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Western Scrub Jay


Western Scrub Jay
Photo Information
Copyright: The dude who loves Frogs (AnimalExplorer) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1025 W: 9 N: 2207] (8340)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-04-20
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D200, NIKKOR 200-400mm 1:4G AF-S VR
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Bird [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-06-01 20:44
Viewed: 1214
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Western Scrub Jay
(Aphelocoma californica)

Description: 11-13" (28-33 cm). Robin-sized, but large strong bill and long tail make it appear larger. Head, wings, and tail blue (conspicuous when it glides in a long, undulating flight); back dull brown; underparts light gray. No crest; dusky face mask. White throat offset by incomplete blue necklace. See Gray-breasted Jay.

Habitat: Scrub oak, woodlands, and chaparral, but does not breed in low scrub because it needs watch posts; also inhabits suburban gardens.

Nesting: 3-6 eggs, spotted on darker, greenish or reddish base, in a twiggy nest well hidden in a tree or dense shrub.

Range: Resident from Washington, Wyoming, and Colorado south to Texas; also in Mexico.

Voice: Call is loud, throaty jayy? or jree? In flight, a long series of check-check-check notes.

Discussion: Like all jays, this species may be secretive and silent around its nest or while perching in a treetop in early morning but is frequently noisy and conspicuous. Scrub jays often eat the eggs or young of other birds, but in summer they are mainly insectivorous. These birds also eat acorns and have been described as "uphill planters," counter-balancing the tendency of acorns to bounce or roll downhill. The jays bury many more acorns than they consume and help regenerate oak forests that have been destroyed by fire or drought.

Source



Paul Bratescu Copyright 2006 All rights reserved
scottevers7, timonejoon, Gudule, loot, marhowie, jchemas, coasties, TAZ, wallhalla15, firelord, SkyF, dew77, ramthakur, livios, zenitlady, vanderschelden has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To loot: Thanks Loot :)AnimalExplorer 2 06-02 19:41
To dew77: Lens has VR technology...AnimalExplorer 1 06-02 12:11
To manyee: Thanks ManyeeAnimalExplorer 1 06-02 11:57
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Critiques [Translate]

Hej Paul!
Piekna kompozucja, ptak bardzo ostry (ladnie zarysowane piorka), kolory super.
Gratuluje i pozdrawiam
Roma

Hi Paul,
An excellent shot on this Scrub Jay. The quality light here really allowed some nice color saturation. Detail is very sharp. I love the composition. Unique plant really sets the bird apart well.
Scott

Hi Paul

Briliant shot, great details. I like th light from behind the bird. very nice composition and DOF.
well done

TFS
regards
timone

  • Great 
  • Gudule Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 248 W: 11 N: 288] (1204)
  • [2006-06-01 21:25]

Excellente capture d'un magnifique oiseau, espèce inconnue ici. La pose de l'oiseau au milieu de cette plante verte exotique en fait une remarquable composition. L'arrière-plan supporte très bien le sujet principal. Belle lumière douce.
Excellent focus. Félicitations, Paul.

JN.

  • Great 
  • odin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 196 W: 1 N: 213] (1143)
  • [2006-06-01 21:37]

Nice Paull, the colors are very vivids. The picture is sharp. Good composition. WEll done
Sébastien

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5726 W: 605 N: 3416] (9137)
  • [2006-06-01 22:06]
  • [+]

Hi Paul
One thing that has always impressed me about your photos is the fact that it always seems to be so "clinically clean and immaculate". This excellent capture stresses my point.
The composition is amazing and the colours are absolutely stunning. The details are remarkably sharp; every thing on the photo is in perfect focus apart for the BG which is in brilliant contrast to the bright plant and the razor sharp bird. The plant is so strategically placed as without it the colour difference between the bird and the BG is such that the jay would have merged with the BG colour thus making it difficult to see it properly. Lastly, the exposure/lighting control was handled exceptionally well.
Great work and TFS.
Regards
Loot

Hey Paul,
Great capture on this jay...this is probably my favorite bird and you have done it justice. I like the great detail and the lighting is superb.

TFS,

Alli

Great shot Paul.
Superb colors and details.
Great composition and framing.
I love the POV and BG.
tfs!!!!
Regards
JC

Hi Paul

Well done on this one. Great details, crisp, clear and sharp. Good saturation of colour. Congrats!

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3184] (10918)
  • [2006-06-02 1:42]

Wow ! What a lovely Jay that you have very well captured ! The composition is smart. Colors, exposure, DOF and sharpness are excellent. Instructive note also. Bravo Paul and thanks for sharing this beauty.

Where in California, Paul?
I like the pose of this scrub jay sitting in this succulent.
It is a rather unusual combination.
Details and exposure are excellent,
as well as the bird's curious expression.
TFS. : )

Excellent shot Paul, great lighting, details and sharpness, nice bg and contrast. Great colours and composition too. Very well done, thanks for sharing.
Gr.
Heinz

Hello Paul,
Very nice! Lovely colors, and well managed exposure. Excellent POV, comp. sharpness, detail, and DOF. What makes the shot a superior one, is this interesting plant it's on, combined with the OOF complimentary BG colors :)
Very well done!

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-06-02 8:58]

Hello Paul,
a wonderful bird you captured, Excellent details of the plumage. POV, sharpness and colors are great. Lovely composition.
TFS..Sky

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-06-02 9:47]
  • [+]

Hello Paul,
Wonderful capture.Details are crisp clear and razorsharp.I liked POV,details,colors,catchlight and composition a lot.Is this lens suitable for handheld using?
TFS...:-)

Brilliant picture of this beautiful bird, Paul.
There is a superb even light falling on the subject which gives the image unbelievable sharpness and true color quality.
Thanks for sharing this image.

hi
belles couleurs et bons details, la lumiere est bonne aussi.good POV.
laurent

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
  • [2006-06-04 15:32]

Paul, as usual, excellent sharpness. I like bg too, with the star-like vegetation behind the bird.

The catchlight is there. Another winner.

Hello Paul! Lovely muted colours make this a fine study of a bird new to me. Great detail and excellent POV! Love the earthtones each of which highlight both the colours on the jay and the leaves behind. Remarkably clear and outstanding DOF. Good notes too! Well done! Linda

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1331 W: 108 N: 4848] (21470)
  • [2006-06-08 17:55]

Very well done Paul, a very nice subject that you really "nailed" perfectly. Sharp, good exposure and very well composed. A new bird to me, thanks !

Mario

Another beauty...
Background, perching, foreground, whatever...it's matching.
TFS
Annick

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