Say Ahhhh

[Lance Peters]

I am truly blessed to have a pair of these guys take up residence not far from my house.

Nikon D3S
Sigmonster @
36MM Extension Tube
F7.1
1/250TH
+2.3EV
3200 ISO
Matrix Metering
Braced on car window

Desaturated the greens a little and sharpened a tad - cropped a sliver from the top - otherwise as shot!

Comments more than welcome :)

[Joe Senzatimore]

Next time try to get a little closer;). Magnificent detail in a beautiful portrait of a wonderful subject.

[Lance Peters]

Next time try to get a little closer;). Magnificent detail in a beautiful portrait of a wonderful subject.

This was at 750mm :) - so still had 50mm to play with - but only the 1 extension tube with me ;)

Thanks for the kid words - Joe.

[Randy Stout]

Lance:

Love the tongue here, expected to see your reflection in the eye at that range.

What species?

Cheers

Randy

[Lance Peters]

Lance:

Love the tongue here, expected to see your reflection in the eye at that range.

What species?

Cheers

Randy

Hi Randy - shot from the car - cars do not seem to bother them, cant approach them on foot - they are gone before you get within 50 yards of them. (Maybe if I lightened the eye - you would see the car - Might try that)

This fellow is a "Bush Stone curlew" critically endangered in the state in which I live - though in my hometown these guys have been around for 30+ years - usually nest twice a year - survival rates are very low - which is the problem. Think the surveys are stating 14% survival rate of chicks, not enough to sustain the population - captive breeding programs are under way.
Hoping that they nest at this site.

Should have said - did take a fair amount of sitting and waiting to get this one ---- They are nocturnal - so really do not do much during the day!

[Randy Stout]

Lance:

Thanks for the info. Is predation the problem leading to low survival rate? Pollution? Always sad.

Randy

[Lance Peters]

Lance:

Thanks for the info. Is predation the problem leading to low survival rate? Pollution? Always sad.

Randy

Predation is the main issue - chicks cant fly until they are 9 weeks old - other problem is a landcare one - these guys make great use of fallen trees and logs for camouflage but many land owners and councils like the keep their land clear of such things, they will not nest without such ground cover.
There is a advertising campaign with the slogan - "Dont flog our logs" hopefully raising public awareness.

[Arthur Morris]

SH and tongue :) excellent. Sweet BKGR. All in all very well done.

[Kiran Poonacha]

Nicely done, looks like he is posing for a medical checkup :D