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Weka & Babe


Weka & Babe
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3817 W: 505 N: 8098] (27718)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-10-31
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
Theme(s): Interacting birds [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-11-29 3:50
Viewed: 1136
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Weka

The curious weka: The weka is a large, brown flightless bird that has a famously feisty and curious personality. It is these two qualities that have traditionally made the bird an easy food source for Maori and early European settlers.

Currently four sub-species of weka are recognised. However the density of individual populations is poorly known. All sub-species generally occupy a 'Category B' priority for conservation action.

The weka occupies a problematic conservation niche. Some subspecies are threatened, but in some cases weka have become a problem to other threatened wildlife on offshore islands.

The current Department of Conservation Recovery Plan needs to recognise this conflict, as well as improve the weka's conservation status.

A precious resource: Historically, the weka was a significant resource for some iwi, and their availability for sustainable harvest

Weka were also utilised by early European settlers who gave it the name 'bush hen.'

The decline of weka on mainland New Zealand has inhibited mahinga kai in modern times. The current debate sees some iwi Maori welcoming conservation projects that would enable the restoration of this tradition, while others believe that the time for harvest has gone.

The only place where the legal harvest of weka occurs is on the Chatham Islands.

Ecology and habitat: Diet: Invertebrates and fruit, but they also eat lizards, rodents, food scraps, and the eggs and young of ground nesting birds.

Habitat: Weka occupy a range of habitats including forests, sub alpine grassland, sand dunes, rocky shores, and even modified, semi-urban environments.

Population and range: North Island weka are found on a number of North Island locations.

Western weka are found on the South Island. Buff weka are found on the eastern South Island and the Chatham Islands. Stewart Island weka are found on Stewart Island.

Weka populations are subject to large fluctuations. This is possibly due to major changes in food supply related to adverse weather conditions. Islands seem to support the most stable populations.

Thje above obtained from http://www.doc.govt.nz/Conservation/001~Plants-and-Animals/001~Native-Animals/Weka.asp

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 20D
Time of day: 11:47 a.m.
Date: 31st October 2005
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Canon 100-400mm L IS
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/60
F-Stop: F/5
Focal Length: 200mm
ISO: 200
External Flash: Canon 580EX Speedlight
Original file type: Digital Raw
petrudamsa, dew77, fiyo, cedryk, Nico, marhowie, mogens-j, livios, alejandroguzman, wallhalla15, hummingbird24, Athila has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Pam!
What a situation ;-))))
Nice to showed it so close ;-)

Good portrait with native inhabitants. As I see conservation raises a lot of problems all over the world. I noticed that the one in your picture is monitored.

Regards, Petru

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-11-29 4:23]

Hello Pam!
Wonderful shot.I liked moment you caught,POV,framing and composition a lot.TFS...:-)

Hi Pam,
Very good capture!
Excellent details and colours,
great composition, nice frame.
TFS!

Hello Pam,
Great shot of this unusual bird! Excellent note as well.
TFS and greetings,
Michal

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 987 W: 5 N: 2762] (10618)
  • [2005-11-29 6:36]

Hello Pam,
Excellent capture !
Very good lighting, sharp and detailed image, very nice colours. TFS

  • Great 
  • Nico Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 1 N: 332] (1313)
  • [2005-11-29 6:42]

This is a very nice shot showing caring parent, I like wildlife shots showing some form of activity. Very well exposed as well.

Very nice capture of mother and child Pam. Great use of flash to bring out some very sharp detail. Well composed - Well done!
Thank You.

Wonderful capture Pam. I love the tight cropping and the composition. Another great example showing that pictures do not have to be cropped in 2:3 og 3:4 proportions. Great sharpness with lots of details (do I look forward to get my hands on one of these lenses - I have ordered one). Colours look very good. I really like the protecting attitude. Great note too.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-11-29 10:55]

Pam, excellent sharpness and details to show us this great and cute moment.

I like composition too.

A really nice photo. Congratulations.

Hello Pam. Nice shot! Great colours and atmosphere. I like it very much. Very well done!

There is something so wonderful about mother and baby photos, even in the animal kingdom.

Great capture, Pam.

Nice details, color, lighting and POV.

Well done and TFS.

  • Great 
  • klemmg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 40 N: 484] (1719)
  • [2005-11-29 19:09]

Hi Pam,
good timing and handling to capture the right moment in perfect detail and with a wonderful composition. Excellent!
One suggestion maybe: is the little one light brown as shown or darker? Possibly adjust levels (this is a favourite point of mine to nitpick about). As is, your shot is wonderful.
Regards,
Gabi

  • Great 
  • Athila Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 305 W: 232 N: 432] (1564)
  • [2005-11-29 23:15]

Hi Pam!

Interesting animal. Image is sharp and exposure is a little OE, I personnally prefer darker image, but I understant you wanted to retain details in the babe's fur. The tight cropping seems to amplify the protective action of the mother for her baby.
Good shot and TFS

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