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Egretta Thula


Egretta Thula
Photo Information
Copyright: Luciano Gollini (lousat) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-12-01
Categories: Birds
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/30 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): aquatic birds!, CeltickRanger's favorite Bird photos -6- [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-12-19 15:27
Viewed: 5428
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Thanks to Ivan for the ID

Class: Aves

Subclass: Neornithes

Infraclass: Neognathae

Superorder: Neoaves

Order: Ciconiiformes (disputed)

Family: Ardeidae

Genus: Egretta

Species: E. thula

The Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) is a small white heron. It is the American counterpart to the very similar Old World Little Egret, which has established a foothold in the Bahamas.


In flightAdults are typically 61 centimetres (24 in) long and weigh 375 grams (13.2 oz) They have a slim black bill and long black legs with yellow feet. The area of the upper bill, in front of the eyes, is yellow but turns red during the breeding season, when the adults also gain recurved plumes on the back, making for a "shaggy" effect. The juvenile looks similar to the adult, but the base of the bill is paler, and a green or yellow line runs down the back of the legs.

Their breeding habitat is large inland and coastal wetlands from the lower Great Lakes and southwestern United States to South America. The breeding range in eastern North America extends along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts from Maine to Texas, and inland along major rivers and lakes. They nest in colonies, often with other waders, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. Their flat, shallow nests are made of sticks and lined with fine twigs and rushes. Three to four greenish-blue, oval eggs are incubated by both adults. The young leave the nest in 20 to 25 days and hop about on branches near the nest before finally departing.

In warmer locations, some Snowy Egret are permanent residents; northern populations migrate to Central America and the West Indies. They may wander north after the breeding season, very rarely venturing to western Europe—the first bird sighted in Britain wintered in Scotland from 2001–2002.

The birds eat fish, crustaceans, and insects. They stalk prey in shallow water, often running or shuffling their feet, flushing prey into view, as well "dip-fishing" by flying with their feet just over the water. Snowy Egrets may also stand still and wait to ambush prey, or hunt for insects stirred up by domestic animals in open fields.

At one time, the beautiful plumes of the Snowy Egret were in great demand by market hunters as decorations for women's hats. This reduced the population of the species to dangerously low levels.

Now protected in the USA by law, under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, this bird's population has rebounded.
CeltickRanger, boreocypriensis, maurydv, eng55, nasokoun, horias, cirano, anemone, siggi, Noisette, techranger has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Argus: thanks!!lousat 1 12-21 16:36
To anemone: thanks!!!lousat 1 12-20 14:40
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Critiques [Translate]

salut Luciano

tu as fait une très belle photo de cette oiseau aquatique
avec comme arrière-plan les eaux tourmentés, WOW !
excellent POV et cadrage, jolie pose de l'oiseau et c'est
surtout le background qui donne du dynamisme à l'image,

TFS

Asbed

Ciao amico Luciano,

This is an utterly impressive and fantastic capture of an egret in a stream! The focus and DOF both look perfectly controlled, good exposure and clarity too.
TFS and have a nice night MF!
Cheers,

Bayram

Ciao Luciano,
a Bayahibe l'Airone bianco maggiore sembra collaborare maggiormente con il fotografo naturalista, che gli può dire "assumi questa posa .... qui lo sfondo è ideale", la poca luce presente e il conseguente tempo lungo ti ha permesso di ottenere l'effetto setoso dell'acqua e con il flash si è creato un ottimo contrasto, molto buona la nitidezza in una splendida composizione
Grazie e complimenti
Buona domenica
Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1256 W: 42 N: 1976] (5892)
  • [2009-12-20 0:06]

Ciao Luciano,
Thank you for your gift.It's a lovely post.I liked effect of lower shutter speed,framing and contrast a lot.Have a nice sunday!
Thanks for posting..

oups...! surprise, a different model, from you Luciano,
the composition in the water is splendid, also the pose of the bird, the beautiful colors,I like a lot, thank you for this dedication!
keep photographing birds! TFS
Nasos

Ciao Luciano, non è proprio questa la Dominicana che ti avevo chiesto, ma mi accontento, tenendo conto che tu come me con gli uccelli non ci hai tanto a che fare te la sei cavata più che bene, originali le impostazioni di scatto, flash e tempo lungo ti hannoregalato un bellissimo effetto flou nell'acqua, bravo, ciao Silvio

....azzolina Luciano!
ma che bel gift ci hai portato dalla dominicana..
bella la posa,il dettaglio e perfetto lo sfondo

complimenti sERGIO

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2009-12-20 1:34]

Hello Luciano,
Very nice photo of this Little Egret. Beautiful surroundings. Good sharpness, pose, POV and light.
Thanks for this gift.
Regards,
Peter

Davvero intrigante l'effetto sull'acqua. Ottimo contrasto. Ma con tutti gli aironi che abbiamo qui proprio quello esotico dovevi trovare......che poi Silvio di lamenta!

Roberto

  • Great 
  • horias Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 837 W: 58 N: 2084] (11033)
  • [2009-12-20 3:21]

Luciano
Wonderful A. alba!
Great details and colors.
The water is beautiful!
Congratulation!
Horia

  • Great 
  • cirano Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 997 W: 0 N: 944] (13609)
  • [2009-12-20 5:32]

Slav Lûcîano,
A very good capture of a Ardea alba taken from a perfect POV with great sharpness and colours.Very nice composition.TFS.
Best regards,
Dûrzan

Hi my friend Luciano
Super fantastic photo of these lovely bird.. Great ambience with nice details and composition.
TFS
Best regards
Özgür

Bello conjunto Luciano, aunque con una ligera trepidación. Un abrazo: J. Ignasi.

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2009-12-20 10:43]

Hi Luciano. Something very different from you . This is a fine close up of the Egret in the water.I like the pose with its head turned to you. Taken with good detail and natural colours. well taken TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2009-12-20 12:11]

Hello Luciano.
Excellent picture of this egret in its natural habitat.The long exposure time showed flowing water in the beautiful light.
Best regards Siggi

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2009-12-20 15:23]

Hi Luciano,

This bird fan thanks you for the wonderful gift. A beautiful Little Egret posing at the pretty stream. I love the white feathers and the black and yellow beak. The setting and composition are both superb.

Jane

bonjour Luciano
très belle image de cette Grande Aigrette debout dans l'eau, j'aime bien sa pose
son plumage blanc immaculé contraste bien avec le fonds foncé
La photo est bien composée et bien detaillée
Passe une bonne nuit
Jacqueline

  •      
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2009-12-20 23:22]
  • [+]

Ciao Luciano,
As I am a bird fan I appreciate this fine capture of the Snowy Egret, Egretta thula in breeding plumage. The black bill with the yellow base and black legs are the key features.
I like the graceful pose taken with excellent sharpness and well composed as it stands in a stream.
Thanks and have a good week.
Sorry I ran out of smileys!
Ivan

  • Great 
  • Ishi Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 298 W: 21 N: 1943] (13387)
  • [2009-12-21 3:24]

Ciao Luciano,

Un bello regalo, in veritá!

Grazie!

Ishi

Hello Luciano,

what an very nice image from you with good pov and dof.
fine colours.

gert

Hello,
Wonderful shot in a typical environment. Very nice details and lighting! Well done.
Best wishes,
Achim

I love this capture Luciano...the composition and exposure of the overall image is gorgeous. The water, and with it, the patterns shown, are beautiful and go so well with the bird's plummage. A very beautiful photograph.

Larry

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