Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread: Snail Kite - Learned something new today

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Jim Neiger's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Kissimmee, Florida, USA
    Posts
    1,610
    Threads
    287
    Thank You Posts

    Default Snail Kite - Learned something new today

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    I've spent the last couple of days photographing Snail Kites from my boat with a group of other photographers. Today we witnessed a flight display that I had seen many times before, but I did not understand it's purpose. Many times I have seen the Male Snail Kites flap their wings in an exaggerated way, sort of like a human's arms when swimming the breast stroke. This is followed by a rearing up so that the bird is flying almost straight up. Then the kite turns over and dives almost straight down. This is often done repeatedly. One of the photographers on my boat was well known raptor photographer Ned Harris. Ned informed me that this behavior is very likely a courtship display. Thanks Ned for teaching me something new about the Snail Kites. The image you see here is from the diving down part of the courtship display.

    Osceola county, FL - 1D3, 500mm+1.4xTC, hand held from boat, 1/2000, F7.1, ISO 800, manual exposure (EV metered on green vegetation @ 0.
    Jim Neiger - Kissimmee, Florida

    Get the Book: Flight Plan - How to Photograph Birds in Flight
    Please visit my website: www.flightschoolphotography.com 3 spots remaining for Alaska bald eagles workshop.

  2. #2
    Fabs Forns
    Guest

    Default

    The mating displays can be very amazing, glad to know this and great picture to illustrate the story.

  3. #3
    BPN Member Tony Whitehead's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
    3,972
    Threads
    142
    Thank You Posts
    Blog Entries
    3

    Default

    Good shot, Jim. The background story really adds to it.
    Tony Whitehead
    Visit my blog at WildLight Photography for latest news and images.

  4. #4
    David Hemmings
    Guest

    Default

    Very nice Jim, great info too, thx for sharing this:)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics