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Evening with American Avocet


Evening with American Avocet
Photo Information
Copyright: Binh Nguyen (Howler-Cat) Silver Note Writer [C: 4 W: 0 N: 48] (224)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-16
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 30 D, Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/2500 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-25 4:03
Viewed: 305
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Overview
American Avocet: Long-legged shorebird with long, thin, upcurved bill and distinctive black-and-white back and sides. Head and neck are bright rust-brown during summer. Legs and feet are gray. Feeds on insects, crustaceans, and invertebrates. Strong direct flight with neck extended.

Range and Habitat
American Avocet: Breeds from interior Washington, Saskatchewan, and Minnesota south to California and Texas. Spends winters on the west coast north to California, on the Gulf Goast, and in Florida. In fall, this bird is a regular visitor on the Atlantic coast. Preferred habitats include freshwater marshes and shallow, marshy lakes. Breeds locally in salt or brackish marshes; often moves to coasts during winter.

Voice Text
"wheep, wheep, wheep"

Interesting Facts
Nesting American Avocets aggressively attack predators, sometimes physically striking Northern Harriers and Common Ravens.

Their nests are depressions on the sand or platforms of grass on mudflats. Should the water level rise, the breeding pair will raise the nest up to a foot or more with sticks, weeds, bones and feathers to keep the eggs above water.

Their chicks leave the nest within 24 hours after hatching. Day-old avocets can walk, swim, and even dive to escape predators.

In response to predators, they sometimes issues a series of call notes that gradually changes pitch, simulating the Doppler effect and thus making its approach seem faster than it actually is.

whatbird.com
mala-zaba, vanderschelden, sandpiper2, robindb has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • GaryT Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 83 W: 4 N: 171] (902)
  • [2008-07-25 4:54]

Great evening shot. Evening colors work well with the species of bird. Always liked those birds. I wish we had some around here. Gary

Hi Binh,

Nice clear photo and your aperture selection has thrown the background just out of focus for the subject to stand out. Good exposure to cover the dark and light areas.

Robin

Hi Binh

Excellent shot of this avocet. Beautiful light.
Excellent sharpness
Excellent POV
Great composition
Good background

Chris

  • Great 
  • Bac Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 100 W: 3 N: 35] (480)
  • [2008-07-25 5:16]

Good sharpness, nice colour, really good shot. TFS.

Christian

Hey binh,
fabulous shot. Everything perfect.
Thanks
Pierre

Hi Binh,
Good color on this shot. The Avocet is sharp and I found the photo well framed. I do not know if it's a droplet of water on the green foliage or on the lens, but it has a dot just below the beak. This spot force the reading of the image into the water and not on the bird.
TFS
Eric

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 389 W: 0 N: 371] (1986)
  • [2008-07-26 0:57]

Hi Bingh
very nice image
very good sharp and detail
well done.

Sharpness 5/5
Focus 5/5
Depth of Field 4/5
Background 4/5
Pose 5/5
Difficulty 4/5
Colours 5/5
Saturation 5/5
Light 5/5

Overall 4/5

Well done.
Out of smileys, will be back 2/2

Hi Binh

Excellent shot of this avocet. Beautiful light.
Excellent sharpness
Excellent POV
Great composition
Good background
TFS
Angelo

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