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Maori Name: Tieke


Maori Name: Tieke
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3815 W: 505 N: 8095] (27712)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06-05
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon 70-200mm F/2.8L IS + EF 1.4X II Ex, Digital RAW 200, Hoya UV 77mm
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds of New Zealand [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-06-20 3:49
Viewed: 1507
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Saddleback

Maori Name: Tieke (pronounced tea-eh-keh)
Common Name: North Island Saddleback
Latin Name: Philesturnus carunculatus rufusater
Family: Wattlebird
Status: Rare, endemic

* Found only in New Zealand, tieke is one of 3 species of the endemic family of wattlebirds. The others are the kokako (Callaeas cinerea wilsoni), which is also endangered, and the huia (Heteralocha acutirostris), which became extinct about 100 years ago, with the last confirmed sighting in 1907.

* There are two subspecies of saddleback, the North Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus rufusater) and the South Island saddleback (P. c. carunculatus).

* Once widespread, tieke, like many other New Zealand birds, proved highly vulnerable to bush clearance and the introduction of pest predators such as rats, cats and mustelids, and rapidly declined in numbers in the mid to late 1800s. The last reported sighting of saddleback in the North Island was in 1910.

* North Island tieke became extinct everywhere except Hen Island (near Whangarei), and all surviving birds owe their existence to successful transfers from this island to other offshore islands such as Cuvier and Stanley Islands.

* The total population in 2004 is estimated at c.5000, with birds now found on nine islands such as Kapiti, Little Barrier, Tiritiri Matangi and Mokoia Island (in Lake Rotorua).

* Saddleback had until recently been extinct on the mainland for close to 100 years. Transfers have now been undertaken to two mainland sites. The first transfer was to Karori Wildlife Sanctuary in 2002. Following this successful transfer, tieke were transferred from Cuvier Island and released in September 2004 into Boundary Stream (Hawke's Bay), an unfenced mainland island managed by the Department of Conservation.

The North Island Saddleback was on the verge of extinction until captive breeding programmes and subsequent release to predator-free islands eased the pressure on them. Saddlebacks forage over the tree trunks and on the ground looking for small insects. Saddlebacks were highly regarded by Maori and seeing one on the eve of battle was considered a good omen.

The above obtained from http://www.sanctuary.org.nz/restoration/forest/tieke/tieke_facts.html

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 20D
Time of day: 11:02 a.m.
Date: 5th June 2007
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Canon 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM
Extender: Canon EF 1.4X II
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/250
F-Stop: F/4.5
Focal Length: 98mm
ISO: 200
External Flash: Canon 580EX Speedlite
Original file type: Digital Raw
Matt-Bird, LordPotty, Kathleen, cicindela, scottevers7 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Pam,
I like the lighting in your photo the dark BG really helps display this birds plumage and head. Good shot, regards
Matt.

Gosh Pam,
What a rare treat to be able to photograph one of these.
I've only seen them at the Otorahanga kiwi house before. (I've occassionally dug up skeletons at the bottom of tomo too in my caving days)
This is a lovely capture with good colour and composition.
Excellent bird to post.
Cheers,Steve

Hi Pam.
Wow, what a great image to have. The flash has bought out the colours beautifully without overpowering. The dark background really makes him stand out. Great pose, composition, DOF, lighting and detail all perfect.

Kathleen
New Zealand

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035] (13835)
  • [2007-06-20 7:17]

Hi Pam,

A nice capture of this saddleback,I guess he was quite close as you look at the focal lengt,anyway well composed shot,tfs

Paul

Superb shot of this attractive native.
Excellent sharpness as usual, but its the warms tones of this image that I really like.
Well done Pam

Chris

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2386 W: 94 N: 5517] (17564)
  • [2007-06-20 9:08]

Hello Pam,
Good photo of this Saddleback. Great light and colours. I like the pose.
A bit strange is the framing on top and bottom. In combination with the shelf(?) it looks if the photo is leaning.
Regards,
Peter

Ciao Pam,
bellissima foto, ottimi i particolari e colori stupendi!

Grazie.
Franco

  • Great 
  • clnaef Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 778 W: 67 N: 645] (6814)
  • [2007-06-20 10:05]

Bonjour,
Voilà un oiseau aux couleurs chatoyantes !
Bonne journée.
clnaef

Hi pam,
You definitely have these strange birds...
Never saw this 'Tieke' before...
Well done
TFS
Annick

Hello Pam,
What a volourful and beauty species. I have not seen it before. Very good DOF and POV, note is also very interesting.
Bravo and TFS,
Radomir

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12250)
  • [2007-06-20 20:33]

Superbe spécimen et parfaite exposition. Bravo pour les détails et la belle lumière.
Merci!
Joseph

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3065 W: 231 N: 6160] (21048)
  • [2007-06-21 3:14]

Hello Pam,
What an interesting bird. Can't say I have seen this one before, so thanks for the introduction. : )
Your POV shows well the red wattles and the brown patch on its back. Very apt name.
TFS. : )

Hi Pam,
WOW! I see why they call it a Saddleback. The colors and detail in the plumage are very well shown. Fill flash exposure was perfect here.
Excellent work my friend!
Scott

Hola Pam
Otra gran captura la tuya de esta rara y bonita ave, claro que lo de rara es para mi. Buena composición y nitidez.
Un saludo
Jorge

Hi Pam,
Super nice side profile shot of this gorgeous saddleback, I can definitely see why they call it that, I like what appears to be red wattles, as it makes this bird even more interesting.

Well no wonder I've never seen this kind of bird before, you can only find them in NZ. This is a beautiful bird, I really am impressed with the birds comeback and the effort your country has taken to ensure their existence. I'm curious though, if the birds are reintroduced back to the mainland what measures have the Department of Conservation taken to ensure that it wont happen again? Dont you still have problems with feral cats and what about the rats and the mustelids?
Paul :)

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-06-29 20:34]

Hello Pam

Neat shot.The focus is excellent and the details are sharp.The colours are well saturated.It looks like similar to several blackbirds,but the wattles demand a closer look.The plumage colours and details are wonderful.Very nice POV.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • vral Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 64 W: 1 N: 218] (1049)
  • [2007-11-28 3:21]

Hi Pam,
Nice pose, compo, DOF nice, detailed with good lighting. Good to witness the 'ring' on the leg and happy to know about the breeding programme.

Thanks for sharing.

-vral

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