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Variable Oystercatcher


Variable Oystercatcher
Photo Information
Copyright: jim stevens (jimbob) Silver Note Writer [C: 1 W: 0 N: 118] (409)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-04-17
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon PowerShot S2 IS
Exposure: f/4, 1/800 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-11-11 14:42
Viewed: 1039
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Torea – pango, the Variable Oyster Catcher
The variable oystercatchers are the workers of the beach and mudflats, constantly busy and on the hunt for food while the gulls hang around in gangs looking for the main chance. They are noisy and talkative birds, feeding on molluscs, crabs and worms. They open bivalve shellfish by stabbing between the shells and twisting the bill to part the shells or by hammering a hole in the shell. The adults spend some time teaching their offspring the trick of opening shells, a constant source of amusement. They nest on the shore or among rocks and therefore are often victims of holiday makers. They are great parents and are aggressive towards any threat to their offspring, mobbing aerial predators and leading ground predators, including humans, away with various tactics.

The variable is slightly larger than the pied and is called variable because its colour is variable, that is it is sometimes pied, all very confusing to the unitiated. In its variable phase is usually identified from the pied by the lack of a white tab in front of the folded wing, an exercise for birdwatchers.
Oystercatchers are found on every continent except Antarctica. In South America the Falkland Islands, New Zealand and Australia one of the pair of species is pied the other black. There is still no uniform agreement on how many species of oystercatchers there are. Sibley & Monroe (1990) and Clements (1991) lists 11 species. Hockey (1996) includes the South Island pied oystercatcher, H. finschi, within the races of the Eurasian oystercatcher, H. ostralegus, but splits off the Chatham Island oystercatcher, H. chathamensis, from the variable, creating thereby an endangered species. He also gives some arguments why the sooty oystercatcher, H. fulginosus, of Australia should be split into two species, creating the spectacled oystercatcher, H. opthalmicus, and why the Galapagos Island birds, H.galapagensis, should be separated from the American oystercatcher.
Thanks to DOC http://www.doc.govt.nz/
pauljk, coasties, Rolf, Janice, Lycaon, metcher, bobcat08 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To manyee: Oystercatcherjimbob 1 11-13 19:08
To metcher: Oystercatcherjimbob 1 11-12 19:15
To Janice: Variablejimbob 1 11-12 15:34
To Rolf: Variablejimbob 1 11-12 15:34
To coasties: Variablejimbob 1 11-12 15:33
To pauljk: Variablejimbob 1 11-12 15:33
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Jim,
Great image with good lighting and excellent environmental detail. Love the foam in the BG.
Cheers
Paul

Hi Jim

This is a great shot. You have exposed this well showning clear detail in both the black and white. Nice reflection on the wet sand. I like the sea foam. Very nice work. TFS.

  • Great 
  • Rolf Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 59 W: 0 N: 27] (196)
  • [2006-11-11 15:34]
  • [+]

Nice details and colours, Jim!
TFS
Rolf

Hi Jim, what a good capture of the Variable Oyster Catcher. Very good sharpness and colours, especially the red bill and eyes. Well done,
Janice

Nice bird and light. Very good exposure and colors. Like also surroundings.

Hi Jim,
Wow, the details on this oystercatcher are really sharp.
The colors are well saturated, and the exposure on this black and white bird, a challenge, is perfect.
A fun composition with the bird looking out to see, with one foot up.
TFS. : )

Hello Jim,

The Variable Oyster Catcher in his element. The beach with all the (sea)food so nearby. A great image with a beautiful clarity and natural colors. The foam at the BG makes the enviroment complete. Regards and TFS BOB

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