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How Does this Thing Work?


How Does this Thing Work?
Photo Information
Copyright: Jane Magen (jaycee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1911 W: 8 N: 4976] (16095)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-08-28
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon PowerShot S5 IS, 1.5 Teleconverter
Exposure: f/4, 1/400 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-08-29 8:14
Viewed: 292
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Juvenile House Sparrow

House Sparrows are the most abundant songbirds in North America and the most widely distributed birds on the planet. House Sparrows are not actually sparrows, but are Old World Weaver Finches, a family of birds noted for their ingenious nest-building abilities.

House Sparrows were introduced into North America from England in the 1850s on the mistaken premise that they would help reduce crop insect pests. At first, the new immigrants welcomed this little bird of their homeland. Within 25 years, however, they realized the seriousness of their mistake: the House Sparrow population had increased at an explosive and alarming rate, and the birds were causing extensive damage to crops and fruit trees. They were also taking over the nesting sites of native cavity-nesting birds.

The breeding season for House Sparrows begins early in the spring or even in midwinter, and each pair may produce up to four broods a season. The male House Sparrow's bond with his nest site is stronger than his bond with a mate he may lose a mate, but he won't give up his nest site. Although they usually prefer to nest in a cavity, House Sparrows will settle for any nook or cranny they can find. They will also occasionally nest in coniferous trees and in the nests of Cliff Swallows and Northern Orioles.

The male constructs a bulky, dome-shaped nest of coarse grasses, weeds, hair, and feathers. The female lays three to five white/brown speckled eggs and incubates for 11-14 days. The young sparrows fledge after 14-16 days. They are not migratory, but flocks of birds move about within a 1.5-2mi. area. House Sparrows are primarily seed-eaters, although they eat some insects during the summer. They will also dine on garbage. Feedlots and farmsteads are particularly attractive to sparrows as they provide an abundant source of food, as well as shelter and plenty of nesting sites.

nabluebirdsociety
pekkavalo1, boreocypriensis, sranjan, zulfu, siggi, Gert-Paassen, xTauruSx, bahadir, Jamesp, gracious, techranger, eqshannon, haraprasan, jusninasirun, Alex99 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello .
Bird's plumage has no detail , i think this image overcropped , TFS and good luck .

Hi Sis Jane,
A perfectly captured posture of this young house sparrow and great details on plumage enough! Very nice DOF selection too.
TFS and cheers,

bayram

Hi Jane,
Very nice capture of this House Sparrow younster investigating feeding station. Good pose and composition, sharp details and nice catch light.
TFS
Pekka

Hello Jane,
The sparrow looks hungry & distraught probably is ravenous. The plumage indicates some recent survival conflict with other avians ! TFS.
Regards-Subhash

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 600 W: 0 N: 117] (669)
  • [2008-08-29 9:18]

Hello Jane wonderful shout of this juvenile bird with a cute posture. TFS.
Regards,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 477 W: 11 N: 1348] (4706)
  • [2008-08-29 10:06]

Hello Jane,
Great shot, Lovely natural colors , excellent composition, good pov, fantastic sharpness and nice details.
Regards Siggi

Hello Jane,

What an extreme sharp and full detailed picture.
Every structure you can see in the feathers.

Gert

Hello Jane, wornderful shot of this lovely house sparrow with nice details. TFS and regards,
Deniz

Hello Jane, wonderful capture of this young House Sparrow with nice pose. Sharp details too. TFS and regards,
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1305 W: 0 N: 5107] (15234)
  • [2008-08-29 14:19]

Hi Jane

A wonderful pose - well caught action with good detail.

James

Hello my friend Jane,
I liked the pose on the House Sparrow in good closeness of it!
good clarity, nice colour and details over it
well done
cheers
Tony

Nice shot of this sparrow... I love the interaction of the bird with the feeder. Well done to capture the moment. TFS

Larry

Sorry.. I am dreadfully late...arguments all over the place here..not Jane and I but I digress....I am glad to have caught this one Jane. You do it in a Norman Rockwell style...Good Sabbath to you tomorrow...I may have to take a day off.! Have Shabbat for me as well.
SBob

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 265 W: 12 N: 716] (2358)
  • [2008-08-29 22:29]

Very striking image Jane,
The first thing that caught my eye was the colors, they have such a soft blend to them. I really like the backside pose showing his feather structure. Good eye catch.
His facial expression reminds me of the guys at work when they put their money into a vending machine and nothing comes out. They usually have a facial expression like this birds, with their mouths hanging open saying hey! what's the deal here!! Then they kick the machine a few times. Nice job!!
Very informative notes!!
Ron

Hi Jane,
A lovely capture of this beautiful house sparrow. Very well composed with sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Ciao Jane great capture of lovely sparroww in unusual pose, brava, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1427 W: 128 N: 5252] (23221)
  • [2008-08-30 7:41]

Hello Jane, good capture of the young one! Good focus, great exposure and a fine composition, well done, thanks!

Mario

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1888 W: 245 N: 6180] (22002)
  • [2008-08-30 15:14]

Hi Jane,
a brilliant photo of this scruffy Sparrow :-)
The pose is great!
Very sharp with great clarity.
Superb composition.

Well done,
Joe

Hello Jane. How lucky to have so many visitors to your feeder and around your area. Another excellent sharp detail in well exposed plumage. Good perspective and thanks for sharing. Jusni

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3174 W: 154 N: 4796] (15481)
  • [2008-09-03 10:07]

Hi Jane.
Wonderful shot of the beautiful sparrow. I like so attractive pose and POV. Timing and pictured moment are superb as well as the ultimate details and colouration of the bird and feeder. Well done and best regards.
Alexei.

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