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White-faced Heron


White-faced Heron
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3816 W: 505 N: 8098] (27718)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-03-26
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS USM, Digital RAW 200, Hoya UV 77mm
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-03-31 4:05
Viewed: 1071
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Notable behaviours of White-faced Heron (Ardea novaehollandiae)

Breeding: Their mating system is unknown, but observations of courtship behaviour describe nuptial flights in which one bird pursues the other weaving through woodland. During these flights their necks are outstretched and they call throughout the flight. They also perform twig shaking and back biting when courting. Nuptial plumage of the neck and back is erected to enhance all visual displays.

..White-faced Herons are solitary nesters, choosing trees some distance from water. Both sexes build the nest; one delivering twigs while the other inserts them using a trembling pushing movement. Incubation is shared by both parents over a 21–24 day period.

..Chicks beg for food by erecting their neck feathers drooping their wings and wagging their body and tail; parents feed them by incomplete regurgitation. Young fledge by week five.

Food and Foraging: White-faced Herons are catholic in their diet eating most aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates. Techniques used to procure a meal include; standing and waiting, slow walking through shallow water, wing flicking, foot raking and pursuit with wings open.

Preening White-faced Heron: Occasionally they squat with their neck retracted and stab at passing prey. Their style of foraging is, in most part, determined by the prey that they are stalking. Fish are stalked with the heron maintaining a low crouched position with the head and neck parallel to the water’s surface; they lunge quickly and capture prey which is then swallowed whole.

..When fish are too large to be swallowed, the herons take them ashore and pick them over. When standing and waiting the neck is extended and they peer downwards into the water. Crustaceans are shaken to dislodge legs and then swallowed. White-faced Herons have been observed foraging in the direction which avoids the glare of the sun.

Agonistic behaviour: Usually quiet birds, White-faced Herons may perform forward display, upright display and chasing if feeding territory is breached. On occasions assailants will fight using wings and bills to strike at each other.

..To counter aerial attacks White-faced herons assume a different flight silhouette by flying with their necks stretched out, thus confusing their attacker.

The above obtained from http://www.birdingsunshinecoast.com.au/htm/profiles.htm

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 20D
Time of day: 11:29 a.m.
Date: 26th March 2006
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Canon 100-400mm L IS
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/2000
F-Stop: F/4.5
Focal Length: 100mm
ISO: 200
Original file type: Digital Raw
Signal-Womb, MikeGray, ALIRIZA, thor68, marhowie, SkyF, livios, cecilia, Luc has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Spectacular in-flight shot Pam, excellent detail and good placement in frame. Very nice camera work, well done.

Splendid in flight shot here Pam,
Well timed and captured.
regards
Mike

Hi Pam,
Marvelous and amazing motion capture. Well timed. Congratulations...
Ali Rıza

Love the rocks balancing out the Heron. Feather detail and texture is good. I like the presentation too.

wow, what a wingspan!
great action-inflight shot, pam! :-)
good composition with enough space
to fly and the rocks in the bg.
well done & take care,
thor.

Hi Pam, Well composed inflight with great detail. I like the POV of this heron very much also. Well done!

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2233 W: 188 N: 1929] (8127)
  • [2006-03-31 9:05]

Hello Pam,
great shot the POV is wonderful. Excellent action shot, very nice composition.
TFS..Sky

Well captured Pam,
Good detail, colours and sharpness.
Composition and lighting are excellent. Good POV and framing.
Thanks for posting, have a great weekend and good luck with the rally. You'll have to show me some pics.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2006-03-31 12:48]

Pam, this one has lots of space to fly, and that's nice.

Great sharpness, pov and exposure.

Another great job.

Great shot!I like the composition and your framework...Well taken...

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 962 W: 0 N: 89] (7801)
  • [2006-04-01 20:06]

Hı Pam
Good in-flight capture shot.Good composition with free space and rock.Good POV and details.
Well done

osse

Hi Pam,

Very nice capture. Behind is a kind of lochness mosters ?

have nice day

  • Great 
  • hibou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 216 W: 1 N: 329] (1617)
  • [2006-04-03 18:38]

Hello Pam,
Interesting white face heron ... never see before your picture ... Great composition and action of the bird in flight. TFS Donald

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2006-04-11 5:07]

Very good Photo.
Complete note as usual.
Thank you Pam.
I am just paying my debts.

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 440 W: 10 N: 504] (2372)
  • [2006-04-29 3:58]

i like it definetly! very well ambiance and great composition including birds in background and rocks! nice colour palette. the bird of subject is very well focused and exposed. tfs

Bonjour,
Pourvu que l'atterrissage se passe bien.
clnaef

What a great catch!!!!! Beautiful!

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