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Mallard Duckling


Mallard Duckling
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: 2005-08-26
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 10D, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS USM, Digital RAW 100, Hoya UV 77mm
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: South Island Winter Holiday 2005
Date Submitted: 2005-08-28 5:19
Viewed: 1522
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
During our visit to Willowbank Wild Life Park there were only two wee mallard ducklings to be seen. Mother was very watchfull while I took photos of her babes. Here is the first post. More to follow. Thanks for looking.

Mallards and their ducklings

As the last egg is laid the female starts to incubate. She sits very tightly, and her brown plumage blends her perfectly to the background. She rarely leaves the nest apart from short breaks to feed and stretch her legs. About 28 days later the eggs hatch together. This takes about 24 hours.

The ducklings stay in the nest for at least 10 hours while they dry and get used to using their legs. Then, usually in the early morning, the female leads them to water. Bad weather may delay this exodus, but the sooner the ducklings get to water to feed, the better their chances of survival. The nest is abandoned, although if it is close to the feeding area, the family may continue to use it for brooding and roosting.

Travelling to water
The mother duck knows where the nearest water is to take her young to, although it may be a couple of miles away. In most instances it is best to leave her alone, because interference can cause extra stress and risk the mother panicking and abandoning her brood. In many instances keeping an eye from the distance and shepherding the family across a danger point, such as a busy road, is all that is needed.

Growing up
Young ducklings can feed themselves as soon as they reach water, but must learn what is edible. They depend on their mother for warmth for a few days. She broods them regularly, particularly at night, as they easily chill in cold weather.

The down of the ducklings is not naturally waterproof. They get the waterproofing for their down from their mother. She also protects her ducklings from attacks by other mallards. Ducks do not tolerate stray ducklings close to their own brood, and females kill small strange young they encounter. Ducklings take 50-60 days to fledge (fly) and become independent. They are able to breed when they are a year old.

The above obtained from http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/advice/ducks/ducklings.asp

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 10D
Time of day: 12:26 p.m.
Date: 26th August 2005
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Canon 100-400mm L IS
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/350
F-Stop: F/6.7
Focal Length: 330mm
ISO: 100
Original file type: Digital Raw
tjasa, JeanMichel, sAner, klemmg, luvsdogs3 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • tjasa Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 100 W: 0 N: 84] (647)
  • [2005-08-28 5:30]

HI Pam!
Fantastic picture, a little duck is so cute and looks so soft and tender. Excellent sharpness and good colours.
I really like this foto.
TFS

Very good shot, Pam. They spend more time in the water or sleeping, than walking. So here, it's sure, these cute babies have big feet! Very good exposure and sharpness. The eye is well in evidence. Very good composition of the subject with the grey ground.

  • Great 
  • Denis Silver Star Critiquer [C: 18 W: 0 N: 178] (12)
  • [2005-08-28 6:34]

HI Pam!
Nice picture. Baby mallard ducks are cute and always make good pictures. Sharpness, colours, exposre, shooting angle are good. I like this foto.

Denis

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-08-28 10:36]

Good shot Pam. The light looks a little hard, but you couldn't do anything about at this time of the day. Details are excellent and the catchlight is there. Well composed also. The ground is on the edge of overexposure imo. The low POV is great. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-08-28 13:59]

Pam, I've never seen one of them. Thanks for sharing.

I do enjoy the catchlight in the eye. Besides, I have the feeling that the little duck is smiling (sic).

Excellent sharpness and lighting, so that the details are very clear.

  • Great 
  • klemmg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 40 N: 484] (1719)
  • [2005-08-28 17:21]

Very good detail, lovely contrast of textures between wet and dry feathers. Nice eye contact. Colours in the duck are good, BG seems a bit too bright. Is your monitor gamma-calibrated? Don't ask me what gamma is, but adjusting it will let you see all the different greyscales in the quick calibration chart, if the monitor permits - mine did not and I now have replaced it (most of my images are much too bright, which I had not noticed before).
Regards,
Gabi

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1494 W: 0 N: 1175] (6494)
  • [2005-08-28 17:32]

Hi Pam,
Excellent shot!
Very good light, great details and colour.
TFS!

Adorable, Pam. Seems like a rare shot to get one standing and showing those huge webbed feet. The details really so the fluffiness. Great job! Thanks for sharing this cutie. :-)

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 616] (3404)
  • [2005-08-28 23:35]

Cute looking duck.Eye contact is very good.Details are good.

Hey Pam,

Lovely shot. As always, excellent sharpness and good POV. He looks like he's about to do something naughty. Well done

  • Great 
  • twin Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 252 W: 17 N: 494] (3255)
  • [2005-08-29 11:33]

very nice shot of this little baby... seems so funny with the big foot..
beautiful details...
well done ...
I like it :)

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