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Elusive bird


Elusive bird
Photo Information
Copyright: Livio Soares de Medeiros (livios) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-08-25
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/100 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds in Brazil, Nature in Patos de Minas 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-08-25 17:59
Viewed: 1201
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I know the environment here is quite "busy". Anyway, I decided to post the shot. My intention is to share with you this (in my opinion) very nice bird.

Shooting this was very difficult. Firstly, because light conditions were not good - it was late in the afternoon and the sun couldn't reach the branches where the bird was. That's why I used ISO 800. Secondly, the bird would not remain still long enough to take three or four shots in a row, so that I had to change the settings roughly shot after shot. Thirdly, the point of view; getting a rather good angle caused me a sore neck due to the many shots taken (the soreness is over).
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Family CUCULIDAE
Piaya cayana (Squirrel Cuckoo)

The extensive avian family Cuculidae, including the ani and the roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus), widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions. Cuckoos are slender-bodied, long-tailed birds with medium to stout down-curved bills, pointed wings, short legs (except in the terrestrial species), and dull (usually grayish brown or rufous) plumage. They are generally insectivorous and arboreal.
Of the parasitic Old World cuckoos, the common European cuckoo, Cuculus canorus, is typical. The female visits the nests of smaller birds, selecting those whose eggs match hers in color, and replaces an egg of the host with one of her own; she usually lays four or five eggs, each at 48-hr intervals and each in a different nest. The young cuckoo, being larger than its nest mates, displaces them from the nest and becomes the sole recipient of its foster parents' care.

Each species of Old World cuckoo has its own unique pattern of parasitism, and different species choose different host species for their eggs. The cuckoo is referred to in the Bible, by Aristotle and Pliny, in mythology, and in English poetry. Its nesting habits have given us the word cuckold, and its simple but musical song, which gives it its name, was used by Beethoven in his Pastoral Symphony and is also imitated in the cuckoo clock.
(Source: www.answers.com/topic/cuckoo)
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ISO: 800
Post process on Photoshop CS2
Sharpness through Intellisharpen II (www.fredmiranda.com).
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wgreis, Janice, luvsdogs3, liquidsunshine, ddg, Eko, marhowie, red45, dew77, novaman, Luc has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Grande foto Lívio,
profundidade de campo excelente! Enquadramento ótimo. Gosti dos olhos do pássaro.
Parabéns,
Wagner.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3316 W: 149 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2005-08-25 21:40]

Hi Livio, 10 points for effort! I want to learn about nature and your bird is quite outstanding. I love the tail feathers showing those white frills. But I can't say I like her way of egg laying. So the lazy mother doesn't raise her own babes at all - she farms them out and gets rid of the opposition at the same time. I have heard about cuckoo birds and your notes are very interesting!! Thank you.

It is subtle, Livio, but I think effective to see how the bird can easily blend in with its surroundings. Thanks for capturing this bird so we could see it--but also see how it could vanish into its environment quickly.

Wonderful effort, Livio! The BG displays this bird natural environment well so I don't see it as distracting at all. I like the POV showing the underside of the branch and the up view (don't know the technical term). All around great shot :-) Thanks the exrra effort!

Nice shot of a beautiful bird, Livio.
The problems with birds, they are almost sitting behind branches;-) but thats nature.
Good details, nice colours and POV.
Well done, my friend.

Good shot Livio,
Good detail and great POV. Well composed. Good colours & framing.
Early morning rush!
Well captured, thanks for posting

Hi Livio

Nice shot. Shame about the branch, but thats bird photography! Lovely long tail. Well done. Thanks

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 23 N: 942] (5111)
  • [2005-08-26 4:10]

Hello Livio, very nice shot with a lot of problems to get it !! A pretty bird with his long tail and a good composition. Perhaps a little bit bright. Very well done. TFS Didier.

  • Great 
  • Eko Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 187 W: 10 N: 38] (121)
  • [2005-08-26 4:46]

Hi Livio!
Lovely capture.I liked POV,details and composition very much.Thanks for posting.

Hi Livio, Gotta go..You already know what I think. I'm going to a place called Moody Gardens on Saturday..a rainforest setting, Should be interesting.
Howard

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-08-26 5:03]

Hi Livio!
Yeah, BG is little busy, but bird is well seen. Loads of green here ;-) I like this tree also - very spiky and leaves remainds some kind of chestnut. Good, tropical image.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-08-26 6:07]

Hi Livio,

Like you wrote the bg is a bit busy and I also think the photo is a little bit bright. Still this is a very good try. Full marks for all the difficulties you had to go through. :) Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

  •      
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-08-26 10:48]

Hello Livio!
This bird is new to me.Colors,details,lighting and composition are excellent.TFS....:-)
PT

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