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Balbuzard pêcheur


Balbuzard pêcheur
Photo Information
Copyright: Jim White (jmirah) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 506 W: 5 N: 1135] (4665)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-10-21
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D90, Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR, 67mm UV filter
Exposure: f/8, 1/1000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-10-22 4:10
Viewed: 200
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus

ORDER: FALCONIFORMES
FAMILY: ACCIPITRIDAE

Info on the Osprey

Arguably North America’s best-studied bird of prey, and certainly one of its most admired, the Osprey is the continent’s only raptor that eats almost exclusively live fish. Despite this restriction, Ospreys have colonized a broad array of habitats. One finds their prominent stick nests from mangrove islets of the Florida Keys to coastal rivers of Labrador, from Alaskan lakes to Montana reservoirs, from New England salt marshes to the saline lagoons of Baja, Mexico, and from Carolina cypress swamps to the foggy redwood coasts of California. All but southernmost populations are migratory, vacating their breeding grounds in late summer for rain-forest rivers and fish-rich seacoasts and lakes of Central and South America, returning north each spring as waters warm and fish become accessible. An Osprey nesting in central Quebec and wintering in southern Brazil might fly more than 200,000 kilometers in migration during its 15-to 20-year lifetime. Clearly this is a mobile, adaptable creature, familiar with vast distances and a shifting complex of weather, prey, and habitat.

Ospreys dive feet first for their prey, accessing only about the top meter of water, so they are restricted to surface-schooling fish and to those in shallows—the latter generally most abundant and available. Thus North America’s Ospreys tend to breed most densely where shallow waters abound: Long Island Sound, Chesapeake Bay, and Florida Bay along the Atlantic coast; Baja Mexico’s Pacific coast; Georgian Bay in the Great Lakes; and several large reservoirs and lakes in western states. In many of these regions, as in others, artificial nest sites have helped breeders enormously in recent decades. Historically Ospreys built their nests atop trees, rocky cliffs and promontories, and—on a few islands free of mammalian predators—even on the ground. While some continue to use such natural sites, many have shifted to artificial sites, an astonishing array of them: channel markers in harbors and along busy waterways; towers for radio, cell-phone, and utility lines; and hundreds of nesting poles erected just for this species. This shift has been dramatic in many regions, with 90–95% of pairs choosing artificial sites; predation, loss of trees, and development of shorelines have been driving forces behind the change.

North American Ospreys gained increased recognition during the 1950s–1970s because populations in several key regions crashed. About 90% of the pairs nesting along the coast between New York City and Boston, for example, disappeared during this period; Chesapeake Bay lost about half its breeders; Great Lakes populations also suffered major declines. Studies showed high levels of contaminants (especially DDT and its derivatives) in eggs, severe eggshell-thinning, and poor hatching success. Mortality of adults may have contributed to the decline. Osprey studies provided key evidence in court to help block continued use of persistent pesticides, and Osprey populations recovered rapidly thereafter. Although small pockets of contamination remain, apparently mostly on wintering grounds, by the year 2000 many U.S. and Canadian populations were approaching historical numbers, boosted by a cleaner environment, by increasingly available artificial nest sites, and by this bird’s ability to tolerate human activity near its nests. Phoenix-like, the Osprey has arisen from the ashes of its own demise, a survivor, even a backyard bird in some areas; little wonder the species has become such a powerful totem for conservationists.

The Birds of North America Online
anel, nasokoun, MMM, uleko, nglen, boreocypriensis, tuslaw has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1726 W: 0 N: 3927] (15770)
  • [2009-10-22 4:21]

hello Jim,
Very interesting posting on this impressive bird of your part of the world. You have taken a much vivid picture showing the bird in full tension . I also like the view on the under-wings with this beautiful patterns and colors. Thanks also for the interesting note and happy to read that this beautiful bird "has arisen from the ashes"!
Meilleures salutations
Anne

WOW! THis is one of my favorite Jmirah shots. What a posture you captured here! Gorgeous lighting. Excellent composition. WOW!

hello Jim
very good moment and scene,I be jealous,it elects the beauty and the magnificence of this eagle,great photo output!
TFS thanks for sharing
Nasos

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 921 W: 0 N: 1985] (8905)
  • [2009-10-22 8:30]

Hi Jim
Excellent capture.Good timing and nice POV.Sharp image with good detail.Text is also very interesting.
TFS Michel

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2999 W: 162 N: 984] (2877)
  • [2009-10-22 9:37]

Hello Jim,
Wow, what a fabulous close view of the Osprey! It reminds me that I haven't seen one of these birds for ages here! Excellent focus on the head, fine sharp details and beautiful colours.
Many thanks and cheers, Ulla

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2916 W: 34 N: 8651] (32250)
  • [2009-10-22 11:07]

Hi Jim. This is a fantastic close up Which you have taken with fine detail and colours in the feathers of this beautiful bird. I should love to see one in the wild. As this was taken with a 70-300 lens you did so well. I like the way we can see all of the different colours of brown under the wings. TFS.
Nick..

Hi Jim,

An impressive capture of this ready-to-flight magnificent beauty. The exposure and focus looks perfect!
TFS and have a nice night!
Cheers,

Bayram

Excelente toma donde podemos apreciar los buenos resultados de esa lente que utilizas. Atractivo el color del plumaje de un ave que desconozco.
Un abrazo: Josep Ignasi.

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 511 W: 20 N: 1392] (4861)
  • [2009-10-22 19:00]

Beautiful image Jim,
Gorgeous colors and wonderful detail. Super opened winged pose with excellent exposure!! Well done!!
Ron

Interesting moment to capture this great bird.Good photo.Friendly regards.Alin.

striking capture, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2398 W: 94 N: 5543] (17640)
  • [2009-10-25 6:01]

Hello Jim,
Great photo of this Osprey in a very nice pose with open wings. Beautiful colours and good sharpness and details. Excellent timing.
TFS and regards,
Peter

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