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Photo Information
Copyright: Toni Alvarez (Toni) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-08-06
Categories: Birds
Camera: KonicaMinolta Dynax7D, minolta 80-200 G APO
Exposure: f/2.8, 1/350 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2005-11-08 16:08
Viewed: 1484
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Dacelo novaeguineae
Description
The Laughing Kookaburra is instantly recognisable in both plumage and voice. This large member of the kingfisher family measures 40 - 45 cm in length. It is generally off-white below, faintly barred with dark brown, and brown on the back and wings. The tail is more rufous, broadly barred with black. There is a conspicuous dark brown eye-stripe through the face.
The chuckling voice that gives this species its English name is a common and familiar sound throughout the bird's range. The loud 'koo-koo-koo-koo-koo-kaa-kaa-kaa' is often sung in a chorus with other individuals. The Laughing Kookaburra also has a shorter 'koooaa', which is normally given when accompanied by other members of its family group.
Identification may only be confused where the Laughing Kookaburra's range overlaps that of the Blue-winged Kookaburra, D. leachii, in eastern Queensland. The call of the Blue-winged Kookaburra is coarser than that of the Laughing Kookaburra, and ends somewhat abruptly. The Blue-winged Kookaburra lacks the brown eye-stripe, has a blue tail and a large amount of blue in the wing, and has a pale eye.
Distribution and Habitat
The Laughing Kookaburra occurs throughout eastern Australia. It has also been introduced to Tasmania and the extreme south-west of Western Australia, as well as New Zealand. It inhabits most areas where there are suitable trees. In the central north and north-west of Australia it is replaced by the Blue-winged Kookaburra. The two overlap in range throughout Queensland, although the Blue-winged Kookaburra tends to occupy the coastal areas.
Food and feeding
Laughing Kookaburras feed mostly on insects, worms and crustaceans, although small snakes, mammals, frogs and birds may also be eaten. Prey is seized by pouncing from a suitable perch. Small prey is eaten whole, but larger prey is killed by bashing it against the ground or tree branch. Laughing Kookaburras often become quite tame around humans and will readily accept scraps of meat. This 'pre-processed' food is still beaten against a perch before swallowing.
Breeding
Laughing Kookaburras breed from August to January. The birds are believed to pair for life. The nest is a bare chamber in a naturally occurring tree hollow or in a burrow excavated in an arboreal (tree-dwelling) termite mound. Both sexes share the incubation duties and both care for the young. Other Laughing Kookaburras, usualy offspring of the previous 1-2 years, act as 'helpers' during the breeding season. Every bird in the group shares all parenting duties.
Athila, thistle, glazzaro, Luc, TAZ, coasties, scottevers7 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

I would call it "Normal couple" since they turn around and don't seem to speak each other. (just joking ;o) )

Focus is good and image is well exposed. Very nice composition with birds on two different level. The shallow DOF is marvellous. The only distrubing thing is the "shit" (shit I wrote it!) ;o)
I tried a WS on it. I hope you don't mind.
Great shot (it's an "o" not an "i" ;o) ) and TFS

Very nice shot. I really love the composition. Very lucky to get them looking back like that!

I might like a little more DOF to get the second bird's head a little sharper (or did it move?). 2.8 doesn't seem to have been quite enough (of course, if I owned that G lens for my 7D, I would probably shoot it wide open as well - LOL.)

I did like Athila's workshop removing the uric acid from the log. I'm not much on doctoring images, but that is a big improvement for only a little fidgeting.

Nice detail and depth, good camera work.

Greg

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 523 W: 47 N: 669] (2157)
  • [2005-11-08 19:14]

Handsome they are!
Excellent capture.
The grass above the bird's head on the right is a little noisy for me, but everything else is perfect.
I like it alot!
Thanks,
Dave

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1676 W: 5 N: 2144] (11878)
  • [2005-11-08 19:33]

Beau moment de prendre deux oiseaux du même coup. La prise de vue est parfaite et la netteté des deux sujets est excellente.

Félicitations et merci pour l'envoie Toni!

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2058 W: 315 N: 4404] (14713)
  • [2005-11-08 21:59]

Appréciation personnelle pour la photo: bonne. Une composition un peu serrée à mon sens.
Pouvoir d'évocation en moi: fort.
Bon impact visuel.
Pertinence de la photo pour le site: excellente.
Appréciation personnelle pour la note: complète.
Merci Toni.

Hi Toni,
It's a nice pair you have caught.
Very well composed, good POV and nice colours.
Some parts a slightly OE, but thats a mino nit.
Very well done.

interesting capture. Great POV. they seems to have a fight just now.

  • Great 
  • gopi Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 24 W: 0 N: 68] (333)
  • [2005-11-09 2:11]

Toni
Overall a very good picture.
One cannot expect more depth at F2.8, I have been in situations like this before so I carry a tripod almost always.
This is my personal opinion, I dont know if it applies to others. Looking at a photograph, often the (my) eyes run diagonally through the picture. In this case the eyes first lock on the bird on the top left which is not so sharp and move down to the sharper one to the right...
I love the picture otherwise.
TFS
Gopi

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3073 W: 232 N: 5866] (19730)
  • [2005-11-09 3:06]

I really like these birds, Toni. They are just beautiful. Sharp details, good light and colors, great composition. Well done and TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3184] (10918)
  • [2005-11-09 3:52]

Woooow ! Superb and interesting shot that you have very well done ! Congratulations Toni and thanks for sharing.

" Life is so rare in the universe and Nature so precious, we must take care of them! " Christian...

Hi Toni

Nicely composed shot. Great POPV with good sharpness and detail. Well done. Thanks.

Nice shot Toni!
Photo is very good technically and has very interesting subject. Birds look as if they were posing you. Pity that both of them aren't in focus but still it's great shot.
WELL DONE & TFS

Hi Toni,
Great shot on this matching pair. Excellent colors and detail in this shot. They are such interesting birds. Perfect DOF in this one. Great job!
Scott

Hi Toni,
This is a sweet capture! The kookaburra couple look cute and are well positioned. I get these birds in my backyard. They seem to love the camera ;) I see they posed for you too :)) You've captured their feather detail very well. Congratulations!
Claudia.

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2005-11-15 18:27]

Hi Toni,

Beautiful, what a shot!!!
Excellent composition and details. Super work.

Mike

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