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Barn Swallow


Barn Swallow
Photo Information
Copyright: JeanMarie Mouveroux (Nephrotome2) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 500 W: 64 N: 486] (1738)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-04
Categories: Birds
Camera: Olympus C770 UZ, no lens, (digital), No Filter
Exposure: f/4, 1/160 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-05-08 3:41
Viewed: 643
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
En: Barn Swallow
Lat: Hirundo rustica
Fr: Hirondelle de cheminée

BARN SWALLOWS:
Barn swallows are native in all the biogeographic regions except Australia and Antarctica.
Mass: 17 to 20 g (0.6 to 0.7 oz)
Length: 14.60 to 19.90 cm (5.75 to 7.83 in)
Wingspan: 31.80 to 34.30 cm (12.52 to 13.5 in)
Sexual dimorphism: male larger, male more colorful.
Barn Swallows usually produce 2 clutches per season
Breeding season: Barn Swallows breed from May to August.
Eggs per season: 3 to 7; avg. 5
Barn swallows are socially monogamous. However, extra-pair copulations are common.
Female barn swallows select for symmetrical wings and tails in potential mates and also tend to select males with longer tail feathers.
Unmated adults often associate with a breeding pair for up to an entire season. Though these "helpers" do not usually feed the young, they may help with nest defense, nest building, incubation and brooding.
Both birds of a pair make the nest. They build the shell of mud, and line it with grass and feathers.
Expected lifespan in wild: 4 years (average)
Barn swallows are diurnal and migratory.
They have individual songs and often sing as a chorus.
Barn swallows are insectivores. They catch most of their prey while in flight.
Barn swallows frequently engage in a symbiotic relationship with ospreys, coexisting in a single nesting area to the mutual benefit of both species. By nesting near an osprey population, the barn swallows receive protection from birds of prey, which are driven away from the nests by the much larger ospreys. In return, ospreys are alerted to the presence of these predators by the barn swallows which give alarm calls when predators are nearby.

THE PIC:
To rescue the bird, it was captured (10 quick shots) and immediatly released outside.
The background came out so dark because the direct sun light was on the bird only.
PP work: I cloned out some details below along the edge of the pic (in the background only).

Thanks for looking.
Jean-Marie
jaycee, Jamesp, metcher, Demetrio has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To snaphappy: so closeNephrotome2 1 05-08 06:11
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Critiques [Translate]

Striking image, well focused on the eye, well exposed though i think I would have toned down the birds underwing shoulder just a little. Good feather detail and sheen... big smile from me.

  • Great 
  • Bac Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 99 W: 3 N: 47] (586)
  • [2007-05-08 4:10]

Salut Jean-Marie,

La photo est vraiment superbe, la netteté est génial et surtout ce que j'adore dans cette photo c'est le reflet de l'oeil de l'oiseau. Superbe.

Christian

fantastic close up of this bird and a rare insight, how did you get so close?

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1658 W: 8 N: 4248] (13845)
  • [2007-05-08 10:49]

Hi JeanMarie,

I have only seen a barn swallow once and would love to be able to get a shot of one. This close-up is wonderful. The details of the eye are amazing. Wonderful colors and bg too.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1179 W: 0 N: 4496] (13406)
  • [2007-05-09 2:36]

Hi JeanMarie

A wonderfull close up of the swallow. Good colours and sharpness - well done.

James

bonjour JM
alors là franchement je suis ebloui,moi je n'ai jamais reussi a prendre une hirondelle car elles sont toujours perché sur leur fil,alors en faire un tel portrait c'est remarquable.
felicitations.
laurent

Hi, JeanMarie.
Very nice shot. Beautiful light. Excellent sharpness and details and so close.

JeanMarie,
Good sharpness....excellent details displayed.
Well done
TFS
Annick

Hi Jean-marie, Its amazing detail you have captured and so close! Excellent focusing used, i guess not easy with such subjects.

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