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Life on the Edge


Life on the Edge
Photo Information
Copyright: Janice Dunn (Janice) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3316 W: 149 N: 6113] (18648)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-12-28
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 30d, Canon 70-300mm DO IS USM
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/2000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-12-28 19:33
Viewed: 666
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Australasian Gannet
Morus serrator
Maori Name: Takapu


Please check out the Workshop showing the egg that this bird is sitting on.

You can just see her / his webbed feet acting like a protective layer over the egg.


I was quite amazed at how the birds lay their eggs so close to the edges of these steep cliffs. This is exactly where the baby birds spend the first couple of months of their lives living right on those cliff edges.

The nests are made within close proximity of other nests, out of seaweed and guano. They usually lay just one egg, incubated for 44 days by both sexes.

The chicks fledge at between 13-17 weeks old where they will fly across the Tasman Sea to Australian waters. They remain there until 3-7 years old when they will return to their breeding site and will breed for the first time at about 5 years old.


http://www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/Fauna/GannetAustralasian.htm
This is a link to Tiritiri Matangi
Argus, bobcat08, siggi, peter_stoeckl, eng55, uleko, crs, ramthakur has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Miss_Piggy: Many tyhanksJanice 1 12-31 00:29
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Critiques [Translate]

This is a lovely sharp image Janice. What a precarious position for an egg and for chicks!. You really captured the feeling of being on the edge. I'm amazed you were able to get so close. They are such pretty birds.

Happy New Year

TFS
Evelynn : )

Hello Janice

I like the POV here and the DOF.
The back drop is just that isn't it.
Wonderful light and colours.
The workshop photo is a nice addition showing the egg.
Well exposed.
TFS

Wolf

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3802 W: 190 N: 11310] (34871)
  • [2008-12-28 22:46]

Hello Janice,
A wonderful shot of a brooding Australasian Gannet. Nice POV to show all the features of the gannet with fine sharpness and the precarious position on the cliff edge with the OOF sea below.
TFS and Season's Greetings with best wishes for 2009!
Ivan

Hello Janice,

Your POV and DOF are great. Razorsharp and ful of natural colors. Wonderful. I like the breeding environment very much. Not only the bird is in the picture!. Have you made this photo at Muriwai?

Greetings and TFS BOB

very beautiful composition ,
great colours and details!
septimiu

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1367 W: 56 N: 4680] (16082)
  • [2008-12-29 1:30]

Hello Janice,
Superb capture of this pair of Takapus. The lighting, colours, composition and Bg are Top class, Well done and thanks for sharing this beauty,
Best regards Siggi

Dear Janice,
exciting documentation that shows the Australasian Gannet nicely shaped in pleasant light in beautiful soft colours, and at the same time gives a very good impression of the birds' very exposed breeding habitat on steep cliffs over a roaring see. The workshop is perfectly increasing the drama.
Thank you! With all my best wishes to you for a Happy New Year!
Peter

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1126 W: 32 N: 1113] (3440)
  • [2008-12-29 6:22]

Hi Janice,
It's nice to see a new post from you again.Gannets are on my wishlist but it's very hard to see them in Turkey.You caught her very well.Details,lighting and exposure are perfect.Hope you'll post the babies soon:)
Happy New Year for you and your family!
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2986 W: 162 N: 929] (2735)
  • [2008-12-29 7:12]

Hello Janice,
Wonderful close capture of this Gannet by the cliff edge. Excellent sharpness and beautiful light and colours. A fine view of the caring parent in the workshop too.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • crs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 523 W: 0 N: 920] (3543)
  • [2008-12-29 7:28]

Hello Janice,

What an excelent image you have got in your photo! The bird is so sharply shown that even fine detals of the plumage can be well seen. As you have used very well the light many color tones can be seen on the white plumage. Waves in the background looks great too.

Thank you for sharing,
Cristian

Hello Janice,

A wonderful sharp capture of this Gannet. I like the composition very much. Excellent exposure and superb colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hallo Janice
It is good to see you around again. Your absence has been missed. One does not need a lot of words looking at this picture. Your eyes and your heart speak on your behalf. The eyes say: "To beautiful for words" the heart say: "I envy you being so close to such a colourful and unique looking bird". Stunning photography with everything right at the right place. I cannot find fault. The only fault I find is my lack of words because this is really beautiful. The background is superb. All the best for 2009 and thanks for your valuable input on the site in the past.
Best regards.
Anna

Hi Janice,
You have captioned the image aptly; it is close to the edge of the cliff. I wonder if they have some instinctual drive to choose such a spot for breeding.
This is a wonderful picture and so is the one in your workshop. Your note provides a good insight into the life of these Gannets.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year,
Ram

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