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Flying Rats


Flying Rats
Photo Information
Copyright: Janice Dunn (Janice) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-08-17
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Tamron 28-300 XR
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/125 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Fun in the Sun at Fiji
Date Submitted: 2005-09-08 5:32
Viewed: 2625
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Indian or Common Myna / Mynah Bird

The Myna bird is in the list of 100 of the world's worst alien invaders. It's called the 'Flying Rat', and has become more of a menace than the insects it was introduced to control.

It's the Indian mynah -- an aggressive, noisy, cocky little bird that's taking over city backyards and parks, and here in Fiji it is very well established out on the islands too. I saw many more Myna birds than any other birds when I was on Mana Island. They were always seen at the outdoor dining areas waiting for people to leave their tables so they could fly up and see what food they could grab.

Around 150 yeas ago, the Indian or Common Myna (Mynah) was introduced into to South Africa and many islands in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans such as New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Brunei, Sumatra, Fiji, Hawaii, and Cook Islands. They are well established in New Zealand and Fiji. These birds are a significant threat to native birds because they prey on their eggs and young and compete for food and nest hollows.

Identification
Brownish body with black head, yellow legs, yellow beak, white tail tips, white lower underparts and yellow patch behind eye.
Stands upright and walks with a “swagger”.
Various calls, noisy, harsh alarm call.
In flight, has a white patch on the underside of each wing.
Groups often observed feeding on lawn areas.
Roost in large colonies at night, often in non-native trees such as exotic palms.
Extremely aggressive to other nesting birds, often attacking hatchings in the nest.
Intelligent birds that are cautious when alarmed.

www.users.bigpond.com/ basqld/conservation/mynas/myna.htm
dew77, chiliu, Comandante, wishnugaruda, Fisher, marhowie, sAner, wallhalla15, mogens-j, Signal-Womb, mjdundee, Eko, zeca, sranjan has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To zeca: MynaJanice 1 03-09 03:39
To Fisher: ThanksJanice 1 09-08 16:12
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-09-08 5:42]

Hello Janice!
Wonderful capture.Clear eyes and details,POV,sharpness,framing and composition are excellent.TFS...:-)

Hi Janice,
What a great double catch!
Amazing detail in eye, excellent colour, very sharp image.
Well done and thanks for sharing!

Hello Janice!
Very nice shot.Colors,clear eyes,POV and composition are perfect.Thanks for sharing.

Hi Janice,
a lovely shot, special with the softly "brother" in the back. I like it, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-09-08 15:47]

Janice, at first, when I saw the bird at the top, I thought the picture was completely out of focus. But, then, things became clear.

Great pov and composition. I like colors too. If I'm not mistaken, maybe sharpness could be a little bit better, but that's a minor nit.

It's a beautiful bird in a beautiful image.

Hi Janice,

Excellent shot and well done on the composition.
I'm surprised there is no culling program to reduce the colonies.

Mike

Hello Jancie, This is well detailed with nice color, light and POV. Interesting composition with this second OOF bird in the BG. You've provided an excellent note, Well done!

Great shot Janice,
Very busy night again!!
No time to read notes, but enough time to enjoy your post.Well worth a big green smile.
Have a good weekend. TFS

  • Good 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-09-09 13:51]

Hi Janice,

This is a colorful shot and the details are very clear. I like the colors a lot. I do think you oversharpened the picture a bit as I can see a halo. The oof bird in the bg is a little distracting. TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

Janice, very nice capture with great colours and sharpness/dof. Very good composition.

Wwll seen or hated - it is a beautiful bird with a very proud attitude and nice colours and you have captured it well Janice. I also like the double in the background. It adds some perspective to the picture. Composition is good. Interesting note - what a pity such nice bird has such a bad behaviour.

Ideally the main bird would have been better a little forward Janice for composition. The shallow DOF has give a nice effect of depth which I like here. Pity the main bird is soft in focus because of that issue 5/10 Regards Steve.

  • Great 
  • sway Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 303 W: 85 N: 308] (1224)
  • [2005-09-10 21:23]

HI Janice,
These birds are a pain whether it is in NZ or Fiji.
You have captured them well. The one in the foreground is looking straight at the camera.
Nice work
:)

  • Great 
  • Eko Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 187 W: 10 N: 38] (121)
  • [2005-09-13 6:29]

Hello Janice!
Very nice shot.Colors,POV,details and composition are beautiful.Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • zeca Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 373 W: 14 N: 538] (2881)
  • [2006-03-08 12:42]
  • [+]

Hello Janice!
I read about this bird before my travel to Fiji, and every morning I woke up early with some birds over the roof of our bures making so many noise. I thought that it was the Myna, but I'm not sure about.
Your picture, like always, is nice, very sharp and with true colours! And your note is excelent! TFS!
Cheers!
Zeca

Dear Janice,
Amazing sharpness for the Common Indian Maynah. What you have mentioned in your notes is absolutely correct.....they are flying rats :O
Regards-Subhash

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