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Karearea


Karearea
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3749 W: 483 N: 8155] (28054)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-02-23
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 10D, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS USM, Digital RAW 100, Hoya UV 77mm
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Falcons - II chapter, Birds of New Zealand [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-11-30 1:27
Viewed: 5353
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
NEW ZEALAND FALCON (Karearea) Falco novaeseelandiae

With eyesight said to be six times more powerful than humans, flying at speeds up to 230 kmh and uttering a short terrifying scream, the falcon will fall upon some hapless bird in mid flight. The manoeuvre is called a stoop, a trademark of the attacking falcon. From there the falcon will take its victim to some killing place to deliver the final stroke, the dislocation of the bird’s neck. The severing is done with the aid of a specially notched tooth common to all falcons. Finches are fair game, and so are starlings, blackbirds, thrushes and skylarks.

The falcon will then rest for a moment, gripping its kill with one foot, standing with her wings spread over the kill, an action called mantling. The falcon will pluck the feathers and then eat the entire bird, later ridding itself of the castings. It will then rub its beak to clean it, a process called feaking. A body shake, a rouse, follows — because of the art of falconry, they have been given a language all of their own to describe their activities.

Through the winter pairs of falcon live apart but stay more or less within a known territory. Come spring, no rivals will be tolerated within the territory while the ground within a few hundred metres radius of the nest will be defended if necessary to the death. No wilder creature exists than a falcon in its home range at nesting time.

The nest may be a simple scrape on a sheltered cliff ledge or high in a tree in a clump of Astelia. The female does most of the brooding while the male hunts for her. She also feeds the chicks until they are about two weeks of age and then she joins in hunting.

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 10D
Time of day: 3:29 p.m.
Date: 23rd October 2006
Weather conditions: Inside
Lens: Canon 100-400mm L IS USM
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/125
F-Stop: F/5.6n
Focal Length: 200mm
Support: Hand Held
ISO: 200
Original file type: Digital Raw
joey, JoseMiguel, lovenature, manyee, rcrick, Alan_Kolnik, kjpweb, Debz has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To nardophoto: Falco novaselandiae (?)coasties 1 11-30 01:58
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Critiques [Translate]

I love this birds - Falco novaselandiae (?)
Good portrait!
TFS
Angelo

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1739 W: 224 N: 6872] (24909)
  • [2007-11-30 1:38]

Hi Pam,
fabulous shot of this little chick.
+++ Excellent eye-contact and a good POV.
Excellent detail in the "fluff" and parts around the eyes.
Good composition as well.
--- Nothing :)
Well done,
Joe

Hi Pam,
Nice shot of this NEW ZEALAND FALCON.
Excellent composition.
Well done, congratulation.
Cheers from Hong Kong.
Miche

A great close up of this Falcon chick Pam.
I guess you got this in a bird park. The chances of finding a Falcon nest in the wild would be pretty slim,let alopne approching one safely.
Excellent post.
Cheers
Steve

Hi Pam,
A very good close up of this chick!
It's very good the details got on its face, and the transition of it's feather's size over the head.
I like also the shadow's play got.
Congratulations and thanks for share it.
My best regards,
JM

  • Great 
  • badar Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 106 W: 0 N: 160] (785)
  • [2007-11-30 5:06]

Hi Pam,
I like the sharp details conrtasted against the soft blur of the down.
TFS
Bader

Hi Pam
Awesome capture! A wonderful close up of this tiny but ferocious falcon. Sharp details, excellent composition and soft light. Great notes too.
TFS Janice

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2007-11-30 11:37]

Hello Pam,
Excellent close up of this young Falcon. Amazing colours and composition. Fantastic details around the eyes and beak. Good DOF.
Regards,
Peter

Pam,

You got this little guys attention,
Very well done,
Love the eyes,

fototab

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2007-11-30 22:28]

Hi Pam,
Long time no see. : )
How did you get so close to this little guy?
Fantastic shot with amazing facial details.
Hope you are keeping well.
TFS. : )

Hi Pam, Just a fabulous shot I love the close crop, excellent detail beautiful eye catch really nice work well done, all the best Rick :)

I hadn't seen this one of your pictures before - very good shot, and the dark background sets off the bird's detail very well.

That is a great closeup of a youngster! Great detail and sharpness. Very well done, Pam! Cheers, Klaus

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 505 W: 0 N: 847] (3307)
  • [2007-12-07 9:37]

Hi Pam, this is a wonderful shot, you must have been very close and your lens has done a fabulous job. Great focus, exposure and pov. Nice closeup, pin sharp and great shot. Great work!
tfs
debz

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