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Mickey Blue Eyes


Mickey Blue Eyes
Photo Information
Copyright: Selen Ediger (SelenE) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2249 W: 65 N: 4205] (13972)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-27
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM, Hoya UV 77mm
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Endangered, 60-69 points (Chapter 3), Birds of Ecuador [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-07-31 14:37
Viewed: 4825
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 60
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Flightless Cormorant
Nannopterum harrisi

Endemic (found only in Galapagos)
Red List Status: Endangered

The Flightless Cormorant is a cormorant native to the Galapagos Islands, and an example of the highly unusual fauna there. It is unique in that it is the only cormorant that has lost the ability to fly.
With only 1500 estimated individuals, it is one of the world's rarest birds and is the subject of an active conservation programme. (wikipedia)

*The only cormorant found in the islands , the flightless cormorant is a(95cm) dark brown-to-black bird. Aptyl named owing to its complete inability to fly. Its wings are no more than vestigial appendages which appear to serve no useful purpose. Unmistakable when seen hanging its stubby wings out to dry after coming ashore. When in the water, the body is almost entirely submerged with just the snake-like head and neck visible. Adults are black above and dark brown below, but look completely black when wet. Juveniles are completely black. They have large, black-webbed feet with very short sturdy black legs. The eyes are brilliant turquoise and the bill is long and strong , with a pronounced hook at the tip. The males are noticeably larger than the females.

The flightless cormorant feeds on small fish, eels and octopus which it catches within 100m of the shore. İt dives from the surface with a jack-knife movement and uses only its large and powerful webbed feet to pursue its prey.

Flightless cormorants have an elaborate courtship ritual which normally starts in the water with an aquatic dance. The necks are held in a snake-like pose known as ‘snake encking’ and the birds swim back and forth past each other. The dance is continued on land and a large bulky nest is made of seaweed , which is largely brought by the male and presented to the female as part of the courtship ritual. The nest is added to by the male, which brings more seaweed when he takes over the incubation. Most eggs are laid between may and october.

Incubation takes about 35 days and initially both parents feed the young. If however the food supply is good, the female may leave and mate with another male, while the frist male continues to look after and feed the young, for up to 9 months.

Best viewed: Fernandina- Punta Espinosa; Isabela- Urvina Bay, Punta Moreno to Punta Gracia.

Source: Wildlife of the Galapagos
Julian Fitter,Daniel Fitter,David Hosking
Princeton Pocketguides, ISBN 0-691-10295-3
nglen, egeerhan, kuhufu, Necipp, gracious, rcrick, Janice, mayuresh, Kathleen, jrubiocasado, kjpweb, eqshannon, ralfsworld, jmirah, JORAPAVI, dew77, fartash, saguzar, dB_grafix has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

gercekten makro olmuş bu hemde nazar boncuklu elerine saglık selen .iyi geceler

Merhaba,
Çok net ve mükemmel pozlamaya sahip bir resim çekmisiniz.
Selamlar
Ugur

Hi Selen, great close-up with superb detail, love the narrow dof, as always great note...Cheers Rick

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-07-31 20:46]

Hello Selen

A beautiful portrait of this cormorant.The focus is spot on with wonderful details and sharpness.The eye detail and colour is superb,like a jewel.The POV and DOF are fantastic,the OOF BG is lovely.Superb image.TFS

Rob

This is a very different looking bird, that's for sure.The colour in the eye turned out excellent. I even like the 3 water reflections globes angling up to the beak. Good choice of POV Selen. Very informative notes as well.
Best to you.
D

Merhaba Selen,
Salem!
best pov in taking the shot of cormorant!
good sharpness in the blue eyes and it's beautiful!
well composed and well seen
thanks for sharing
Tony

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2007-08-01 1:04]

Very interesting Selen. I have never heard of the Flightless Cormorant before. I love the blue eye - such a vibrant colour. Good capture, nice and sharp too,
TFS
Janice

Hi salen,
What a beautiful eye! great closeup shot of cormorant.
perfect sharpness and lighting.nice pov.
well done.
TFS.

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1772 W: 36 N: 5597] (18598)
  • [2007-08-01 1:44]

Hi Selen,
Splendid portrait shot of this Flightless Cormorant. Very sharp details on its plumage and its blue eyes look amazing. Perfect focus and lighting and a superb pose you have captured with the BG letting it stand out majestically. Excellent POV and very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

hi selen,
lovely portrait, sharp image with good details, the eyes look very beautiful, well composed shot,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hi Selen.
Wow, amazing eye colour. Great notes, I did not know anything of them and especially that there is a shag that cannot fly.
Pin sharp where needed with great detail, colour and DOF.
Wonderful

Kathleen
New Zealand

Hello Selen,
What a great guy!!
He has made up his mind, and nothing can stop him..!
Great details in face & plumage, attractive natural colours, well composed presentation!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Hi Selen
Very nice eyes, very nice portrait is fantastic.
Congratulations
Regards.
Jorge

Fantastic capture - he looks like a cross between cormorant and anhinga. The positioning of the head is exactly like that of Anhinga's, the plumage also. Love the baby blues! Great work, Selen! Cheers, Klaus

If it is endangered the it is a bonus that you have such a nice picture. The eyes almost look unreal. Very nicely done. More than a simple hobby for a business person!

Bob

Hi Selen
Nice shot of this blue eyed cormorant in his natural environment.
TFS
Ralf

Hi Selen,
Beautiful torquoise eye...Fantastic exposure and detail along with outstanding color against a fine BG...Well captured...

TFS
Jim

  • Great 
  • ridfa Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 89 W: 0 N: 376] (4111)
  • [2007-08-01 7:26]

Hi Selen

Impressionnante photo. Le bleu de l'oeil est incroyable.

TFS
Best regards

Farid

Hola Selen,
Bonita captura, la definción y textura son extraordinarias, la luz y el ojo son fantásticos, saludos
José Ramón

Hello Selen,
Excellent sharpness and details. Superb blue eye.
Well done
TFS
Annick

Merhaba Selen A superb shot and a job well done having the oppoutunity to photograph a very rare bird indeed. Amazing looking bird and I like how you focused into its eye with this close up as it's eye really is a key interest to the bird. Good light what can I say but definately a favourite. tfs Selamlar Necip.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4432 W: 248 N: 4028] (13270)
  • [2007-08-01 10:02]

Merhaba Selen,
Gözleri nazar boncuğu gibi:)Arka plan,detaylar ve kuşun pozu harika olmuş.Ellerine sağlık!

Hello Selen
Very intersting spiece to shoot,
Perfect details,DOF and composition,
Fantastic colors and POV,Superb shot.

Good Luck
Fartash

"Get the hell out a hear" is the line that came to mind when I saw the title to this shot.
It does fit the photo perfectly since the eye is very stunning.
Wonderful work on the DOF and exposure. The sunlight really brought out the blue in the eye perfectly. The close capture made this a very impressive portrait.
TFS,
Niek

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2007-08-01 12:33]

Hi selen. a very good close up of the cormorant.good name you have called the picture. you have captured the eye so well. great detail in the feathers and warm colours. with a nice POV/ DOF . very well done TFs. grat notes too.
Nick..

Hello Selen,
A beautiful portrait of this nice eyes cormorant, a bit similar to one we have in Argentina.Marvelous details, BG and composition.
Regards
Hernán

Hi Selen, splendid portrait of cormorant with wonderful blu eyes, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 598 W: 11 N: 72] (436)
  • [2007-08-02 6:10]

What a lovely blue eye!!!Nice portrait Selen.

Ola Selen.
Fantastica nitidez.Otimo cose-up.Bela ave.
Parabens.
Ralf

Merhaba Selen, Es impresionante la mirada con el ojo azul. El encuadre (POV) es muy bueno y gran definición. Gran trabajo el que estas realizando. Un cordial saludo.

José Luis

Selen , kuşlar dünyasındaki belki en küçük ama en güzel gözlerden biri , nefis fotoğraf , eline sağlık .

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