This beautiful hen falcon was captive raised and she is one of my favourite birds at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch, New Zealand.
I am constantly trying to get a good flight shot through the wire netting.
Bit diificult with the aviary netting so any post preen flaps are worth a few snaps.
This one was taken with PentaX K10D and Tamron 70-300 @ 220mm.
Aperture Priority 1/180 sec @ F6.7. 400 ISO Multi Segment metered.
400 ISO.
Ian
I think you've done well to get any image behind netting. I wish that she had her head turned more toward you. There's some pretty nice detail and colors in the wings but there are of course some leaves and branches that are in front of the wing. I'm just wondering if you can work out a little deal with the keepers at Willowbank. I had a friend who became friends with the keepers at the Miami Aviary. He photographed their birds for them to use in advertisements, shows and fund raisers. He got inside the enclosures and they helped him to get marvelous images......it was a win...win situation for both of them.
Ian, the head looking away and overall soft plumage, not really sharp - would entice me to revisit. As to why it is soft, large crop? Perhaps sturdier camera on tripod required.
Thanks Lana & Jeff for your comments.
Lana : Good suggestion but the staff at Willowbank although all very pleasant won't even feed an extra morsel to Lady Falcon on request.LOL.
Anyway here is another picture from same burst of pix.
Cheers: Ian Mc
Photographing thru netting is difficult at best so any image showing behavior like this is a good thing. Both images have some major flaws, IMO. The oof objects in the foreground, overall softness of the image, and the close busy bg all detract from the image.
You did a pretty good job considering what you had to work with (behind netting etc). Due to your location if you want to try your hand at some wild falcon let me know as i know of some spots down your way that you may wish to visit. Also if your up in the north island at some stage, Rotorua has a very good bird or prey center, where they breed and release falcons back into the wild to help rejuvenate the numbers, as the NZ falcon currently is an endangered species.
Thanks Jason & welcome to the group.
Like your nice sharp Gannet post.
Always interested to hear of recent unusual bird sightings down here although get quite a lot from Birding New Zealand posts.
That gen about the Rotorua Birds of Prey Centre will be worth a look if I get back up there again sometime.
I really like the Karori Wildlife Reserve in Wellington.
Just wonder if you know about the Raptor Association. I'm not a member but they have used some of my pix.
Cheers: Ian Mc http://www.pbase.com/ianmc/profile
Last edited by Ian McHenry; 09-03-2008 at 03:37 AM.
Yes i am part of the Raptor association of New Zealand and take part in Falcon research in Kiangaroa Forrest and have allot to do with the Bird of Prey Center in Rotorua. November I am back into the forrest on and off till early next year checking on breeding pairs and helping with banding etc.
I have never been to the Karori wildlife reserve, looks like something i need to go do when next down in Wellington.
New Zealand Falcon
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