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Who's got a big mouth!


Who's got a big mouth!
Photo Information
Copyright: Richard Cridland (rcrick) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 661 W: 42 N: 1257] (4060)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-16
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 30 D, Sigma 28-300mm F3.5-6.3 Macro, SanDisk Extr. IV 2Gb
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Open Up....II, Moreton Island [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-06-08 19:48
Viewed: 727
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I was going though my laptop cleaning out some old files and backing up some of the images that I wanted to keep when I came across this shot of an Australian Pelican.

There are seven species of pelicans in the world, all of which are similar in shape and, with one exception, are primarily white in colour. Males are larger than females. The most characteristic feature of pelicans is the elongated bill with its massive throat pouch. The Australian Pelican's bill is 40 cm - 50 cm long and is larger in males than females. Pelicans have large wings and a wingspan of 2.3 m - 2.5 m.

They are found throughout Australia, Papua New Guinea and western Indonesia, with occasional reports in New Zealand and various western Pacific islands. They are also widespread on freshwater, estuarine and marine wetlands and waterways including lakes, swamps, rivers, coastal islands and shores.

Pelicans are highly mobile, searching out suitable areas of water and an adequate supply of food. Pelicans are not capable of sustained flapping flight, but can remain in the air for 24 hours, covering hundreds of kilometres. They are excellent soarers and can use thermals to rise to considerable altitudes. Flight at 1,000m is common, and heights of 3 000 m have been recorded. By moving from one thermal to the next, pelicans can travel long distances with a minimum of effort, reaching air speeds of up to 56 km/hour.

The bill and pouch of pelicans play an important role in feeding. The bill is sensitive and this helps locate fish in murky water. It also has a hook at the end of the upper mandible, probably for gripping slippery food items. When food is caught, the pelican manipulates it in its bill until the prey typically has its head pointing down the pelican's throat. Then with a jerk of the head the pelican swallows the prey. The bill is delicately built. The lower jaw consists of two thin and weakly articulated bones from which the pouch hangs. When fully extended, the bill can hold up to 13 litres. The pouch does not function as a place to hold food for any length of time. Instead it serves as a short-term collecting organ.

Pelicans plunge their bills into the water, using their pouches as nets. Once something is caught, a pelican draws its pouch to its breast. This empties the water and allows the bird to manoeuvre the prey into a swallowing position. The pouch can also serve as a net to catch food thrown by humans, and there are sightings of pelicans drinking by opening their bill to collect rainwater.

The Australian Pelican may feed alone, but more often feeds as a cooperative group. Sometimes these groups are quite large. One group numbered over 1,900 birds. A flock of pelicans works together, driving fish into a concentrated mass using their bills and sometimes by beating their wings. The fish are herded into shallow water or surrounded in ever decreasing circles.
Breeding depends on environmental conditions, particularly rainfall. Pelicans are colonial breeders with up to 40 000 individuals grouping on islands or secluded shores. Breeding begins with courtship.

The female leads potential mates (two to eight or more) around the colony. As the males follow her in these walks, they threaten each other while swinging their open bills from side to side trying to attract the female's attention. The males may also pick up small objects, like sticks or dry fish, which they toss in the air and catch again, repeating the sequence several times.

Both sexes perform "pouch-rippling" in which they clap their bills shut several times a second and the pouch ripples like a flag in a strong breeze. As the courtship parade progresses, the males drop out one by one. Finally, after pursuits on land, water or in the air, only a single male is left. The female leads him to a potential nest site.

During the courtship period, the bill and pouch of the birds change colour dramatically. The forward half of the pouch becomes bright salmon pink, while the skin of the pouch in the throat region turns chrome yellow. Parts of the top and base of the bill change to cobalt blue, and a black diagonal strip appears from the base to the tip. This colour change is of short duration, the intensity usually subsiding by the time incubation starts.

The nest consists of a scrape in the ground prepared by the female. She digs the scrape with her bill and feet, and lines it with any scraps of vegetation or feathers within reach of the nest. Within three days egg-laying begins and eggs are laid two to three days apart. Both parents share incubation and the eggs are incubated on their feet.

The first-hatched chick is substantially larger than its siblings. It receives most of the food and may even attack and kill its nest mates. A newly hatched pelican has a large bill, bulging eyes, and skin that looks like small-grained bubble plastic. The skin around the face is mottled with varying degrees of black and the colour of the eyes varies from white to dark brown. This individual variation helps the parents to recognise their chick from hundreds of others.

The chicks leave their nests to form creches of up to 100 birds. They remain in creches for about two months, by the end of which they have learnt to fly and are fairly independent. Wild birds may live between ten and possibly 25 years or more.
Details: Shot Raw and converted to Jpeg, reduced in size, cropped re-sharpened slightly for posting.

Camera Model Canon EOS 30D
Shooting Date/Time 16/02/2008 8:42:21 AM
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/160
Av( Aperture Value ) 10.0
Metering Mode Center-Weighted Average Metering
Exposure Compensation -1/3
ISO Speed 250
Lens 28.0 - 300.0 mm
Focal Length 58.0 mm
Image Size 800x632
Image Quality Fine
Flash Off
White Balance Mode Auto
AF Mode One-Shot AF
Picture Style User Defined 2(Neutral)
Sharpness 5
Contrast 2
Saturation 1
Color tone 0
Color Space sRGB
Noise Reduction Off
File Size 119 KB
Custom Function C.Fn:01-0
C.Fn:02-2
C.Fn:08-1
Drive Mode Low-speed continuous shooting
iris, Argus, Jamesp, Janice, darwin, SelenE, JPlumb, jpdenk, ramthakur, LordPotty, uleko, jusninasirun, Royaldevon, Miss_Piggy, marhowie has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 425 W: 41 N: 815] (2570)
  • [2008-06-08 20:13]

A great way to start my morning Rick :)....with a fantastic capture of the Open Beaked Pelican.I cant imagine you missed this one and locked it away in your archives for so long....this is a nice action shot .i love the upclose and personal in the face look and this one sure seems to ready to charge..the beaks apart and the wings open....with attitude..great use of light, sharp details and focus ..and i like that trail of water droplets slipping off that lower beak...simply superb...and this one sure goes into my "Open Up" theme

TFS & Cheers

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1987 W: 8 N: 5258] (17043)
  • [2008-06-08 20:40]

Hi Rick,

A fantastic pelican in a magnificent pose showing off his very big mouth. Great pose, superb details, and wonderful colors. The opened beak is priceless and the yellow eye is also a gem. Great composition.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 165 N: 8400] (26072)
  • [2008-06-08 22:14]

Hello Rick,
These guys are cool!
I have fine memories of these Australian Pelicans from our tour to NSW. The pose showing the half-open bill and wings and the POV is showing these features great.
TFS this fine bit of nostalgia,
Regards,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1330 W: 0 N: 5286] (15770)
  • [2008-06-08 23:10]

i Rick

Great shot of this pelican. Excellent frozen action and great detail. Pelicans are on of my favourite birds and this one is no exception.

James

Hi Rick
I am glad you found this one in your collection to share. He is incredibly sharp and is a good character shot. It is nicely composed and the view of his foot in the water adds a bit more interest.
Cheers
Sue

Hi Rick
Fantastic closeup shot and POV
Superb detail and sharpness
Nice natural color not easy with black and white subjects
Well composed
tfs jon

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3471 W: 145 N: 5986] (17916)
  • [2008-06-09 3:01]

I remember seeing these in Queensland - what characters they are.
This one's eye looks like you have painted it on Richard! Good shot, you have caught the dripping water well from his bill.
Funny pose too
Janice

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 499 W: 0 N: 603] (2763)
  • [2008-06-09 5:24]

Hi Richard
very nice colrs and composition
well done.

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2447 W: 63 N: 4087] (13166)
  • [2008-06-09 6:37]

Hi Richard,
Looks very cute :o) I like the pose you captured a lot. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1446 W: 76 N: 3153] (10349)
  • [2008-06-09 7:54]

Hello Richard,
Excellent photo of this Pelican. Great clear colours and the sharpness and details are fantastic. Very nice pose.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • JPlumb Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 644 W: 162 N: 894] (2837)
  • [2008-06-09 20:55]

Hi Rick,this is I think the best "down the gullet" shot I've seen of these strange birds. It's an excellent capture of that bill and pouch. You caught the bird in an excellent pose with the wings up and the mouth wide open like this. Light on the bird is excellent with very good sharp detail and great colour.

Thanks, John

  • Great 
  • jpdenk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 328 W: 3 N: 512] (1398)
  • [2008-06-10 10:04]

Hi Rick,

Nice shot, looks like it's smiling!

Thanks,
John

A simply exquite shot, Rick!
Goldy

You mean this brilliant shot was just lying there in your hard disk for all these months, Richard?
Thanks for noticing it and sharing it with us.
It is a superb shot technically -- not to forget the way it has turned into a wonderful composition.
I would rate this among top 10 from your camera.
Regards,
Ram

Hello Richard,
What a great shot of this Aussie Pelican.
Nicely composed with good detail.
A friend of mine photographed one of these on a lgoon just south of here recently.
A great shot.
Cheers
Steve

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1086 W: 29 N: 3293] (11783)
  • [2008-06-11 8:18]

Hi Rick,
wow, pretty intimidating looking bill you found there, keep those fingers clear eh? Great sharp focus and well exposed on the white feathers too. That eye is magic!
tfs
Paul

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2678 W: 173 N: 8282] (26095)
  • [2008-06-11 10:06]

Hello RIck,
Superb close-up of the Australian Pelican in a great pose! I remember them well from Cairns and Port Macquarie! Brilliant timing and very sharp details and true colours. That beak is incredible!
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

Excellent capture Rick. Super sharp image in stunning pose. I like the sharpness and vivid exposure of the plumage. Regards. Jusni

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-06-12 8:14]

Hello Rick

Super pov and dof.
The focus is razor sharp showing amazing detail.
The colours are beautuiful,almost pastel.
The eye detail and contact is wonderful.
Great job.
TFS

Rob

Hello Rick,

Doesn't this just bring to mind -
'A wonderful bird is a pelican,
It's beak can hold more than its belly can.'

Great close-up showing good details of the face, and that BEAK. The eyes look to be painted on!

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

Hallo Richard
Time was my biggest enemy lately, and I have lots of catching up to do. A great image filled with lovely colours and details. I really like how you captured the bird in a pose so close to one’s eye. This way one can observe and appreciate the details of this fine looking bird even better. The yellow and black eye almost look unreal but also so eye catching, not to mention the big baby pink mouth. Focus, sharpness and framing is great and presented in a most pleasant manner. Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards
Anna
Ps. One tends to forget some of the images in the archives and then beauties as this one turn up again by surprise.

Cool capture Richard!
Excellent exposure..overcast skies?
Very good colors, details, and DOF..
Love the POV of that big mouth and the yellow eye you've penciled in is great ;-}
Howard

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