Chow down!

[Ian Cassell]

Canon 7D
Canon 500/4 + 1.4 x
1/2000 sec f/6.3 ISO 500 Tripod/Gimbal

Viveza
CS6

[John Chardine]

Although the lower half of the adult's body is missing, I think this crop works Ian. The foot is an important element in this regard. Does the original include the whole bird?

The light is harsh but at least the faces are lit-up. The detail in the foot looks excellent but not as good around the feathers of the adult's face. The head looks a little behind the foot and maybe it is just out of the depth of field range?

[Iain Barker]

I like the composition and don't mind the adult bird being cropped.
The light is harsh but don't feel this spoils the images as the only shadow on the subjects is the back to the young birds head.

TFS.

[Ian Cassell]

Thanks, all. John, you may be right about the focus. Actually, the entire adult IS included in the original, but one loses the interest of the interaction when the whole image is presented, so I cropped to focus on the interaction of the two birds.

[Gabriela Plesea]

Great capture Ian! I find this so interesting, I wonder if anyone noticed that the nest is situated in a cactus plant? That tells me those birds survive in a dry environment (Arizona?). Is this a Woodpecker, Ian? Love to see more images of this species, very well done!

Kind regards,

[Ian Cassell]

Thanks, Gabriela. Yes, this is a Gila Woodpecker. The plant is a Saguaro Cactus and it was taken here just outside of Phoenix, Arizona (in Gilbert).

[Bill Jobes]

This is a dramatic life moment, and you cropped it perfectly, Ian.

At 1/2000 on a tripod/gimbal, I am surprised at the relative lack of sharp detail in the adult bird's head and body.

This could be due to distance from the subject and/or tight cropping, or perhaps the body/lens needs to be micro-focus auto-adjusted.

That said, it's a cool moment that you captured at precisely the right instant.

[edwardselfe]

Nice behavioural image - just missing the softer light of morning perhaps, and might need a bit more depth of field - with 7D, 500mm +1.4x converter, there's a very narrow sliver of DOF at f6.3. Do like the composition though I find the spiky things bisecting the adult's head a bit distracting - could they be blurred a little if ethics allow?
Great to capture such behaviour though.
Ed