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Black Oystercatcher


Black Oystercatcher
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3103 W: 234 N: 5930] (20016)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-06-13
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon Powershot S1-IS
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Aquatic Birds III [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-06-21 3:30
Viewed: 864
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This shot was taken at the Monterey Bay Aquarium aviary.

BLACK OYSTERCATCHER
Haematopus bachmani

This bird is brownish black, sports a long, bright-red beak, large pink feet and yellow eyes. Despite its name, an oystercatcher seldom eats oysters. At low tide, it forages along rocky shorelines, looking for other molluscs—mostly limpets and mussels.

A breeding pair of oystercatchers select a nesting site above the high tide level and near an area with plenty of food. The pair defends the area against other oystercatchers and intertidal foragers. In winter the oystercatchers gather in flocks that remain close to their breeding sites.

Species Information
Diet
intertidal marine invertebrates, such as bivalves, limpets, whelks and chitons 
Size
17.5 inches (44 cm) 
Range
along the Pacific coast from the Aleutian Islands to Baja California 
Relatives
 
Conservation Notes
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the entire world population of black oystercatchers is estimated at about 11,000 individuals—more than 50% of that population lives in Alaska. Direct and indirect effects of human disturbances probably have reduced the oystercatcher population from much higher historical levels.

Since oystercatchers breed and forage near the shoreline, they’re highly vulnerable to oil spills. 
Cool facts
Monogamous pairs make their nests by tossing rock flakes, pebbles or shell fragments toward their nest bowl with a sideways or backward flip of their bills. They use the same nest year after year.

Bivalves—like limpets and mussels—have a strong muscle that holds the two shells tightly together—yet an oystercatcher can easily and quickly pry them open. The birds also sneak up on open mussels, quickly stab their beaks between the shells, sever the muscle, shake the mussel free and swallow it. With sharp jabs of their bill tips, oystercatchers dislodge limpets and chitons from rocks, turn them over and eat the soft tissue.

Because the aquarium’s black oystercatcher was raised in captivity, she never learned to open shells on her own. We give her shelled clams and fish that are ready to eat. 

Source
chiliu, coasties, AndyB, dew77, liquidsunshine, marhowie, carper, JeanMichel has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To ornis: Merci : )manyee 1 08-30 10:33
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Critiques [Translate]

Nice portrait!
Excellent composed,perfect colour.
TFS!

Nice close portrait Manyee. I love watching Oyster Catchers. They run with small steps and remind me of Charlie Chaplin. Very good detail, excellent light. Good job. Thanks.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1586 W: 32 N: 1350] (3980)
  • [2005-06-21 5:00]

A nice portrait shot.
Very well exposed,nice detail and colours.
Great pose too.
Good work,well done.

TFS

Hello Manyee, beautiful colors, beautiful picture
congratulations.
TFS

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1648 W: 79 N: 1438] (4742)
  • [2005-06-21 6:19]

Hello Manyee,

It's a nice portrait. Colors are great, but unfortunately the focus on the head is a little soft. POV is very good. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

Nice picture, Manyee.
Good POV, well composed, good exposure and nice colours.
Itsa bit soft soft, it seems you used to much Neat Image.
Well done.

  • Great 
  • twin Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 262 W: 17 N: 499] (3249)
  • [2005-06-21 14:56]

great close up...
beautiful portrait...
wonderful colors...
congratulations Manyee

Great shot Manyee,
Excellent detail, colours, sharpness and POV.
Well composed and exposed.
Well captured, thanks for posting

Hi Manyee!
Great portrait! Just superb colours and details. And of course very interesing note!
TFS

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2005-06-22 4:09]

Hello Manyee!
Very nice capture.Contrast colors,details,DOF and composition are wonderful.TFS...:-)

Manyee, I like your POV and composition here most of all. Vivid color - Well done.

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2192 W: 124 N: 2600] (8410)
  • [2005-06-27 10:34]

I like the shot Manyee,
the cropp is orginal, fantastic colours, great pov and a fantastic dof, good job,
gr. Jaap

This is a very good portrait Manyee, with a colorful impact. Prhaps I would have managed to get the background of one color, by choosing a lower or a higher POV. Also, but that' just my taste, it's either too close (i would like to see the entire bird), or too far (other solution was to get a close portrait beak and head) Anyway, a catchy bird. See WS.

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