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Tandem Flight


Tandem Flight
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3069 W: 231 N: 5859] (19702)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-09
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon Powershot S1-IS
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-09-28 3:40
Viewed: 800
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I can watch these pelicans fly all day. It is such a glorious sight.
I think there is a mature (white head) and a juvenile here.

Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis

Behavior
Pelicans are very gregarious birds; they live in flocks of both sexes throughout the year. They are exceptionally buoyant due to the internal air sacks beneath their skin and in their bones, and as graceful in the air as they are clumsy on land. In level flight, pelicans fly in groups, with their heads held back on their shoulders, the bills resting on their folded necks. They may fly in a "V", but usually in regular lines or single file.

Reproduction
Male pelicans pick out the nesting sites and perform an "advertising" display which attracts the females. Once a pair forms a bond, overt communiction between them is minimal. Pelican nesting peaks during March and April; nests are in colonies either in trees, bushes, or on the ground. Those placed in trees are made of reeds, grasses, straw, and sticks; if on the ground, nests consist of a shallow scrape lined with feathers and a rim of soil built 4-10'' above the ground. Brown Pelicans lay 2-3 chalky white eggs. Incubation is about 28-30 days; young walk out of the nests on the ground about 35 days after hatching but do not leave treetop nests until about 63 -88 days for their first flight.


Physical Description
Brown pelicans are dark and bulky. The sexes are similar in plumage and both are 4-4.5 ft (114-137 cm) long. The head is white with a pale yellow wash on the crown; the long bill is grayish; back, rump, and tail are streaked with gray and dark brown; the breast and belly are a blackish-brown; eyes pale yellow; and legs and feet are black. Immatures have brownish- grey necks and white underparts. All pelicans have bills that are as long or longer than their heads. The huge naked skin pouch suspended from the lower half of the hooked bill holds two or three times more than the bird's stomach-about 3 gallons of water and fish. Pelicans hold their catch and let the water drain from the corners of their mouths before they swallow. Fish are never carried in the pouch, but in the gullet or esophagus. The pouch, besides acting as a dip net, is also pulsated in extreme heat to allow cooling. Pelicaniformes are the only birds that share in common a totipalmate foot, that is, one in which all four toes, including the hind one, are united by a web of skin.

Source
coasties, TAZ, ellis49, wallhalla15, Robespierre, chouette, Luc has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To livios: Photo Infomanyee 2 09-28 11:09
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Critiques [Translate]

This is a very good in flight, Manyee.
I'm impressed again what you do can with the S1.
Well composed, good details and nice colours.
Only nit is the underwind are little dark.
Very well done.

Hi Manyee

Congrats!! Great shot. You have captured this beautifully. Nice deep blue BG. Good light, clarity and sharpness. Well done. TFS.

Hi Manyee,
Excellent in-flight!
Very nice colour and great details.
TFS!

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3184] (10918)
  • [2005-09-28 6:59]

Wow ! What a nice tamdem that you very well captured on this deep blue sky ! Their flight pose parallel is great. Thanks Manyee for this superb action shot.

Pose is excellent, good work. Very good sharpness, details, colours and composition. Manyee, thanks for sharing

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
  • [2005-09-28 10:50]
  • [+]

Manyee, I've never seen a pelican. Thanks for sharing this picture.

I do enjoy sharpnes, pov and composition; taking these pictures is not an easy task, but you did great.

I'm curious about speed and aperture, though.

Congratulations on such a nice image.

Hi Manyee
Very good composition with these 2 Pelicans
Beautiful sky
TFS
Nico

Hello Mayee,
What a wonderful composition of these pelicans. You captured a very good moment here. I like the almost identically and synchronous flight of the birds. Well done!
Regards, Ruud

Excellent capture of these pelicans! They are well synchronized! Good pose of the birds, great details and good POV. TFS!

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2058 W: 315 N: 4404] (14713)
  • [2005-09-30 19:43]

Personal assessment of the photo: very good.
Good visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
Thank you Manyee. Nice work.

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