Tundra Swans

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Tundra Swans
Photo Information
Copyright: Rick Price (Adanac) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1043 W: 1 N: 4025] (13236)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-03-20
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 20D, Canon 100-400/4.5-5.6L IS
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/640 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2007-03-21 6:40
Viewed: 410
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Yesterday a flock of 300+ Tundra Swans made a rest stop at a slough near Brooks on thier way home. There was a 50km/h wind so these big birds were struggling a bit to lift off.
Tundra Swan
Cygnus columbianus
General Description

By Andrew Slater


The Tundra Swan, as its name implies, breeds on the Arctic tundra around the world. In North America, it spends the winter on both coasts of the United States. It migrates throughout Alberta, with the largest flocks occurring on the prairies to the east of Calgary. Some also pass along the foothills, including Calgary's Glenmore Reservoir, where they usually outnumber the slightly larger Trumpeter Swan.

In Alberta, they are most numerous during the spring migration, occurring from late March to early May. Mostly, they take a different route in fall, when smaller, but still significant, flocks pass through the province from late September to late November.

On migration, Tundra Swans often feed in stubble fields adjacent to prairie sloughs. When the water is not frozen, they feed mainly on aquatic vegetation and invertebrates.

Their conspicuous nest is built of vegetation (grass, dead leaves, moss or other plant material), usually on an islet or as a floating mass or on the bare tundra before the melting snow has surrounded it with water. Usually five eggs are laid, incubated by the female for 32 days. Upon hatching, the young leave the nest on their first day, feeding on their own. They are aided by their parents which pull and break up aquatic vegetation. A large part of their diet is insects, gleaned from the vegetation. They migrate both ways as a family group, but are forced to be on their own upon returning to the tundra.
Jamesp, Argus, uleko, jaycee, JPlumb, arfer has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Rick,
This is a nice in-flight shot and I like the lightning here a lot. It’s nice to see it in their wings and in the eye of the one in the middle. I also like the way they enter the frame. Well done with good exposure. Thanks!
Claudine

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 963 W: 17 N: 2527] (9160)
  • [2007-03-21 7:23]

Hi Rick,

fantastic composition here, combined with great sharpness and details, you've nearly caught every stage of one 'flap'of the wing between the four of them! Very well done!

Cheers,

Paul

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2359 W: 134 N: 6496] (20205)
  • [2007-03-21 7:58]

Hello Rick,
Nice fly-past of this Tundra Swan squadron!
Sharp, beautiful comp. and superb lighting!
Thanks for sharing this one. These swans are closely related to Bewicks ( we have a few here) , the main visible differencr being a little yellow at the base of the bill.
Best wishes, ivan

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1185 W: 0 N: 4325] (12672)
  • [2007-03-21 8:29]

Hi Rick

Beautiful shot - OK the lowest bird is a little cut off, but I would be more than pleased with this shot.

For once I can say, that close to where I live I have something similar - we have tens of thousands of both Whooper and Bewick swans overwintering from Siberia and Iceland on the Levels about 10 miles from where I live - probably the greatest concentration in Europe. Amazingly until you get there you rarely see any.

James

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2235 W: 168 N: 6521] (20472)
  • [2007-03-21 9:42]

Hello RIck,
Beautiful capture of these Tundra Swans in flight. Great focus and very delicate soft colours. Excellent composition.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • phouts (14)
  • [2007-03-21 10:20]

Dear Rick
Your pictures are generally excellent, but this one is exceptional. The picture is also a design with wonderful shapes moving across the frame. I would make one small suggestion - crop a little bit off the right side. This is a judgment call - and you may not agree - but for me the picture works better with a little cropping on the right.
Peter

great pic, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • Nilson Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 337 W: 0 N: 252] (2021)
  • [2007-03-21 11:14]

ótima foto belissima composição meus parabéns.
Nilson

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1644 W: 8 N: 4003] (12814)
  • [2007-03-21 11:39]

Hi Rick,

The graceful swans in flight are beautiful. What a beautiful sight this must have been. You captured them well. I love the different positoning of each bird with the fine wing details. Nice!

Jane

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2448 W: 207 N: 2035] (8113)
  • [2007-03-21 11:54]

Hi Rick,
you know how I love looking at swans and taking shots of them, so this is a treat for me ;-).
Wonderful inflight shot. Very good sharpness and and the grouping of the birds is wonderful.
Very well captured.
Sky

Good image...Rick.
Nice in flight.
Well done
TFS
Annick

Hi Rick, excellent composition of these guys lifting off. It may have been this way but I found the overall scene just a tad dark, so I've created a workshop to give you another option.

Thanks, John

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2686 W: 67 N: 9202] (28772)
  • [2007-03-21 22:38]

Hello Rick

A super posting.The wind is evident on the top bird's back.I can see a few feathers being blown.The formation is well composed .Super sharp image with good details.I am glad you shared it with us.TFS
Rob

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3085 W: 231 N: 5879] (19530)
  • [2007-03-22 3:03]

Hello Rick. : )
We see tundra swans here too, at the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge about 2 hours northeast of my house. They stop there by the thousands.
Great capture of this group in flight.
Good POV and composition.
TFS. : )

hi rick!
beautiful with great feeling!
sharp and very fine exposure
good work!

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