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Landing Gear Down


Landing Gear Down
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3974 W: 518 N: 8104] (27526)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-15
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III, Canon 70-200mm F/2.8L IS + EF 2 X II Ext, Digital RAW 200, Hoya UV 77mm
Exposure: f/2.8, 1/3000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Mynas [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-15 22:02
Viewed: 1089
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Yesterday I went to the Auckland Zoo with Janice and Dawn. In the Tiger enclosure there were some Indian Mynas fighting over food left for Oz, the Sumatran Tiger. This guy was scared off but decided to come back for another try. Thanks for looking.

The Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis), is a myna, a member of the starling family. This bird is native in southern Asia from Iran and Kazakhstan to Malaysia and China, and in Egypt. It is also known as the Indian Myna and as the Talking Myna for its ability to mimic human speech. In India, it is called Lali or Lalee. In urban settings, it thrives on household trash and restaurant waste.

It has been introduced widely elsewhere, including adjacent areas in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, South Africa, Israel, North America, Australia, New Zealand and various oceanic islands, including a very prominent population in Hawaii.

This abundant passerine is typically found in open woodland, cultivation and around habitation. The Common Myna builds a nest in hole in a tree or wall. The normal clutch is 4–6 eggs.

Although this is an adaptable species, its population has been decreasing significantly in Singapore and Malaysia due to competition with its cousin, the introduced Javan Myna.

This 25-cm-long bird has dark brown body and wing plumage, with large white wing patches obvious in flight. The head and throat are dark grey. The bill, bare skin around the eyes and strong legs are bright yellow. The sexes are similar. Mynas mate for life.

Like most starlings, the Common Myna is omnivorous. It feeds on insects and fruits and discarded waste from human habitation. It forages on the ground among grass for insects, and especially for grasshoppers, from which it gets the generic name Acridotheres, "grasshopper hunter". It walks on the ground with occasional hops.

The song includes croaks, squawks, chirps, clicks and whistles, and the bird often fluffs its feathers and bobs its head in singing. The Common Myna screeches warnings to its mate or other birds in cases of predators in proximity. Common Mynas are popular as cage birds for their singing and "speaking" abilities.

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 1D Mk lll
Time of day: 12:46 p.m.
Date: 15th March 2008
Weather conditions: Dark Enclosure At Zoo
Lens: Canon 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM
Extender: Canon EF 2X II
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/3000
F-Stop: F/2.8
Focal Length: 200mm
ISO: 200
Support: Hand Held
Original file type: Digital Raw
angela926, jusninasirun, fungiman, Proframe, gerbilratz, Tamrock, bobcat08 has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To fungiman: cage birdscoasties 1 03-15 23:14
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello pam,
great capture, good action shot, excellent timing, good sharpness and nice depth of field, very nice point of view.
Angela

Hello Pam. Wonderful shot of this Myna in full spread. I like the sharpness and details of the plumage and the head. well done and regards. Jusni

Nice shot with lots of drama and a good choose of DOF. Never seen these keep as cage birds in NZ
TFS

Excellent in flight capture Pam.
Love the pose of the bird and the way the head, body, legs and feet of the bird are in sharp focus while the wings are a little blurred, out of focus.
Gives the scene a very nice since of action.
Composition and exposure are very good to with very nice feather detail.
Very well done. TFS.

Kindest regards, Harry

Excellent action shot Pam! You really caught this one well.

Hi,
Very descriptive shot, great composition.
Hoscakal.

great capture of this Mynah...lovely bit of timing to get position and a clear shot considering your conditions...TFS

Hi Pam,
I think that this is the first time I see this specie. You caught nice and dynamic action with great details, composition and DOF. Well done and TFS,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 883 W: 23 N: 930] (5013)
  • [2008-03-16 7:30]

Bonjour Pam, another great shot with a perfect timing. I like the dark colors harmonize Best regards, Didier.

Hi Pam,
Great action shot. Love it. Timed very well.
TFS
Paul

hi pam!
great shot with good sharpness
and the bird in a nice pose!
well done!

Hello Pam,

An excellent in flight capture. Sharp with natural colors. The contrast between the different colors is amazing. Good eyecontact. POV, DOF and BG are good. When I was on vacation in NZ in 2005 I love their singing and "speaking" abilities every (early)morning. A couple of Mynas sitting on the roof opposite my holiday house. It was very pleasant to hear. Interesting notes. Have a nice weekend and TFS BOB

  • Great 
  • JPlumb Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 644 W: 160 N: 894] (2837)
  • [2008-05-07 11:44]

Hi Pam, these Mynas are easy to shoot, but difficult to shoot well. You have done an excellent job with it, catching it in close flight like this. I like this stopped action, with the tilt to the body to show off the wing and with the landing gear up like this.

Thanks, John

Dear Pam,
Yes, you are right in saying that landing gears are down; but look at the beautiful "cross wind approach" by this incredible brilliant bird :). TFS.
Regards-Subhash, India

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