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Into a corner they go


Into a corner they go
Photo Information
Copyright: Gerhard Theron (gerhardt) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1936 W: 244 N: 4106] (11620)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-08-21
Categories: Birds
Camera: Minolta Dimage Z1
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/800 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Travelogue: Emerald Casino Resort Animal Park
Theme(s): Birds of Southern Africa, Ibis (family Threskiornithidae) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-08-21 13:35
Viewed: 7087
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Northern Bald Ibis
Geronticus eremite

2004 IUCN Red List justification.
This species has undergone a long-term decline and now has an extremely small range and population. Numbers are currently increasing, partly due to management actions and consequent improved breeding success. However, this improvement in its status in Morocco is very recent and the species may still be undergoing a continuing decline. The species is therefore retained as Critically Endangered because of its extremely small population undergoing continuing decline. Current estimate about 220 birds surviving in the wild.

Identification
70-80 cm. Large ibis. Black overall, with iridescent tints of blue, green and copper in sunlight. Red, naked face and crown. Long, narrow feathers project from nuchal area to form ruff. Usually silent. Various hisses and grunts at nest and in display.

Range & population
Until recently Geronticus eremita was believed to survive only in Morocco at Souss-Massa National Park and at nearby Tamri with some movement of birds between these two sites. There are reports of it in Mauritania as a non-breeder. A colony of three pairs and one adult was recently discovered in Talila, Syria; and further breeding colonies may exist across the Syrian Steppe, although searches in 2003 proved fruitless.

Ecology
It forages in large groups, preferring areas of semi-arid littoral steppe with very sparse vegetation, but also pastures and cultivated fields, feeding on any available animal-life; its favoured invertebrates are most abundant on the littoral steppe. It breeds colonially (up to 40 or more pairs) on cliff-ledges, the remaining colonies being all on seacliffs. Breeding performance is variable from one year to the next but does not appear to be related to rainfall in the vicinity of the colonies as previously reported elsewhere.

Threats
It has declined for several centuries perhaps at least partly owing to unidentified natural causes. However, the more recent decline is undoubtedly the result of a combination of factors, human persecution, especially hunting, but also the loss of steppe or unintensive agricultural areas, pesticide poisoning, human disturbance, and dam construction. At Souss-Massa NP, the most recent causes of breeding failures have been loss of eggs to predators and, more importantly, poor chick survival as a result of starvation and predation.

Species factsheet: Geronticus eremita. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 4/6/2005

I met this chap in the aviary at Emerald City Animal Park, Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng Province. He was very tame. He fondled the camera bag and has a habit of chasing small kids in corners. I was amused by this habit the most. See workshop for the action.

I incorrectly ID’d this bird as a Southern Bald Ibis and corrected it. See the Southern Bald Ibis here.
RAP, PDP, AndyB, Robbrown, nwoehnl, letr, ellis49, japie, carper, jhm, Lourens, Luc, Abadpour, ALIRIZA, danbachmann, Alan_Kolnik has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2004-08-21 14:54]

Captura tan grande como el pico del ave Gerhard :-)
Excelente nitidez, gran DOF, encuadre tal vez un poco ajustado, pero permite visualizar perfectamente el plano del ibis.
Notas muy completas.
Otra más....
Gracias.

As great capture as the tip of the bird Gerhard :-)
Excellent clearness, great DOF, frame perhaps a little tight, but it allows to perfectly visualize the plane of ibis.
Very complete notes.
Another one more...
Thanks.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2004-08-21 15:17]

Oh that really is an ugly thing! You've done a marvellous job not to crack your lens getting such a cracking shot. He gives me the creeps! Well done it's great work.

Not one of creations beauties but well worth saving, and this image is very nice a good capture of a bird with attitude, intresting notes too

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1366 W: 32 N: 1351] (3982)
  • [2004-08-21 16:18]

It certainly wont win any prizes with its looks!
A great shot,nice detail and great DoF.
Excellent note too.

Very good capture, Gerhard. Impressive details in the close-up in which I like the lovely eye and your composition with the beak curving towards the lower left corner. Good colors and DOF, and as always a fine note. The WS photo is a fun add-on.

  • Great 
  • letr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 87 W: 50 N: 47] (130)
  • [2004-08-21 18:00]

Excellent details and colors,diagonal composition fits the birds well in the picture.. Well done !!

  • Great 
  • Jeppe Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 36 W: 0 N: 33] (193)
  • [2004-08-21 18:25]

HaHa - funny capture of this stange but nice looking bird - He reminds me of a cartoon bird driving Donald Duck crazy :-)

You got a fine angle for this shot and great details - thanks for the extra photo as well - very fine job Gerhard.

Great composition of this Ibis really made to fit in a square of good matching colors and pleasant added WS. Thanks for sharing Gerhard .

A ugly one Gerhard ;-)
Very good details and colors and nice composition
Well done

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2004-08-22 1:28]

The ugly duckling is nothing compare to this guy. Very good capture with good DOF. I like the crop too. Well Taken

Wauw Gerhard,
I love the shot here, It's an ugly birdy but I like the colours, the dof and the good composition of you,Well taken, Erg goed werk.

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 893 W: 0 N: 507] (1853)
  • [2004-08-22 2:35]

A great shot, Gerhard, nice detail and great DOF.
Excellent note too.

Nice portrait og this bird. I must say that none of the Ibis species are beautifull to look at. Very nice capture you have here.

Hi Gerhard
You did a splendid defemation picture on this endemic of ours! He looks sinester and like a witches familiar. Actually, they are just bald, and not SO ugly. This is just a very good moody shot of him. Well done.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1835 W: 301 N: 4287] (14767)
  • [2005-04-06 12:29]

Personal assessment of the photo: excellent.
Great visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
Thanks Gerhard.

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