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Juvenille Blackbird


Juvenille Blackbird
Photo Information
Copyright: Hilary Wilkinson (Hil) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 696 W: 13 N: 1407] (5035)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-29
Categories: Birds
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50
Exposure: f/8, 1/800 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-10-09 11:33
Viewed: 3113
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello,

I spotted this Blackbird enjoying the sun on my shed, I had to crop it fairly tight to cut out the shed.

Some facts about Blackbirds Breeding Behaviour

The breeding season lasts from early March to late June, during which period blackbirds rear 2-3 broods. In a good year, fourth broods may be attempted. Weather determines the timing of the breeding season.

Warm or cold spells in spring can bring the breeding season forward or delay it by several days. Dry weather in June can shorten the season and even cause starvation of late broods. The nesting season starts up to two weeks earlier in gardens than in woodland.

The nest, built by the female, is low down in any suitable cover. Trees, shrubs and climbers are preferred, but nests can be found inside buildings, occasionally even on the ground.

The nest is a substantial cup of grass, straw, small twigs and other plant material. It is plastered inside with mud and lined with fine grass. It can take two weeks to complete, and sometimes the same nest is used for successive broods.

The normal clutch size is 3-5. Larger clutches are laid in woodland than in gardens. The female incubates alone, and the chicks hatch 13-14 days later. Only the female broods the chicks, but both parents feed them. Chicks in gardens are fed on earthworms when they are available; woodland chicks are fed mainly on caterpillars.

The chicks are ready to fledge at 13-14 days, but if the nest is disturbed, they can leave and survive as early as nine days old. This ability to fledge early is an important anti-predator adaptation. The young birds creep and flutter from the nest, and remain in nearby cover for the following few days.

They are flightless at first, but within a week will have learned to fly. By this time, they begin to experiment with foods, learning by trial and error what is edible. As their skills and confidence grow, they begin to explore their parents' territory and range more widely. The young become independent three weeks after leaving the nest, and leave the natal area shortly after. They are not driven away by the male.

Fledged young are often left in the care of the male, while the female prepares for the next nesting attempt. The last brood of the season is usually divided between the parents, with each adult taking sole care of some of the young.

There are considerable losses at the egg and chick stage, with at best 30-40% of nests producing fledged young. Despite smaller clutch sizes, birds in towns fledge more chicks per nest than birds in the countryside.

Notes from the RSPB Website
nglen, gerbilratz, Necipp, jaycee, Patleboss, cedryk, PaulH, angybone, Alex99, gracious, Silke, fartash, Argus, hester, SelenE, valy67 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Argus: ThanksHil 1 10-14 07:32
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2007-10-09 11:37]

Hi Hilary. What a great POV you have in this one. It makes her look so big. you have captured good detail and colours in the feathers. with nice contact in the eye.well done TFS.with very good interesting notes .
Nick..

stunning detail to the feathers and beak area....brilliant and great info....

Hi, Hil haven't seen your pics for a long time you have moved on amazingly excellent shot outstanding sharpness and detail nice colours and exposure very well done TFS rgds Necip

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2007-10-09 12:16]

Hi Hil,

Believe it or not, I have never seen a Blackbird. This is a wonderful introduction. Beautiful portrait with excellent details and rich colors. The face, beak, and eye are magnificent.

Jane

Hello Hilary,
I am happy to make your knowledge, your gallery is really wonderfull with many splendid photographs.
This photograph is superb also, which splendid cloes-up, perfect focus and ideal deeph of field, I love the gleam in his eye, cheer
friendly,
Pat

  • Great 
  • cedryk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 967 W: 50 N: 1722] (5270)
  • [2007-10-09 12:35]

Hello Hillary,
Very nice bird portrait from a low perspective. Looks poverfull even if it's just a small blackbird :-) Good details, excellent neutral background. I would only consider cropping out the large space above the birds head and a bit reframed the shot.
Best greetings,
Michal

Hi Hilary,
that's realy perfect, I love the sharpness and the view up to the blue sky so much. Also a nice light-point in the eye, excellent, thanks
SAbine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1137 W: 26 N: 3879] (13882)
  • [2007-10-10 5:15]

Hi Hilary,
wonderful detail and colour in those feathers, like the low POV looking up. Nice catchlight in the eye too.
tfs
Paul

This is an awesome POV! Great effect! It looks like the photo of a hero or something. ha ha
Great dof, great details, great color!

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1739 W: 224 N: 6872] (24909)
  • [2007-10-10 5:56]

What a beautiful image of this Blackbird!!
A lovely POV.
+++ Sharp and detailed showing the feathers well. Lovely rich brown colours. Excellent POV and a good composition. The sky as a BG is perfect!
--- Nothing ;)
Well done Hil,
Joe

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2007-10-10 8:01]

Hello Hilary,
Fantastic low POV, sharpness and colours. Great focus and composition. Nice pose and BG.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Hilary
A fantastic point of view on this lovely female blackbird...good sharpness and perfect sky for bg..a very impressive picture.
All the Best
Paul

This is a great portrait Hilary! I like this lightning, details and tones of colors a lot. This is a good composition and perspective. This is really well done. I hope you are doing well, it seems like a long time :) Thanks,
Claudine

Hello Hil,
This is a good size of a amazing posting!
perfect sharpness, vivid colour and so much details
very well composed and very well done
Thanks for sharing
greeting from NZ
cheers
Tony

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2007-10-11 0:27]

Hi Hilary.
What an amazing portrait of this cute bird. Great crop with excellent sharpness, details and vivid colours. Cloudy sky is looked perfectly as a BG for the bird. My compliments and TFS. Excellent job.
Alexei.

Amazing, Quels détails, la précision est excellente et les couleurs sont naturelles.
Bravo
Marie

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 729 W: 98 N: 1707] (5458)
  • [2007-10-12 8:51]

Outstanding PoV, colours, details and composition, Hilary
This is a most elegant portrait
TFs
silke

Hello Hilary
Wonderful shot of this Blackbird,
Perfect details,composition and BG,
Fantastic colors and POV,Superb shot.

Good Luck
Fartash

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-10-13 19:43]

Hello Hil

Wow what a great POV.The details and focus are excellent.The catch light in the eye is wonderful.Nicely composed The plumage detail is fantastic.Great job.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2007-10-14 7:15]
  • [+]

Hello Hilary,
Superb portrait of a juvenile Blackbird (the female lacks the ginger brown spots). Great blue sky BG, lighting and excellent sharpness and details in a composition that is perfect for the POV.
Well done and thanks,
Best wishes, Ivan

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1515 W: 18 N: 3165] (11638)
  • [2007-10-14 10:41]

wow Hilary, this is just stunning. Wonderful close shot with amazing sharp details. The low POV gives you a great BG. The young blackbirds are so pretty.

TFS

Karan

Amazing detail Hill. Focus is absolutelly perfect, exactly on the head.
Very good composition and colours.

Hello Hilary,
Good close up. Excellent compo and sharpness.
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1538 W: 5 N: 2240] (12636)
  • [2008-01-07 17:52]

Bonsoir Hilary,

Bravo pour ce gros plan,les détails sont extras. Bravo pour l'éclairage et la prise de vue.
Merci pour le partage.
Joseph

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2249 W: 65 N: 4205] (13972)
  • [2008-01-08 7:11]

Hi Hilary,
It's a nice portrait of this cute fellow with an interesting POV. Blue sky in the background looks good. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1727 W: 59 N: 3060] (9219)
  • [2008-04-14 23:55]

Hello Hilary !
Blackbirds are so common in my country, but still I love to see them on pictures, specially when the picture is as good as this one. Details, colors, composition, POV, BG, pose and look of the bird, everything is just wonderful. I wonderf what he is looking at with such intensity. Very well done !
Valérie.

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