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~Black Swan~


~Black Swan~
Photo Information
Copyright: Debbie Linkevics (deblink) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 338 W: 8 N: 383] (1256)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06-09
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 400D Digital Rebel XTi, Canon Ef 90-300mm 1:4.5-5.6
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-06-10 19:38
Viewed: 840
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I went for my usual early morning walk to Breakwater Wetlands which is not far from where my sister live in Lockleys, South Australia. This Black Swan always comes to greet me, I think it is a male, it is large. It thinks that I have bread for it but I don't. Some local people are a little concerned at the moment because it seems to be by itself most of the time, they say there is usually a female. Perhaps the female may be sitting on eggs.

Black Swan
Scientific name: Cygnus atratus
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes

Description
In adult Black Swans the body is mostly black, with the exception of the broad white wing tips which are visible in flight. The bill is a deep orange-red, paler at the tip, with a distinct narrow white band towards the end. Younger birds are much greyer in colour, and have black wing tips. Adult females are smaller than the males.

Facts and figures
Minimum size: 120 cm
Maximum size: 142 cm
Average size: 131 cm
Breeding season: February to May in the north; June to September in the south.
Clutch size: Up to 10

Distribution
Black Swans are found throughout Australia with the exception of Cape York Peninsula, and are more common in the south. The Black Swan has been introduced into several countries, including New Zealand, where it is now common, and is a vagrant to New Guinea.

Habitat
Black Swans prefer larger salt, brackish or fresh waterways and permanent wetlands, requiring 40 m or more of clear water to take off. Outside the breeding season, Black Swans travel quite large distances. Birds fly at night and rest during the day with other swans.

Feeding
The Black Swan is a vegetarian. Food consists of algae and weeds, which the bird obtains by plunging its long neck into water up to 1 m deep. Occasionally birds will graze on land, but they are clumsy walkers.

Breeding
Black Swans form isolated pairs or small colonies in shallow wetlands. Birds pair for life, with both adults raising one brood per season. The eggs are laid in an untidy nest made of reeds and grasses. The nest is placed either on a small island or floated in deeper water. The chicks are covered in grey down, and are able to swim and feed themselves as soon as they hatch.

References
Pringle, J.D. 1985. The Waterbirds of Australia. Angus and Robertson/National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife, Sydney.
http://birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=72

Cheers,
Debbie
blakitan, iris, JPlumb, gypsygirl58, angybone, Jamesp, bobair, IulianGherghel has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To bobair: Hi Bobdeblink 1 06-26 02:25
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Debbie,
Nice DoF, well focused. Great sharpness of this black swan, details are clearly visible.
Great shot.

BL

  • Great 
  • JPlumb Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 637 W: 166 N: 889] (2884)
  • [2007-06-10 22:10]

Hi Debbie, I saw my first pair of Black Swans a couple of months ago in Port Fairy, though they certainly weren't as accommodating in their pose as this guy. Very nicely seen and captured on your part. Good exposure of a difficult subject with great detail.

Thanks, John

Hi Deb,
Lovley capture of this swan! Excellent sharpness and details in the bird and great DOF. Well captured and well done and TFS
Cheers Tina :-)

These black swans are amazing!! Great capture of the color black. I can never produce detail in black but you did an outstanding job! Cute little walk/waddle you captured too!

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 469 W: 60 N: 947] (3016)
  • [2007-06-11 14:42]

A really wonderful shot of the Black Swan Debbie.It really looks as if it is searching for someone or something...maybe the bread or may be its ladylove...great shot with superb posture and PoV, it's eye is fabulous.Very well done.
TFS & Cheers

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16524)
  • [2007-06-11 16:07]

Hi Debbie

Great DOF and POV. The colours are also excellent as is the exposure.

James

Hello Debbie,
It is nice to see him on firm ground for once!
I like the posture and the fine details in the plumage, it seems very determined in the action so I guess there was some disappointment when learning there was no bread this time...
Good focus, fine details are reproduced!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Beaux détails, impressionnant.
Bravo
Marie

  • Great 
  • Ken52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 640 W: 98 N: 1241] (4189)
  • [2007-06-12 10:01]

Very nice exposure of the black. Nice low POV and good eye contact. Good focus and detail.

Hi Debbie,
this is bird I would love to see for real as it looks so wonderful.You have caught it well as the details are good as is the focus and colour.I see that in this photo you have used the very high iso value but you could of used iso 200 or 400 and got a bit better of a shot.Have you tried shots with Av mode yet?I ask because my camera is used in that mode with a standard picture style with a jump on the sat and sharpness,I believe that the EOS 400 has picture styles in the menu and when selected with a press of the jump button you can fine tune your settings to be better than the auto modes.Give it a go and let us know how you make out.Tfs. Bob

hi,
very nice shot.
colors are great, pov and focus splendid.
regards from romania,
iulian

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