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White Herons Courting


White Herons Courting
Photo Information
Copyright: Kathleen Shepherd (Kathleen) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 381 W: 105 N: 978] (2965)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-11-04
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 450D
Exposure: f/8, 1/2000 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds of New Zealand [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-11-04 23:52
Viewed: 830
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 58
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
White heron, courting pair.
Photo from New Zealand's only known White Heron breeding colony.
The only access to visit this colony is by a commercial tour with the White Heron Sanctuary Tours, based in Whataroa.

Te Ara Encyclopedia of NZ

Rare in New Zealand, with a population of just 100–120 birds, the elegant white heron or kōtuku (Egretta alba modesta) is nevertheless common in India, Japan, China and Australia. With a long, slender neck, yellow bill and thin legs, white herons grow to 92 centimetres in length and 900 grams in weight. In flight their long neck is held kinked. During breeding their bill darkens and a veil of fine feathers extends beyond the folded wings and tail, accentuating their graceful profile.

Breeding
In August and September white herons arrive at the Waitangiroto river colony to nest in kāmahi, māhoe and kōwhai trees, and in the crowns of tree ferns. The birds undergo a transformation, developing long, white, loose breeding plumes on their back and wings. Females lay three to five pale blue-green eggs in September or October, and both sexes share incubation. When the chicks hatch, they are fed by both parents until they fledge at around 42 days. They disperse from the colony three weeks later and may live up to 22 years.
Since observation began in 1944, the number of recorded nests reached a high of 65, with 60 fledglings, in 1981. Since 1982 the number of nests has remained at around 40–50.
Climate is key to the survival of chicks. Since 1950 the westerly airflow to New Zealand has increased, causing more storms and greater rainfall in Westland, especially in summer. These have destroyed nests and killed chicks in some years. The Ōkarito Lagoon occasionally floods, preventing adult white herons from fishing for their staples of whitebait, eels or freshwater crayfish, which means they cannot feed their young. This has happened with increased frequency since 1967.

ISO 400, F/8, 1/2000, -2/3 exp comp, 300mm + 1.4x extenter @ 420mm
StephenE, bobcat08, elizabeth, earthtraveler, Jamesp, LordPotty, Debz, fartash, pablominto, nirmalroberts, Argus, SelenE, martic, eqshannon, MMM, uleko, jaycee, angybone, pilonm, coasties, tiklod has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To elizabeth: Eye colourKathleen 1 11-05 01:45
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Kathleen,

A beautiful pair white herons. A marvelous composition. Take a look to the feathers. Splendid. So fine and so sharp. And what about the green colour by there eyes. Never seen this before. It a very sharp photo. Look once to the eye of the right bird. It's so intense. POV, BG and DOF are oké. Nice capture. Regards and TFS BOB

Hi,

What great interaction you captured here. Nice and sharp and well exposed. Technically very good indeed.

Hi Kathy

Glad to see you got this shot. I had a pair lined up doing this the day before but a third bird came flying in and wrecked the photo! Excellent composition, exposure and sharpness. Can't wait for our return visit! :)

Do you know why some have red eyes and some have white eyes? Is it the difference between male and female? I haven't managed to find this out yet.

Cheers
Elizabeth

Exquisite Kathleen
Woderful image of these Herons
Nicely composed with fine POV
Lovely patterns of the wood, birds, and ferns
Well done
Richard

Wow! A really great capture!
The scene is really very nice and the white birds stand out so well. You have captured those birds so well!
Greetings, Mike

Bonjour Kathleen,

Superbe ballet pour une magnifique mise en image.
Belle luminosité, excellents contrastes et joli piqué.
Bravo

Servane

Hello Kathleen,

Very good captured picture of this herons. Sharpness is excellent.
Thanks for sharing,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 0 N: 4842] (14380)
  • [2007-11-05 0:47]

Hi Kathleen

Superb shot - excellent composition and sharp focus. Great action.

James

Hi Kathleen,
I see the trip to Okarito was very productive for you too.
This is an awesome shot.
You've captured these two perfectly.
Excellent work!
Cheers
Steve

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1033 W: 26 N: 2998] (10820)
  • [2007-11-05 1:06]

Hi Kathleen,
another very elegant shot, to show these two off to their best with those wonderful feathers requires super sharp focus and excellent clarity, of which you have both here. Exposure is great and the setting wonderful. Excellent job all round, very well done.
Paul

Hello Kathleen,
Great action-photo of this couple. Splendid colours with an excellent contrast against the BG. Very good composition and sharpness.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • sayat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 270 W: 0 N: 193] (1105)
  • [2007-11-05 2:17]

A very delicate and beautiful composition. I like a lot the way you captured the feathers' fine texture. Great shot indeed.

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 582 W: 0 N: 866] (3283)
  • [2007-11-05 2:32]

Wow what a stunning a magnificent shot Kathleen! Beautiful composition and catching this moment of action is wonderful. Great focus and exposure on those feathers, lovely use of light and perfect dof. All nice and sharp. Great work, excellent all round.
tfs
debz

Dear Kathleen
What a wonderful scene you captured,
Great focusing,pose and exposure,Superb shot.

Good Luck
Fartash

Hello Kathleen,
A beautiful situation, so well taken!
The lovely birds are most impressive, ane the exposure of all white parts is skilfully done!
Excellent focus and an attractive composition...
Greetings,
Pablo -

Hi Kathleen,
Great shot of herons courting. Good details and composition.
Thanks for sharing.
- Nirmal

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2611 W: 133 N: 7494] (23373)
  • [2007-11-05 4:09]

Hello Kathleen,
A superb capture of a pair of White Herons in breeding finery.
Excellent composition and sharpness and the exposure is just right. It isn't often one sees these birds in breeding plumage, let alone performing courting rituals!
Well done and TFS!
Ivan

Wouaw Kathleen, wonderfull shot, these birds are splendid, lovely colors very well satured, perfect focus and lovely pose,
very well done,
cheer and thanks for sharing,
friendly,
Pat

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2349 W: 61 N: 3802] (12200)
  • [2007-11-05 4:29]

Hi Kathleen,
They look beautiful in their breeding plumage. Pose you captured, lighting, colors and composition are very good. Well done and TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

Hi Kathleen,
superb image of this two egrets, excellent composition with great details
very well done
Thank you
friendly
Jean-Michel

Among your best pictures Kathleen. An excellent blend of patterns, colors and both symetry and asymmetry. Wow...I am not the only lucky one this past few days. Very nice image!
Bob

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 755 W: 0 N: 1515] (6928)
  • [2007-11-05 6:30]

Hello Kathleen
What a beautiful presentation.Excellent POV and very sharp image.Details and colors are very nice.You had cut those Egrets in an outstanding pose.
TFS Michel

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2466 W: 168 N: 7458] (23564)
  • [2007-11-05 7:49]

Hello Kathleen,
I'd love to be able to capture these beauties! Your capture is brilliant with both Herons sharply in focus while displaying their beuatiful feathers. You've timed this very well to catch them like this! Excellent exposure and great sharpness. THey also stand out very well againsts the background.
Many thanks, Ulla

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1786 W: 8 N: 4638] (14987)
  • [2007-11-05 15:39]

Hi Kathleen,

What a marvelous capture of this pair. They are so beautiful doing their courting dance. Wonderful white and excellent details. I love the green around their eyes. A very lovely composition.

Jane

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3071 W: 231 N: 5861] (19714)
  • [2007-11-05 22:53]

Wow, Kathleen.
This is a fantastic tableau.
What perfect timing capturing the interaction between those two.
The mating plumage is exquisite.
Fabulous shot.
TFS. : )

STUNNING!!!

Excellent! Great color...the white is well done. The green around the eyes is beautiful. You captured these details wonderfully!
Wonderfully composed. This is a very professional photo worthy of some publication or something! Its a shame to keep these quiet. :D

  • Great 
  • pilonm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 546 W: 99 N: 818] (2667)
  • [2007-11-06 12:14]

Hello Kathleen,

WOW!!! What a wonderful and splendid picture!!! You did a great work on the exposition (not easy with that white and more darkened bg). Details of the feathers are amazing ! Is it possible to know which one is the male, which one the female?

Great job and TFS!

Michel

Just the most magic scene Kathleen. I never seem to be in the South Island to visit the breeding area at the right time. Thank you for sharing this incredible image. Thank you! :-)

  • Great 
  • tiklod Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 300 W: 74 N: 883] (3367)
  • [2007-11-07 14:05]

Hi Kathleen,
WOW!!!
GREAT PICTURE... Excellent details and focus on these Heron.
Nice exposure on the white colour. Lovely pose (maybe lovers?)
Regards and TFS,

Claude

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