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Ardea melanocephala


Ardea melanocephala
Photo Information
Copyright: Ferran J Lloret (ferranjlloret) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 791 W: 53 N: 2113] (10340)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-07
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40 D, Canon EF 100-400 mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds of Africa I [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-01-22 5:47
Viewed: 5364
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Black-headed Heron

Ecology: Behaviour Although populations of this species breeding in the equatorial zone of Africa are largely sedentary other populations are partially migratory and move in relation to the timing of the dry seasons1. The species nests in small mixed-species colonies of up to 200 pairs with breeding activities peaking during the rains1. The species is usually a solitary forager, but may occasionally congregate into loose feeding flocks1, 2 and commonly roosts in groups of tens to hundreds of individuals2. Individuals may travel over 30 km daily between preferred feeding grounds and roosting sites1. Habitat The species inhabits marshes1, 3 with reed and papyrus beds1, 4, the margins of rivers and lakes, estuaries1, coastal creeks3 and flats2, temporary pools3 and natural savannas or artificial grasslands2 including damp open pastures, moist grassland and cultivated land1. Diet Its diet consists of terrestrial and aquatic insects1 (especially Orthoptera), earthworms2, crabs1, Arachnids (e.g. scorpions and spiders)2, small mammals (e.g. rats, water voles, musk-shrews2 and mice3), lizards, snakes, frogs, birds and fish1, 2, 3. Insects are the most important prey item for the species during the rains, although these become less important as grasslands dry out2. Breeding site The nest is a platform of sticks usually positioned high in trees1 (e.g. eucalyptus, baobab, acacia, fig or palm)4 or in reedbeds1, 4, papyrus beds, floating islands of papyrus or on sandstone ledges4. The species nests in colonies with up to 35 pairs nesting in one tree4. Management information In Cameroon the re-flooding of a desiccated flood-plain twinned with an increase in rainfall and colony protection resulted in a increase in the number of breeding pairs of this species6.

BirdLife International (2008) Species factsheet: Ardea melanocephala. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 3/1/2009

Range Description: This species has a large range, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 20,000,000 km². It has a large global population estimated to be 100,000-500,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2002). Global population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

BirdLife International 2008. Ardea melanocephala. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. . Downloaded on 03 January 2009.

Other Black-headed Heron pictures

This picture is taken in the Parc National des Volcans, Rwanda. Cropped format.

Personal Wev

Tv 1/500
Av 5.6
ISO 400
Focal 330.0 mm
Argus, Juyona, septimiu_nemes, boreocypriensis, jaycee, jusninasirun, Morigann, valy67, Noisette, Dis. Ac. has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2009-01-22 6:50]

Hello Ferran,
Beautiful pose of the bird with it's natural surrounding!
good image with sharpness, beautiful colour and details.Well done
Regards Siggi

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1127 W: 254 N: 3161] (14464)
  • [2009-01-22 7:20]

Hi Ferran,

A nice capture of this heron in its envirement,only curious why this one is called black headed as its head has no signs of black,tfs

Paul

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2009-01-22 7:55]

Hello Ferran
An excellent capture of an immature Black-headed Heron taken from a great POV with fine sharpness and set in a pleasing frame-filling composition.
TFS
Best wishes,
Ivan

Thanks for your kind critique on my 500th!

hello Ferran

beautiful photography of the Black-headed Heron,
shot with fine POV, appropriate vertical framing,
beautiful luminosity, excellent sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 2232 W: 10 N: 2971] (16891)
  • [2009-01-22 9:06]

Hola Ferran.
magnífica captura y encuadre,
destacaía el círculos del ojo, parece de neón...
hermoso tyrabajo,
saludos

beautiful capture with fine details , very good light and perfect sharp , wonderful natural colours and nice DOF ,
TFS ,
septimiu

Hi Ferran,
A splendid capture of this beautiful young heron from a nice POV with wonderful composition and details.
TFS and cheers MF!
Bayram

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2009-01-22 11:58]

Hi Ferran,

A wonderful capture of this lovely Heron in a beautiful setting. I can't figure out why he is called "Black-headed." Nice colors and details of this elegant looking bird. I love his eye!

Jane

Hi Ferran,

I like the way this heron is framed with the long nect making such a nice view. The focus is excellent with very good details of this finely exposed image. Well done and TFS.

Regards,
Jusni

Hello Ferran,
Great pose of the bird with sharpness and nice composition.
Best regards
Pierre

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1727 W: 59 N: 3060] (9219)
  • [2009-01-22 14:25]

Hello ferran !
Too tired to write Spanish, so it will be English for today. This is an amazing picture of this Heron. I specially like the vertical composition of the picture and the contrast between silvey-grey bird and green BG. His pose is beautiful, too, it's and elegant bird. Very well done !
Valerie.

hello ferran
great shot of this heron walking in the gras
beautiful colors and pose, good note too
very well done
Jacqueline

Hello Ferran,
Nice capture, excellent sharpness and beautiful colors.
TFS
Angela

Hi Ferran,

Nice pov and captured thids Heron.
Good of sharpness and composition.

Gert

Hello Ferran,
Great capture of this juvenile Blackheaded heron.
TFS
Albert

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