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Morepork


Morepork
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3815 W: 505 N: 8096] (27714)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-08-26
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 10D, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS USM, Digital RAW 100, Hoya UV 77mm
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Travelogue: South Island Winter Holiday 2005
Date Submitted: 2005-08-27 6:05
Viewed: 9309
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
On the last day of our holiday we visited Willowbank Wild Life Park in Christchurch. If you are ever in Christchurch, take the time and visit. It is a great experience. This Morepork was wide awake, but in a dark environment. Not the best conditions for a photograph, but I have never seen one in the flesh and wanted to share him with everyone on TN. Hope you like him. Thanks for looking.

Morepork (Maori Name: Ruru)

Scientific Name: Ninox novaeseelandiae
Conservation Status: Common but protected

Habitat: Moreporks are native to New Zealand and live in native forest and lightly forested open country and pine plantations.

Unique Features: The plumage varies between individuals with shades of brown and buff tips on the feathers. There are bars on the tail with a black and white pattern on underside of the wings. The female is slightly larger than the male.

Social Behaviour: Moreporks live in pairs, keeping the same mate for many seasons and occupy the same territory all year. Some birds move around in winter but they are mostly sedentary. Some use the same roost over long periods while others change frequently. Calling increases during breeding season.

Diet: Predominantly insects (mainly wetas) but also spiders, lizards, small birds, rats, mice and bats. Flying insects are caught by with their talons or beak. Large prey is held in the talons and torn pieces.

Reproduction: Mating occurs in September. They can nest in tree hollows, thick clusters of shrubbery, caves or even burrows. The nest is usually a shallow epression with no extra material. They usually lay 2 eggs, which the female incubates for about 30 days while the male feeds her. Chicks (owlets) are mainly fed on birds dissected by the parents and fledge at 34 days.

Life Cycle: Life span in the wild is 5-11 years.

Relatives: Related to all the other owl species.

Interesting Facts:

• Morepork are nocturnal, they roost by day in thick vegetation and will not leave unless disturbed,
they may fly off in early dusk long before actual nightfall.

• The large flight feathers on their wings have downy edges that makes their flight almost silent.

• They have a very distinct call of "morepork, morepork", hence their name.

The above obtained from http://www.wellingtonzoo.com/animals/animals/natives/ruru.html

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 10D
Time of day: 12:17 p.m.
Date: 26th August 2005
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Canon 100-400mm L IS
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/60
F-Stop: F/4.5
Focal Length: 200mm
ISO: 100
Original file type: Digital Raw
External Flash: Canon 580EX
chiliu, sAner, TAZ, wallhalla15, dsidwell, momos, Janice, Luc, sway has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To sAner: Oversharpenedcoasties 1 08-27 07:44
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Pam,
Excellent shot!
The details and colour are great .
TFS!

  • Good 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-08-27 7:18]
  • [+]

Nice capture Pam. I think you oversharpened the picture as I can see a clear halo. The colors and exposure are good and the composition is too. TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

Hi Pam, This is quick, I'm on vacation! My laptops not the best viewer :-( Great details - The eyes have it!

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-08-27 12:05]

This bird has an impressive glance, I like its eyes and its feathers also. I appreciate the pose with the head turned. The background blurred is nice. The halo seems strange... Great note.
Thanks for sharing Pam.

Nice portrait shot Pam, great sharpness and DOF, well captured too. thanks for sharing

Nice work, Pam. I love the tones on the bird itself: very warm, textured and inviting. I'm not so keen on the strange dark halo around the bird, though. If you blurred the background, you might try separating the bird onto a different layer and blurring the background separately, which will help you avoid getting the bird itselt to blur into the background, as it looks like has been done here. good luck!

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2005-08-27 16:39]

Oh Pam, I've heard MANY of these owls at night calling, "More Pork. More Pork!!" But never seen one either. I am so pleased you posted this and I now can say I've 'seen' one.
Good capture, especially in these conditions. His feathers and details are so clear to see. Well done and TFS.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3066 W: 231 N: 6160] (21048)
  • [2005-08-27 18:11]

A beautiful shot of this morepork (?), Pam. I have never heard of this bird before. So a new one for me... always a thrill. Beautiful eyes and colors. Well done and TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-08-27 18:33]

Pam, despite the halo around the bird (oversharpness or other procedure with PP?), no doubt this shot is worthwhile posting.

The owls usually have great eyes, and this one is not an exception. I do enjoy pose, pov and composition too.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2005-08-28 13:53]

Hi Pam! I do not have the time to write a decent comment.

"Nature never deceives us; it is always we who deceive ourselves." (Jacques Rousseau)

Thank you for sharing pictures and notes and for the enjoyment which they give to me.

Have a wonderfull week!

Thanks for getting this photo despite the conditions, Pam. Considering the dark area, you did a great job bring out the details and colors in this owl. This is a new one for me... thanks for sharing the great note. Nicely done :-)

  • Great 
  • optic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 322 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2005-09-03 23:19]

Hello Pam,
It's so cute ! great portrait i like the compositon the colours & détails, sharpness & dof are great.

Have a nice week-end :-)
Christian

Hello Pam,

I heard him in Mangawhai on Norther Island many nights and evenings, but I have never seen him. And yes here is a photo from this little owl. Thanks for that. It is a nice capture. Great POV and BG. Composition is good. The feathers are on some places not sharp. Thats maybe what sAner means? Very interesting notes. I did a little WS. I hope you like it. Regards and TFS BOB

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