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Young Starling


Young Starling
Photo Information
Copyright: Karan Little (hester) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1515 W: 18 N: 3165] (11638)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Black & White
Date Taken: 2007-06-15
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 350D / Digital Rebel XT, Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG Macro
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/125 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-06-16 16:17
Viewed: 3016
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I have young starlings and young sparrows running around my garden. I liked this ones hairstyle and thought I would capture him for a portrait shot.

Starling facts from the RSPB:
The starling is a partial migrant, which means that it migrates in some places but not in others. Each year, about half a million pairs breed in the UK.

These birds are residents, and most never leave us. However, this number almost doubles every winter with the arrival of thousands more birds from Eastern Europe. Hard weather there forces them to migrate west in search of food.

In October and November, you can see flocks of migrant starlings arriving along the east coast of England. Most have flown across the North Sea from Belgium or the Netherlands, after travelling across northern Europe.

At Hunstanton in Norfolk, 409,000 starlings were counted passing overhead in autumn 1997, including 87,000 on 16 October alone. Most of these birds continue migrating westwards until they have spread across the whole country. They join our resident starlings to form huge flocks, often roosting in parks, reedbeds or city centres.

In spring the migrant starlings return to Eastern Europe, while our own resident birds set up breeding territories at home. They nest in holes in trees and buildings, where they lay 4–6 eggs. The young spend about 21 days in the nest, and are then fed by their parents for a few more days before leaving to join up in late summer flocks.

You may think from these huge numbers that our starlings have got nothing to worry about. But sadly starlings are declining. The UK breeding population fell by about 50 % between 1972 and 1998. Scientists think that modern farming practices may be to blame.
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Starlings made it onto the endangered list this year.
nglen, jaycee, gracious, blakitan, Alex99, garyfudge, jeanpaul, Debz, pvb has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2007-06-16 16:20]

Hi Karen. good to see a black and white shot this one works well. very good detail .as you say a good hair do he got.a nice POV and dof. well done TFS. good notes to read thanks.

Nick..

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2007-06-16 16:45]

Hi Hester,

Very unusual to see a shot like this in black and white. I like it! I love his hair-do. Wonderful details showing off his face and plummage very nicely. He really is a cutie.

Jane

Hello Karan,
Very artistic presentation in B/W!
I loved the sharpness with details and the POV
thanks for useful note too
cheers
Tony

Hi Karan,
Well composed B&W picture.
Nice DoF, well focused.
Great shot.

BL

Hello Karan,
It is a fine capture of this fluffy little fellow!
I like the way he poses for the photographer, giving his best profile...
Well composed presentation!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1772 W: 36 N: 5597] (18598)
  • [2007-06-17 4:00]

Hi Karan,
Cute little Starling this. Immaculate details and sharpness on the plummage and a great profile shot. Excellent POV and DOF. The B/W composition is just majestic and superb light management. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2007-06-17 15:49]

Hi Karan.
You have underlined the principal key of this cute fellow excellently. Very nice shot, cropping and composition. Decision of B/W colour tones probably is correct and definitely very impressive. Superb job. My compliments and TFS.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-06-17 22:51]

Hello Karan

There are not many animals or birds that I do not like.Starlings are one,but your portrait here makes me appreciate them more.Well focused with good contrast.The composition is very good.Very good plumage detail and nice catch light.TFS

Rob

I've been photographing these like mad too, but nothing to this quality Karan.
Excellent conversion to B&W that really suits this bird in general.
Super details.
We really try to feed them as much as possible to keep them plump, glossy and thriving.

Gary

Hi Karen
Superbe, belle lumière, beaux détails,elle est très intéressante cette prise en noir et blanc
Bravo et merci...JP

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 505 W: 0 N: 847] (3307)
  • [2007-06-19 16:43]

A vert fine portrait of a young Starling Karen. Starlings have a lot of attitude and character and this one is no exception. Its nice to see a BW shot which I think brings out the character of the bird. Great pov and dof. Great work.
tfs
debz

hello Karan

the best of BW is that you can see only the shapes

this is a lovely picture of a magnificient bird in a very interesting position

regards

jjo

  • Great 
  • pvb Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 385 W: 16 N: 531] (1981)
  • [2007-06-30 2:28]

Hi Karan,
Very nice shot in B & W of this young starling it looks great.
Very good composition and pov. Great look at its feathers, good sharpness and blurred bg.
TFS Paula

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