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Shoveler


Shoveler
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: 2005-10-29
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS USM, Digital RAW 100, Hoya UV 77mm
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-10-30 3:28
Viewed: 1158
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Australasian Shoveler (Maori Name: Kuruwhengi)

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genera: Anas
Species: rhynchotis
Sub Species: variegata, rhynchotis

Other common names: New Zealand shoveler, spoonbill, spoonie

Where to find: Prefer shallow fertile wetlands. Tend to shy away from city ponds but otherwise widespread.

Description: Native bird - 49cm, male, 650g., female, 600g; Duck with heavy spatulate bill. Male has blue-grey head with a white crescent in front of golden eye; breast off-white with dark brown mottling; flanks bright chestnut with prominent white patch at base of tail; bill dark grey;legs orange. Female, streaked and spotted buff brown.

The Australasian shoveler was the first of the New Zealand ducks to take to the open ocean as a refuge from hunters. Their swift and erratic flight also aids in their survival but the species replies readily to decoys and callers. About 30,000 are shot each year in the duck shooting season, out of an estimated national population of just 150,000 birds.

Unlike other dabbling ducks, the Australasian shoveler cannot supplement its diet by grazing on grass roots or grains. The edges of their bills have fine growths - lamellae - through which only soft foods can be sieved. They feed on fresh water invertebrates and the seeds of aquatic plants. They are sometimes found on flooded pasture but only to feed on worms and insects. The fertile, raupo-fringed lowland shallows that they prefer remain under constant threat of drainage.

There are two sub species of Australasian shoveler, the nominate rhynchotis which breeds in Australia and variegata which breeds in New Zealand. They are therefore classified as a native bird.

The above obtained from http://www.nzbirds.com/birds/ashoveler.html

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 20D
Time of day: 12:01 p.m.
Date: 29th October 2005
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Canon 100-400mm L IS
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/320
F-Stop: F/8
Focal Length: 400mm
ISO: 100
Original file type: Digital Raw
liquidsunshine, khris_rino, sAner, marhowie, ellis49, hummingbird24, livios, glazzaro, dew77 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Fisher: This guy is in a hurry.coasties 1 10-31 02:29
To ellis49: A new camera ?coasties 1 10-31 02:27
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Critiques [Translate]

Nice shot Pam,
Good detail, sharpness and colour. Nice low POV and good exposure.
Thanks for posting.

Better luck on next years Rally. Did you get any good pics?

Nice details! The fine hairs you talked about in your note are indeed visible. The American Shovelers look quite different so I'm going to post one very soon for comparison. Thanks for sharing!!

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-10-30 7:15]

Hi Pam,


Unusual pov, but very interesting. Wonderful dof and good details. Well exposed aswell. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

Very sharp and detailed Pam. Great light and color. Excellent note as always. Well done & Thank you.

Hi Pam,

Ah yes, the 20D!!!
Excellent shot and well done on the composition. This guy is in a hurry.

Miike

Hi Pam,
It look like a mallard duck with rubber beak;.)
The POV is great, I lowe the low angle. Well composed and good details.
Very well done.

A new camera ?

Nice shot of this shoveler, Pam.

I very much like the POV you have given this well composed and sharp image.

Nice job, thank you.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-10-30 15:13]

Pam, this is very sharp and nice.

I like the effect upon the water.

Great exposure and pov too.

Nice shot, love the detail, well caught.

Greg

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 755 W: 31 N: 20] (5032)
  • [2005-10-31 2:58]

Hi Pam,
good capture of bird. I like the colours and composition. Interesting informations in note. Good job.
Rgs, Aleksander

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-10-31 5:34]

Hello Pam!
Lovely shot.POV,details,colors and composition are beautiful.TFS...:-)

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