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On the edge


On the edge
Photo Information
Copyright: Michel Pilon (pilonm) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 542 W: 99 N: 813] (2647)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07-29
Categories: Birds
Camera: Panasonic DMC FZ - 20 LUMIX, Leica 36-432mm
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-06-21 7:57
Viewed: 923
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took this picture during a business trip in Denver Colorado. I took a full day to hike in the Rocky Mountains where I brought my camera... This Clark's Nutcracker was just close to me at around 12000 feet of height...

Michel


Clark's Nutcracker

A bird of the high mountain regions of the American West, the Clark's Nutcracker is specialized for feeding on large pine seeds. Its behavior, annual cycle, and even its morphology are closely tied to this diet.

Cool Facts


The Clark's Nutcracker has a special pouch under its tongue that it uses to carry seeds long distances. The nutcracker harvests seeds from pine trees and takes them away to hide them for later use.


The Clark's Nutcracker hides thousands and thousands of seeds each year. Laboratory studies have shown that the bird has a tremendous memory and can remember where to find most of the seeds it hides.


The Clark's Nutcracker feeds its nestlings pine seeds from its many winter stores (caches). Because it feeds the young on stored seeds, the nutcracker can breed as early as January or February, despite the harsh winter weather in its mountain home.


The Clark's Nutcracker is one of very few members of the crow family where the male incubates the eggs. In jays and crows, taking care of the eggs is for the female only. But the male nutcracker actually develops a brood patch on its chest just like the female, and takes his turn keeping the eggs warm while the female goes off to get seeds out of her caches.
magal, eruyanik, sandpiper2, elefantino, SkyF, ramthakur, coasties, aido, RII has marked this note useful
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To Gudule: Infos en francaispilonm 3 06-26 19:24
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • magal Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 228 W: 0 N: 314] (1239)
  • [2006-06-21 8:11]

Hi Michel,
Beautiful shot, with pin sharp detail and lots of poise by the subject. Blurred BG emphasizes the subject.
Well spotted and captured
tfs
Mark

Hello Michel!
Great shot of this nutcracker! Focusing, sharpness, framing and pov is just great! Very impressive bg with that wonderful colour mixing. I like that rock and after that is the amazing bg! Great post! Thank you and best regards!
Ersin

Great result for a compact camera.
Great sharpness and details.
Good pose, maybe a bit too centred. Would have been better with a little more room on the left.
A good crisp shot, well done at 12,000ft.

Hi Michel, good shot!
True and soft colors give a great atmosphere.
The details are super and the BG over the edge is amazing.
Andrea

Cet oiseau me fascine, tant pas sa pose que par ses couleurs. Surtout celles de ses ailes. Sont-elles de couleur bleue marine? sont-elles noires?
C'est un très bel oiseau, une photographie très réussie. Félicitations, Michel.
En passant, une note en français m'aurait été plus utile pour en apprendre plus sur ce bel oiseau, sûrement pas familier au Québec.
Merci tout de même.

JN.

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-06-21 12:27]

Hello Michel,
Excellent capture. Beautiful pose showing of every detail of the feathers. Great sharpness and lovely POV. A wonderful composition.
TFS..Sky

This Nutcracker has obliged you with a lovely posture, Michel.
Fantastic point of view, sharpness and depth of focus and natural colors.
Well done and TFS.

Hi Michel

A stunning shot. Lovely pose from your model. He looks tall and proud. His plumage colour is beautiful. Lovely quality shot. Thank you! :-)

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1097 W: 168 N: 1221] (4048)
  • [2006-06-22 13:18]

Hi Michel,
Wow, beautiful detail here. Great light, perfect exposure and a nice pose from the bird. He seems aware of you and you must have been quite close. Perfect DOF, a great shot.
Regards,
Adrian

Hello Michel,
Excellent close up with excellent details on feathers. A pretty bird well portraited. The composition is centered, maybe more space on left would be better, but´s only my opinion and you are the artist.
Best regards
Hernán

  • Great 
  • OzBY Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 181 W: 2 N: 303] (1049)
  • [2006-06-24 15:55]

Great picture of this bird. Great DOF, color and BG

Oz

  • Great 
  • RII Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 475 W: 0 N: 854] (2692)
  • [2006-06-30 21:56]

Hi Michel.
Great portrait,excellente tones colors and sharpness, nice pose,good and complet note.

Saludos...RICARDO.

so handsome ! TFS Ori

  •      
  • PeterDF Silver Star Critiquer [C: 14 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-04-22 19:36]

One of the prettiest shots of a Clark's Nutcracker that I've seen. It's just beautifully shot here. It's one of my favorite mountain birds, and you've captured it very well!

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