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European Roller


European Roller
Photo Information
Copyright: Fikret Yorgancioglu (fiyo) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1053 W: 5 N: 3475] (15161)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-05-19
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, Sigma EX 50-500mm f/4-6.3 APO HSM DG
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): My favourite naturescapes [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2011-02-25 3:18
Viewed: 2836
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
European Roller
Binomial name: Coracias garrulus Linnaeus, 1758
Tr name: Gökkuzgun

Scientific classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum : Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Coraciidae
Genus: Coracias
Species: C. garrulus
The European Roller, Coracias garrulus, is the only member of the roller family of birds to breed in Europe. Its overall range extends into the Middle East and Central Asia and Morocco.
There are two subspecies: the nominate garrulus, which breeds from in north Africa from Morocco east to Tunisia, southwest and south-central Europe and Asia Minor east through northwest Iran to southwest Siberia; and semenowi, which breeds in Iraq and Iran (except northwest) east to Kashmir and north to Turkmenistan, south Kazakhstan and northwest China (west Xinjiang). The European Roller is a long-distance migrant, wintering in southern Africa in two distinct regions, from Senegal east to Cameroon and from Ethiopia west to Congo and south to South Africa.
It is a bird of warm, dry, open country with scattered trees, preferring lowland open countryside with patches of oak Quercus forest, mature pine Pinus woodland with heathery clearings, orchards, mixed farmland, river valleys, and plains with scattered thorny or leafy trees. It winters primarily in dry wooded savanna and bushy plains, where it typically nests in tree holes.
The European Roller is a stocky bird, the size of a Jackdaw at 29-32 cm in length with a 52-58 cm wingspan; it is mainly blue with an orange-brown back. Rollers often perch prominently on trees, posts or overhead wires, like giant shrikes, whilst watching for the large insects, small reptiles, rodents and frogs that they eat.
This species is striking in its strong direct flight, with the brilliant blue contrasting with black flight feathers. Sexes are similar, but the juvenile is a drabber version of the adult.
The display of this bird is a lapwing-like display, with the twists and turns that give this species its English name. It nests in an unlined tree or cliff hole, and lays up to six eggs.
The call is a harsh crow-like sound. It gives a raucous series of calls when nervous.
Some populations migrate to Africa through India. A collision with an aircraft over the Arabian Sea has been recorded.[1]
The European Roller has a large global population, including an estimated 100,000-220,000 individuals in Europe. However, following a moderate decline during 1970-1990, the species has continued to decline especially in Europe, with overall European exceeding 30% in three generations (15 years). In Estonia the 50-100 pairs in 1998 have reduced to no known breeding pairs in 2004; in Latvia and Lithuania populations have decreased from several thousand of pairs in the 1970s to under 30 pairs in 2004. In Russia it has disappeared from the northern part of its range. However, there is no evidence of any declines in Central Asia.
The declines in the European population has resulted in its Red List status being upgraded from Least Concern to Near Threatened in 2005. Threats include persecution on migration in some Mediterranean countries and hundreds, perhaps thousands, are shot for food in Oman every spring. Use of pesticides reduces food availability, and the species is sensitive to changing farming and forestry practices.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coracias_garrulus
siggi, KOMSIS, Alex99, marius-secan, brech, matatur, joska, fransswanepoel, Pitoncle, dmark11, rousettus has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2011-02-25 3:26]

Hello Fikret.
This bird looks like it is posing for you.The colours are incredible.Wonderful clarity and focus.the details are sharp.Nicely composed in the frame.It really is a beautiful bird.Best regards Siggi

Hi Fikret.
Well, what can I say except .. well done my friend! Truly in your stile high quality far beyond average! Great simplicity, outstanding point of view, superb colors and composition ...... in one word, simply FANTASTIC!
Regards,
George Veltchev

  • Great 
  • KOMSIS Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 820 W: 0 N: 2419] (10674)
  • [2011-02-25 4:18]

Fikret bey selamlar,
Pek alımlı .!
Pozlama, detay ve renkler müthiş.
Emeklerinize sağlık,
Seyfi

great coluor and composition, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2011-02-25 5:19]

Hi Fikret.
Nicely composed shot of a very cute scene. Cute colourful bird, delicate inclined twig with small leave and splendid BG create a wonderful esthetic impression. Clarity of the shot as well as details of the main subject and blurriness of the surroundings are amazing. Well done and TFS.
Alexei.

Hello Fikret,
As usual a splendid capture with stunning colors, perfect focus and
excellent sharp details.
Outstanding composition and fantastic blurred background. It is a first class image.
Marius.

  • Great 
  • nagraj Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1618 W: 106 N: 3208] (15166)
  • [2011-02-25 6:55]

Hi,
Fine image of this beautiful roller, good composition and lighting.tfs.
nagraj.v

VERY impressive photo Fikret!! The POV, the composition, the colours, the BG and the sharpness are perfect.
Regards,
Christodoulos

hello Fikret
this is super sharpness first class
great details very nice light super BG and great pose
the colours are Beautiful
greeting lou

Hi fikret,

Beautiful picture of this roller.
Good POV & great sharpness.
Welldone & TFS.

Kapil

Fikret Dostum, ne demeli ki? Bize sadece teşekkür etmek kalıyor!
Mehmet

Excellent ..

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 806 W: 0 N: 4092] (22535)
  • [2011-02-25 10:26]

Hi Fikret,
Excellent photo of this European Roller, splendid colors sharp and fine details, TFS!

Hello Fikret,
Wonderful image captured from perfect POV in excellent light condition. I like also great sharpness, amazing details, lovely colours and beautiful composition. Well done!
Regards,
Mircea

Ciao Fikret, lovely bird in nice pose on a beautiful blurry BG, fantastic colors, fine details and splendid sharpness, very well done my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

Bonjour Fikret,
Très belle attitude sujet bien valorisée sous une bonne lumière et une excellente profondeur de champ permettant d'apprécier la finesse des détails et la délicatesse des couleurs.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

Hi Fikrit,
What a gorgeous bird. You have captured this bird with some wonderful colors and some very nice greenery. Wonderful compositon with some nicely focused eye contact as well.
Denis.

merhaba Fikret Bey,
bu güzeli arada kaçırmışım. şimdi görüyorum. harikulade bir güzellik. en sevdiğim kuşlardan. usta çekim fotoğrafınızı onu daha da bir güzel, daha bir zarif göstermiş. açısından netliğine, pozlamasından renklerine enfes bir kare. elinize sağlık.
saygı ve selamlarımla iyi akşamlar dilerim.
Ahmet

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