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Camouflage in Messy Nest


Camouflage in Messy Nest
Photo Information
Copyright: Jane Magen (jaycee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1778 W: 8 N: 4597] (14871)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-07-03
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon PowerShot S5 IS, 1.5 Teleconverter
Exposure: f/4, 1/500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-04 8:17
Viewed: 418
Points: 56
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Cactus Wren

The cactus wren is an active, inquisitive, and adaptable bird found commonly in most Arizona deserts, making it an appropriate choice for the state bird. The female selects the nest site; the nest is often placed in cholla, but also in other cacti and thorny trees and shrubs such as mesquite, ironwood, paloverde, and catclaw acacia. Both the male and female build the nest.

The cactus wren's nest is a large, conspicuous, spherical structure usually built with dry grasses and annual plants; strips of discarded paper and cloth found along roadsides are frequently woven in. A long, narrow-sided passage into an internal chamber, as well as the thorny substrate, protects this nest from most predators, although eggs and nestlings are frequently taken by coachwhips and whipsnakes in Arizona. As with most wren nests, the nest chamber is usually lined with feathers. In Arizona, Gambel's quail feathers seem to make up the bulk of the lining (a related species, the masked bobwhite, was once thought to be extinct but was rediscovered in Sonora, Mexico, a few decades ago after biologists found its feathers in cactus wren nests and began searching for it). The female cactus wren incubates, starting with the first egg, while the male builds a new nest in preparation for a second clutch. Additional nest structures are constructed and used as roosts throughout the year. The roost nests often lack the feather lining.

Arizona Game and Fishing
uleko, pekkavalo1, marhowie, siggi, Jamesp, maurydv, nglen, Gert-Paassen, goldyrs, CeltickRanger, boreocypriensis, Alex99, JORAPAVI, haraprasan, zulfu, xTauruSx, bahadir, eqshannon, Luis52, eng55, Argus, jusninasirun has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2458 W: 168 N: 7420] (23432)
  • [2008-07-04 8:47]

Hello Jane,
Very interesting capture of the Cactus Wren in its nest, it doesn't look too comfortable amongst all those spines!! Very good illustration of its camouflage colours too. I wonder what predators it has there? Beautiful light and fine details too.
Many thanks and cheers, Ulla

Hello Jane
Cripes...Carefull Landing needed when your nest is in a Cactus.
This a most interesting shot as althouigh the nest is conspicuous the Wren is not..Years of evolution I guess!!
A great Post Jane and thanks for sharing a rare capture of the Wren on her nest.
Have a good weekend
Paul

Hi Jane,

Very nice capture of this Cactus Wren in its natural habitat. God composition and sharp details.

TFS

Pekka

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 275 W: 3 N: 731] (2624)
  • [2008-07-04 10:12]

Hello Jane
Excellent sharp macro shot, with great colors, good composition and a very interesting note.
Have a nice day, Siggi

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1251 W: 0 N: 4829] (14332)
  • [2008-07-04 11:19]

Hi Jane

Great view of this Cactus Wren - excellent POV and detail. Well seen and captured.

TFS

James

Un'altra bellissima immagine di scricciolo dei cactus, splendida composizione che mostra molto bene l'ambiente e il mimetismo, magnifici i colori. Geazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1988 W: 5 N: 5524] (20880)
  • [2008-07-04 12:43]

Hi Jane. Firstly interesting notes about this bird and its nest. Not the best looking nest but sounds as if it is good for protecting the young birds. your picture has good detail and natural colours. well done TFS.
Nick..
Have a nice Weekend.

Hi Jane...What a great shot...Well done sis....Excellent composition and information....Very good details and camouflage....Have a great weekend...Leyla

Hello Jane,

What a very sharp picture with very much details.
Nice the bird by his nest and indeeed very good camouflaged.
Good and interesting note's too.
Gert

This is a superb shot, Jane!I see someone developing new styles, and wonderfully well at that!
This shot looks so natural!I am actually stunned at ths shot!
Superb work, Jane!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-07-04 22:35]

Hello Jane

Well captured shot of this cactus wren in her nest.
She must have a very good reason to have such a nest.
The details are very good with lovely sharpness and detail.
Lovely natural colours.
TFS

Rob

Hi Jane
Great work spotting this one and a nice capture too. I like the POV of the wren just peeping out of the nest. TFS
Cheers
Sue

Hi My Big Sis,
A great capture of a camouflage examble exhibited by Cactus wren. Realy I did not notice it in first sight:) Perfectly focused and detailed shot. TFS.
Cheers,

Bayram

Hola Jane,
Excelente captura en su curioso hábitat donde pasa totalmente desapercibido, buena definición en la que se aprecian muy bien los detalles. Saludos
José Ramón

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3029 W: 148 N: 4520] (14595)
  • [2008-07-05 0:48]

Hi Jane.
What a rich of content shot. I like pictured scene a lot. Wonderful representation of bird's "house". Excellent composition. I like wonderful sharpness and details of the entire image. Despite the busy canvas composition of an image is excellent. Well done and kind wishes.
Alexei.

Hi Jane,
A Happy 4th of July to you. A nice capture of this Wren. Yes it has to adopt that camouflaging technique as they are no safe in small cactus plants. Excellent composition and very good details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 527 W: 0 N: 95] (583)
  • [2008-07-05 2:12]

Hi Jane
Perfect shot of this camouflaged cactus wren in all aspects. TFS. G's,
Mehmet

Love the "messy" comp here Jane..
Nature's idea of a "clean" shot is often contrary to ours.
The bird is very well camouflaged within the cacti, she did good to provide safe harbor for the young.
Oh, you did good too BTW :)
Hope you had a nice 4th,
Howard

Hi Jane, splendid capture of this wonderful bird with great camouflage in its nest, great composition, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

Hello Jane, perfect portrait shot of this camouflages beautiful cactus wren. TFS. Regards,
Deniz
Ps.pt later

Hi Jane, wonderful shot of this cactus wren with great details. TFS. Regards,
Bahadır

An interesting method of Camouflage. I use the word only once in a while becuase I always have to look it up. It's one of those words...and teh first time I came across it was when I was 4 years old and my dad bought me a chameleon. Dad was always the nature teacher. And I was lucky enough to be the only student!

A fine image Jane and a good apt story and title as well..Your keen eyes are still good for sure. and yes I read your rainbow response. My guess is that it is an optical illusion to one who has never been to that area of AZ.
Bob

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1022 W: 5 N: 2801] (10142)
  • [2008-07-05 10:44]

Hola Prima.
I have always wanted to take a photo like this one. Lovely to see this Cactus wren ˇIn a Cactus! Great image Jane.
Have a nice weekend Cousin.
Luis52.

hello Jane

wonderful shot of this camouflaged Cactus Wren on his nest,
beautiful luminosity is coming by the side, the bird's pose
seems to be anxious, but that things being part of nature
and bird's life, il love that you captured on that pose,
excellent sharoness and details, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 916 W: 4 N: 2277] (10628)
  • [2008-07-06 4:54]

Hello Jane, Very interesting capture and natural sorroundings. Well done and sharp image. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 353 W: 3 N: 376] (1127)
  • [2008-07-07 4:55]

Hi Jane,
Lovely capture of this wren with her nest.Camouflage is wonderful and well focused.
Excellent work!
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2596 W: 133 N: 7433] (23169)
  • [2008-07-10 8:13]

Hello Jane,
I have missed a few of your shots during my absence and this one caught my eye. This is well caught, the Cactus Wren at, if not in, its nest. It looks like a bulky construction demanding a lot of work for both parents. The wren is well shown and the composition among the cactus stems makes the image look interesting.
Thanks for sharing this fine image and the informative note,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2008-07-11 10:58]

Hi Jane,
Wonderful shot of this Cactus Wren nicely hidden in that messy nest among the cactus. Fine documentary image with immaculate sharpness and natural colours. I like your POV and the composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hello Jane. Well spotted camouflage. Good framing in sharp and detail exposure. Well done and best regards. Jusni

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