<< Previous Next >>

The Grey Crowned Crane


The Grey Crowned Crane
Photo Information
Copyright: Frederic BESSE (Deon01) Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 20 W: 1 N: 27] (159)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-08-02
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 350D, Canon EF 55-200mm 4.5-5.6 II USM, SanDisk Ultra-II 1Gb
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2006-04-30 3:52
Viewed: 1656
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
The Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) is a bird in the crane family
Gruidae. It occurs in dry savannah in Africa south of the Sahara, although
it nests in somewhat wetter habitats.

There are two subspecies. The East African B. r. gibbericeps (Crested Crane)
occurs from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo through Uganda and
Kenya to eastern South Africa. It has a larger area of bare red facial skin
above the white patch than the nominate B. r. regulorum (South African
Crowned Crane) which breeds from Angola south to South Africa.

This species and the closely related Black Crowned Crane are the only cranes
that can roost in trees, because of a long hind toe that can grasp branches.
This habit, amongst other things, is a reason why the relatively small
Balearica cranes are believed to closely resemble the ancestral members of
the Gruidae.

The Grey Crowned Crane has a breeding display involving dancing, bowing, and
jumping. It has a booming call which involves inflation of the red gular
sac. It also makes a honking sound quite different from the trumpeting of
other crane species.

The nest is a platform of grass and other plants in tall wetland vegetation.
The Grey Crowned Crane lays a clutch of 2-5 eggs. Incubation is performed by
both sexes and lasts 28-31 days. Chicks fledge at 56-100 days.

The Grey Crowned Crane is 116 cm tall and weighs 3.5 kg. Its body plumage is
mainly grey. The wings are also predominantly white, but contain feathers
with a range of colours. The head has a crown of stiff golden feathers. The
sides of the face are white, and there is a bright red inflatable throat
pouch. The bill is relatively short and grey, and the legs are black. The
sexes are similar, although males tend to be slightly larger. Young birds
are greyer than adults, with a feathered buff face. Like all cranes, it
feeds on insects, reptiles and small mammals.

Although the Grey Crowned Crane remains common over much of its range, it
faces threats to its habitat due to drainage, overgrazing, and pesticide
pollution.

The Crested Crane is the national bird of Uganda and features in the
country's flag and coat of arms.
valy67, coasties, ellis49, Aramok, eruyanik, marhowie, metcher, Ken52 has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Great shot ! Excellent details, wonderful colors and very nice composition. I lovethe warm colors of your photo, and the posture of the two birds is nice too. Very well done !
Valérie.

Hi Frederic

A lovely clear shot. Nice POV. Very good depth of colour. Light is excellent. Very well composed. :-)

Hi Frederic,
this is a very beautiful bird, I love them and I post a similar today.
Nice colours, well composed and good details.
Well done.

  • Great 
  • Aramok Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 885 W: 101 N: 1425] (4931)
  • [2006-04-30 14:36]

excellent shot - I love the fact that they look like they have just had a quarrel and have their backs turned to each other, or is it becuase they are both wearing the same outfit?

TFs

Emma

Hello Frederick,
What a beautiful friends! I like the colours of the cranes. Great shot! Thank you
Ersin

Hi Frederic,
A very nice image, almost as if you've created a mirror image as the poses of the birds are very similar.Good depth of focus with just the right ammount of blurred background.I like the contrast of colour between the birds and stark background.Well done.
Regards, David

Hello Frederic,
The first thing that struck me with this one, is the excellent light and color..
An interesting composition with the two poses playing off each other..Perhaps a touch of USM would make it even better.
Well done!

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12250)
  • [2006-05-01 19:06]

Bonjour Frederic!

Félicitations pour cette belle composition,la pose des oiseaux et les dtails sont parfaits.

Merci pour l'envoie.


joseph

Hi, Frederic.
Nice pair. Looks like they have different opinion about something. Excellent exposure. Well composed.

Frederic,
I enjoy the composition on this image.
Good detail and colors. f/5.6 is pefect because it didn't allow ALL of the BG to focus. Nice work,
Scott

BONSOIR
on ne peut dire que bravo pour cette magnifique photo sans erreur
belle exposition
ces deux grues semblent posées pour toi
bravo amitiés
EDITH

  • Great 
  • Ken52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 640 W: 98 N: 1241] (4189)
  • [2007-04-30 1:10]

Outstanding beautiful colors. Perfect exposure. Great composition. Excellent DOF. Perfect frame for this photo. Very nice work! The workshop by marhowie is excellent as well.

Beautiful photo. The birds are spectacular, with nice color. However, I wish they were facing the camera. The earth tone BG is good and makes the birds stand out.
Gary

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF