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Dirty Beak


Dirty Beak
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3815 W: 505 N: 8095] (27712)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-08-25
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 10D, Canon 70-300mm DO IS USM, Digital RAW 800, Marumi UV 58mm
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-08-26 2:35
Viewed: 1014
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Geographic Range: The European Starling Sturnus vulgaris is found in all but one of the world's six biogeographical realms, excepting (so far) the Neotropics. Dispersed mainly over its natural Palearctic region (from Central Siberia in the east and the Azores in the west to Norway in the north and the Mediterranean in the south), starlings were introduced to North America in 1890. Of the one hundred starlings released that year in New York City, only fifteen pairs survived. Over the next hundred years, starlings would increase a million-fold from the original fifteen. Because of their wide range of ecological tolerance, these birds were able to rapidly expand their range across the United States. The European Starling is found today sprawled from the Atlantic to the Pacific (east to west) and from Southern Canada to Northern Mexico (north to south).

Behavior: The European Starling is a "secondary cavity nester," a bird that requires natural or man made cavities in which to put its nest. Because of their increasing numbers and aggressive behavior, they are outcompeting native birds in North America which have historically utilized cavities as nest sites. This has resulted in population declines for various wren, swallow, and bluebird populations. Starlings are very gregarious birds, flocking at all times with other starlings. These birds breed in bunches, feed in flocks, and migrate in masses. Males use a "wing-waving" technique (where the wings flap halfway) to attract their females. Males also impress their females by singing in their nests and by decorating their nests. When the female is fertile, her male mate closely surveys his competitors. The male follows the female in every activity she takes part in. Another notable aspect of starling behavior is its relationship with humans. In addition to being very gregarious, starlings are also amenable to human disturbance, coexisting with people in urban areas.

The above obtained from http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Sturnus_vulgaris.html

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 10D
Time of day: 2:31 p.m.
Date: 25th August 2006
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Canon 70-300mm DO IS USM
Filter: Marumi 58mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/800
F-Stop: F/9
Focal Length: 300mm
ISO: 800
Suppoert: Hand Held
Original file type: Digital Raw
magal, elefantino, wallhalla15, ellis49, Dando, jchemas, sAner has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Ciao Pam,
molto bella questa foto di storno!
Ottimi i dettagli e bei colori!

Franco

  • Great 
  • magal Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 224 W: 0 N: 313] (1241)
  • [2006-08-26 4:11]

Hi Pam,
Well taken shot, with excellent composition and sharp details. Beautifully blurred background gives more emphasis to the subject.
TFS
Mark

Hello Pam,
nice portrait of one of the most commen bird in Italy.
Funny pose with the dirty beak.
The BG is great like the colors and the details.

Andrea

Hello Pam,
this is another great starling shot from you. Great sharpness, details and very nice colours. Great POV and composition too. Thank you.
Gr.
Heinz

Hi Pam,
it's well taken with your old 10d.
Lovely colours, good details and compostion.
I love the POV and DOF too.
Great work, my friend.

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 637 W: 32 N: 792] (3084)
  • [2006-08-26 17:06]

Hi Pam, excellent shot. You have done very well with both the exposure and your control on the DOF. Perfect position within the frame and good POV.
Great work, TFS.
Dean.

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 962 W: 0 N: 89] (7801)
  • [2006-08-26 21:29]

Hi Pam
Beautiful composition again. Great colours, sharpnes, light, details, DOF and POV. Yes also good note and beautiful frame.
Well done mf

osse

Good morning Pam,
Just time for a quick visit.
Nice capture. enjoy the rest of the weekend.

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 705 W: 13 N: 1405] (5027)
  • [2006-08-27 10:46]

Hi Pam

Excellent shot, you really do bring the best out of Starlings, the detail is excellent with the dirt on his beak and the sheen on his feathers. The colours are superb with a great BG.

TFS
Regards Hilary :)

Hello Pam.
I can't help loving these birds.
The have nests all over around my house and they visit one of the trees, an apple tree to eat the fruit. My wife doesn’t like them that much but from time to time, she sets bananas of fruit of some kind for them to eat.
Great colors, details and composition on this one and the BG is superb..
Like always, I love the framing.
TFS and Regards
JC

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 440 W: 10 N: 504] (2372)
  • [2006-08-28 10:24]

great composition, perfect exposure on this difficult black subject. tfs

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2006-08-28 17:01]

Hi Pam,

Great shot. Sharp details, well exposed and I love the composition. The background is very good too. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

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