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Nestor notabilis


Nestor notabilis
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3816 W: 505 N: 8098] (27718)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-08-26
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 10D, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS USM, Digital RAW 100, Hoya UV 77mm
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/90 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: South Island Winter Holiday 2005
Date Submitted: 2006-01-13 3:48
Viewed: 1486
Points: 56
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Kea (Nestor notabilis)

Unique Features: The kea is named after its loud in-flight cry of "keeaa". A distinctive dark olive green colour, they are bright orange-scarlet under their wings.

Social Behaviour: Kea are highly intelligent and naturally inquisitive, and are renowned for their boldness. They can be very destructive, and have been known to wreak havoc inside huts, ski lodges and cars.

Diet: Kea eat berries, roots, buds, seeds, insects and worms. They are also opportunistic feeders, and will scavenge on dead animals, birds eggs, and rubbish left by humans.

Life Cycle:Kea reach maturity at 3 years but in the wild only 37% live beyond their first year. In captivity they can live for more then 50 years.

Interesting Facts :

* There are only 1000 to 5000 Kea left in the wild today but 200 years ago there used to be hundreds of thousands. Then humans arrived with our farm animals like sheep. Keas love to eat the high country tussocks and unfortunately so do sheep. So when the sheep started to eat all the tussock the Keas found another food source which was the sheep themselves. This was not a common occurrence and Keas would never kill a sheep outright, (usually they pick on animals that are already ill or injured) but pretty soon the Keas had made a bad name for themselves. Open season on Keas was declared and for 130 years there was a bounty on their heads and a price tag on their beaks. It is estimated that New Zealanders killed about 200000 of the worlds most intelligent and unique animals in an effort to protect their beloved sheep. Keas were shot until 1953 and only gained full protection from hunters and farmers in 1986 when the Department of Conservation promised to investigate every incidence of sheep attacks by Keas.

* Keas are naturally curious creatures and it is this trait that gets them into trouble with humans from time to time and gives them their destructive nametag. They love soft pliable things, like windscreen wipers for example, anything new or novel, will give anything a taste test once and anything yellow is something worth investigating. So you can imagine their delight when hapless humans make a trip to the mountains to go skiing. Keas are very skilled at holding, manipulating, and breaking objects. These behaviours may be an important part of how Keas investigate their environment.

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

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 10D
Time of day: 11:25 a.m.
Date: 11th December 2005
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Canon 100-400mm L IS
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/90
F-Stop: F/5.6
Focal Length: 275mm
ISO: 100
Original file type: Digital Raw
thistle, Janice, ErEs2, wallhalla15, red45, Dave, scottevers7, TAZ, marhowie, krvanheuven, liquidsunshine, hummingbird24, livios, Luc, Robespierre, saguzar, jstewart, vizion, sfirmston, jrubiocasado has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Wonderful photo, composition and technically wise! Thanks for sharing - Xplorator Radu

I've seen a movie about these fellows. It's amazing how creative and naughty they can be.
Picture is great. I like the POV and framing very much.
VERY WELL DONE!

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2006-01-13 4:27]

Pam, another beauty here, and this Kea looks quite presentable, apart from his beak that can rip cars to shreds! Excellent pose with that beak right open. Well shown, thank you.
Janice

  • Great 
  • ErEs2 Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 31 W: 0 N: 15] (582)
  • [2006-01-13 4:31]

Hi
very good shot... nice composition and good sharpness... and beatiful model :)
TFS

Rafal

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 23 N: 942] (5111)
  • [2006-01-13 4:39]

Etrange oiseau bien mis en valeur avec ce portrait bien piqué. Il ne semble pas commode!! Very well done, Didier.

Hello Pam,
this is an excellent Kea portrait! I like it very much. Excellent sharpness, details, colours and framing. Nice bg and an excellent note to. This is a great composition about this very interesting bird. Thank for posting Pam. Have a great weekend.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2006-01-13 6:34]

Excellent portrait Pam. Great quality and moment with wide opened beak. Long and interesting note. And I like its Latin name very much!

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 525 W: 47 N: 674] (2173)
  • [2006-01-13 7:17]

Hi Pam,
Great note and portrait of this Kea!
Very nice!
Thanks,
Dave

Hi Pam,
Excellent portrait of the Kea! Perfect exposure in ths soft light. The colors are excellent, and detail is razor sharp. Great timing to get this pose as he exercises his lungs. Topped off with a beautiful blue sky backround! Awesome!
Scott

Fantastic close up of the Kea Pam, Very nice lighting allows the viewer to see all the detail with clarity. Well done. :)

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2006-01-13 14:08]

Wooooow ! What a wonderful and interesting profile portrait that you have well done! Great details in feathers. I also appreciate the complementary note... Congratulations Pam and thanks for sharing.

Hi Pam,
it's a wonderful bird - and very close, excellent, I like it, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Pam,
Nice shot. Great composition and the dark head has nce contrast of the blue background.
Thanks for sharing

  • Great 
  • klemmg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 40 N: 484] (1719)
  • [2006-01-13 18:21]

Very notable ;-) capture of this guy. Great pose for the portrait and excellent detail and exposure.
Gabi

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2006-01-13 18:48]

HI Pam
Très belle capture les détails sont superbes, et j'aime le regard et le bec ouvert.
Amities
Toni

Lovely shot Pam,
Good detail, colours and sharpness. Composition and exposure are spot on. Good framing and POV.
Thanks for posting, have a great weekend.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6165] (21068)
  • [2006-01-14 0:47]

What an incredible beak, Pam.
The details are very sharp, and I appreciate the subtle nuances of colors in the feathers.
Great POV and composition.
Well done and TFS. : )

Great close-up Pam. Love the details in the feathers and the open beak. Very well done.

A striking pose and profile, on this wonderful Kea, Pam!

Excellent details, exposure, catchlight in the eye and BG.

Thank you for sharing it with us.

Awesome headshot of this very strange lookin' bird Pam..Excellent POV, sharpness and framing. Very well done & have a Great weekend!

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2006-01-14 23:39]

Pam, a new one to me.

Excellent contrast and sharpness.

A lovely pose; great detail upon the feathers and great pov.

Congratulations.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2006-01-16 13:28]

From a Photographer to a Photographer: Excellent.
Thank you, Pam.

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
  • [2006-01-16 18:18]

Well done on this portrait, clear and very detailed. Great exposure too. Thanks again,

Mario

Hello Pam,
This is good!
Never seen such a special bird. Very sharp, good details, great pose. I appreciate also your very informative note.
Thx and regards, Ruud

Hello Pam,
very good first plane of this particular bird. I know about it from tv.
good feather detais.
thanks
Hernán

A dramatic kea shot - he's all puffed up and ready for action. Good stuff!
John

Great shot and very good note. Heaps of detail in the feathers, makes me want to reach out and ruffle them. Well done, and yet again I see the 100-400 lens it has obviously done a great job for you on many occasions.

Great Photo! But how sad about the Keas. I saw a program on TV and the Keas are also excellent parents. I hope they can make a come back. Janice/Canada

Hi Pam
This Kea is a one of my favorite birds and great portrait.
I am seeing at great length your porfolio and am impressive, like much, that pretty country and that wonderful birds and animals you have. As I would like to know it but it is left a little far...
Regards.
Jorge

Hi Pam,

Perfect close-up and very detailed. I like how you can see the powerful beaks of this "little" vandalizer :) I love them, they makes me laugh. Nicely potraited...

Cheers,
Christian

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