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Thread: Warning....Graphic. Greater Black Backed Gull killing skimmer

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    Default Warning....Graphic. Greater Black Backed Gull killing skimmer

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    I was photographing a mixed flock of terns and skimmers this afternoon. There were a couple greater black backed gulls in the mix, and all were getting along fine, mostly loafing. A peregrine flew over and put up all the birds. It did not catch any and flew to the west, being persued by the flock. I had my back to the spot that I had been photographing as I followed the peregrine's flight. When I turned back, to my horror, the gbb gull had grabber one of the skimmers that did not fly off with the rest and was in the process of killing him. It took all my might to not interfere. I do understand that this is nature's way, but difficult to witness. The gull discarded the body after killing the skimmer and flew off without eating it.

    Canon 1Dmk4, 500 f4 + 1.4tc
    1/3200, f8, ISO400

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    Super Moderator arash_hazeghi's Avatar
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    what a dramatic image and a sad story. you captured it well
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    Oh wow.... I hope you have a awesome series to document this brutal interaction.

    Fantastic.

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hi Grace, this type of behaviour happens all the time in all forms of nature, we are just not always around to witness everything. The central placement works well, and you have captured the size difference between the two birds very well. Both sharp and well exposed. Yep, its difficult not to intervene.

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    This is an awesome, albeit sad, moment of natural history Grace! I understand your sentiments.
    Low angle, central placement and exposure works well.
    If I were you I'd enter this somewhere...
    Morkel Erasmus

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    a good natural image,this is nature,well done.

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    Amazing capture Grace. Love the low angle and the good view of both faces. Truly a once in a lifetime shot.
    I wonder why the gull would kill and NOT eat the skimmer? It seems like malicious intent, which I thought ,was only a human trait.
    Congrats on an amazing shot,
    Gail

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    Quote Originally Posted by Stuart Bowie View Post
    Hi Grace, this type of behaviour happens all the time in all forms of nature, we are just not always around to witness everything. The central placement works well, and you have captured the size difference between the two birds very well. Both sharp and well exposed. Yep, its difficult not to intervene.
    Well said, Stuart. It's only our human perspective that makes this seem "cruel" or "malicious" because really it's just nature's way. It could be argued that "man's inhumanity to man" is nature's way as well, but that kind of thinking can send one into the proverbial gutter posthaste. As for the picture, it's an excellent capture. The birds you have! Heavens! A shot that gets me seriously thinking about relocation...

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    Thanks everyone for your words regarding this image. I would not use the words "Cruel" or "Malicious" to describe what I saw, because I have learned from spending so much time outdoors that everything happens as it should and must. In my narrative, I write that the rest of the flock took off to chase the peregrine and this one remained behind. Skimmers are colonial birds and as such, reacting to a predator as a group helps the colony as a whole. Perhaps this bird lacked that instinct, perhaps it was slower than the rest, perhaps it was just unlucky. I'll never know. I will say that even accepting and trying to understand it, not an easy thing to witness, made even more so when the gull abandoned the carcass.

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    Lifetime Member Marina Scarr's Avatar
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    Great story, Grace, and your captures depicts is well. Love the wings up and open beak on the fledgling and your low perspective really helps to showcase the behavior.
    Marina Scarr
    Florida Master Naturalist
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    Wow, thanks for sharing that story. Sad indeed. Image depicts the story really well.

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    Nice capture Grace.The framing and exposure are all well done so is the color.Nice low angle and beautigul color of the ocean in the BG.I can understand as to how overwelhming this would have been for you.Thank you for sharing this with us.

  13. Thanks Grace Scalzo thanked for this post
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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    Wow what an observation and image to show for it. Perferct moment captured with the bill of the gull clutching the skimmer's neck. I'd look into taming the brighter whites on the gull as they seem pushing hot on my monitor. Brutal, but that is the way indeed...survival of the fittest.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Grace - great behavioral capture even though I'm sure it was difficult to watch at the time. Nice low pov, comp and dof to get all the action sharp.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    BPN Member Patrick Sparkman's Avatar
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    Great action shot, exposure, sharpness, and composition. I only wish that the bill was visible as it "sealed the deal". The fact that the bird did not fly off probably meant that it was injured or ill and that is probably what attracted the BBG.
    Best

    Patrick Sparkman

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    Totally impressive capture...on every level!

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