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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
This is one of my first images taken with my new camera. I can see that I have some work ahead of me with getting the settings to my liking, but with saying that, I like this shot of the New Zealand Tui in the setting sun. Thanks for looking.
Tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae)
The tui is a member of the honeyeater family, and as such has a curved bill and a long tongue, frayed at the end like a brush, which is used to reach deeply into flowers and drink nectar. Like the other two New Zealand honeyeaters, the Bellbird and the Stitchbird, they feed on a mixture of nectar, fruit, and insects. They are the dominant honeyeater in New Zealand, being aggressive and pugnacious, which accounts for their successful survival on the mainland throughout NZ. They vigorously chase other Tui and other species from their feeding and breeding territories which they strongly defend. They are often seen diving vertically at great speed whilst chasing birds.
The Tui is a dark coloured bird, almost black at first glance but is in fact an iridescent green with a reddish brown back. It has two white throat tuffs forming a bib under it's chin. The neck has a lacy white collar of very fine white feathers.
The Tui has a very noisy whirring flight which is very fast, swooping and undulating. It has a variety of calls, consisting of rich, fluid, melodious notes intermixed with croaks, coughs, clicks, grunts, wheezes, squeaks, and chuckles. They have been heard to mimic other species.
Tuis have always existed on Tiritiri Matangi and the population continues to grow every year. Many of them form loose flocks in the winter and fly to winter feeding sites, sometimes as far as 20 kms away, returning in the summer.
Vital Statistics
Conservation Status: Protected Endemic
Mainland Status: Common throughout NZ
Size: 30cm, 120g (males), 90g (females)
Life Span: Oldest recorded 12+ Years
Breeding: September - January
Diet: Mainly nectar and fruit, some invertebrates
The above obtained from http://www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/Fauna/Tui.htm
IMAGE INFORMATION
Camera: Canon 1D Mk lll
Time of day: 19:33 p.m.
Date: 30th October 2007
Weather conditions: Dusk
Lens: Canon 100-400mm L IS USM
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/400
F-Stop: F/5.6
Focal Length: 400mm
Support: Hand Held
ISO: 400 |
Kathleen, kjpweb, marhowie, peter_stoeckl has marked this note useful
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Hi Pam
It's a shame the Tui wouldn't turn on command!!
I like this shot even if it doesn't show the great colours - it shows the plummage on under the neck and on the back of the neck like I have never seen it,
Well done!
You have the latest of the new toys - I would love to hear feedback on your camera.
Cheers
Neroli