Graphic Content!!

[James Shadle]

This is a Breeding Black Crowned Night Heron, with a baby White Ibis.

Black Crowned Night Herons will steal chicks (Fish Crows steal eggs and very small chicks) from the nest of inattentive birds, or from the nest of birds that have been "spooked".

I'm not sure, but there may have been banding going on at the time and that always "spooks" the birds off their nests.

Nikon D300, Nikon 600mm F4 AF-S
ISO 800 SS 1/2000 @ F5.6

Levels, Noise Reduction,USM and small crop.

[Jay Gould]

Thanks for sharing that image, graphic, tack sharp, and lovely! Cheers Mate, Jay

[Ramon M. Casares]

Too good! Greatb poses, the egrets and the prey's pose is also perfect IMO, light, BG, detail, sharpness and comp are simply beautiful. Congratulations on capturing so well such a natrual moment!

[Dave Mills]

Hey James, Not a good shot...a great shot! Spot on lighting, exposure,wing position, backround,sharpness and an intriguing story. My hearty congrats...

[Kobus Tollig]

Super well done. Well exposed good comp and moment

[Stu Bowie]

Super comp, and I like sharp well exposed detail in this. These guys have amazing eyes, and thanks for sharing his catch with us.

[Steve Maxson]

A very cool behavior image, James - and the technical aspects were handled very well also. These kind of images don't come along every day and it looks like you scored when you had the opportunity. Up north where I live, BCNH can get into Common Tern colonies at night and feed on chicks - sometimes that can become a problem for the colony's reproductive success.

[Neil Losin]

Incredible behavioral capture, James. Love everything about this one. Ouch!

[Daniel Cadieux]

Holy mama this is awesome. I only wish that you knew for sure that this wasn't an opportunity that the BCNH took because of some banding going on. Although the whites are not blown on the neck I may consider toning them down just a bit. The young Ibis may be gruesome, but I like it's eerie shadow cast on the heron's wing.

[Arthur Morris]

BBC WPOTY entry for sure. Amazing. I love those researchers.

[Arthur Morris]

ps: The position of the chick is perfect with the trailing wings, legs, and head and neck.

[Linda Robbins]

James this is absolutely stunning. Just capturing a behavior like this is special, but to get every element so perfect is amazing. Perfect head angle and flight pose on the heron, the pose of the unfortunate ibis chick couldn't be better, beautiful light, good composition, perfect exposure and a nice background. Congratulations on such a wonderful image...

p.s. - It would be great if you could send a copy of this image to the banders...