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Lucy's Favourite


Lucy's Favourite
Photo Information
Copyright: Rick Price (Adanac) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 1 N: 6188] (21378)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2011-04-19
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 5d Mark II, Canon EF 600mm f4.0L IS USM
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/1250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2011-05-10 0:37
Viewed: 3009
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is Lucy's favourite birds because of it's song in the spring. She says it always sounds so happy.


Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
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General Description
By Gustave J. Yaki

The Western Meadowlark breeds across western Canada, USA and the high Mexican Plateau. In Alberta, it breeds preferably in ungrazed native grasslands and sagebrush in the grassland region, less so in agricultural areas in the Aspen parkland and the boreal forest, which it colonized during the last century. However, recently, their numbers have been declining, particularly in the northern part of its range.
This species likes large, open, grassy areas, whether they be in urban or rural areas. The first birds returns from their wintering grounds, as far south as central Mexico, about mid March. Unfortunately, where dogs run at large, such as on Nose Hill or Edworthy Park, they find and eat young birds, usually without the owner being aware of this activity. As a result, when the adult birds die, there are no replacements. Their loud and flute-like melodic voices are heard no more - and all are poorer for it. They can still be found on the periphery of Calgary, away from housing, especially were native grasses remain. Most birds depart the province by mid October. A very few Western Meadowlarks sometimes try to overwinter in southern Alberta.
The diet is mostly insects, but includes a few grass and forb seeds. Apparently some fruit may also be taken.
The nest is a well-concealed cup on the ground in tall grasses, with a dome-shape roof. The opening is on one side. The female always walks some distance to and from the nest, well-concealed, before flying. Usually five eggs are laid. The female incubates for 13-15 days and will feed the young while building a second nest and laying eggs. The male assumes full care of the young after she again begins incubation. The young fledge at 11-12 days.
bungbing, PaulLees, Luis52, dmark11, CeltickRanger has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Rick,
This is a lovely bird! beautiful colours and nice detail in the feathers, superb lighting and exposure and very pleasing background,
Thanks for sharing and have a nice day,
Best Regards,
Bungbing.

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2011-05-10 3:18]

Hello Rick,
Very beautiful photo of this Meadow Lark in excellent natural colours. Good sharpness and DOF. Very nice contrasting blurred BG. Great composition.
Regards,
Peter

Difficult to improved here, Rick! Great light, detail composition and ...white balance! Love it!
regards,
George Veltchev

great colorful species with good sharpness and perfect background.

Hi Rick,

Superb image of Lucy's favourite Bird Rick, eheh :-, fabulous detailed sharpness with a lovely highlighted eye, amazing and beautiful natural colours,
Incredible out of focus background that complements the bird enormously, great picture my friend,
Congratulations and well done,
Best Regards,

Pauly.

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 967 W: 26 N: 3888] (16941)
  • [2011-05-10 5:45]

Hello Rick
Perfect capture as usual
Thanks for sharing
Razvan

  • Great 
  • nagraj Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1618 W: 106 N: 3208] (15166)
  • [2011-05-10 7:55]

Hi,
Fantastic bird, very beautiful and well captured with fine composition. tfs.
nagraj.v

nice contrasty capture, greetings Ori

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2011-05-10 9:09]

Hi Rick,very impressive pic! What a beautiful little bird and what a fantastic quality!Magnificent light balance for the best result,sharpness and colors at the top.Very well done,have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1175 W: 8 N: 4240] (15809)
  • [2011-05-10 10:06]

Hola Rick.
Great photo of this "Tortilla con Chile" bird. Believe or not this is his Mexican name. They have an excellent repertory when singing.
Nice pose, great colors and BG My friend
Well done. Say Hi to Lucy.
Luis

And now mine too.
I always wished to see one of these during my trips to north america.

GReat shot Rick, good focus and brilliant early morning light

TFS
J

GREAT photo Rick!! The subject, the POV and the composition are excellent. The sharpness is impressive. The BG, the colours and the lighting are fantastic.
Regards,
Christodoulos

Hello Rick,
Wonderful capture taken from a good POV with great sharp details, lovely colours and beautiful blurred BG. Well done!
Regards,
Mircea

Wonderful to see the yellow in this Western Meadowlark. It makes for a bright exciting pic. TFS Trevor

Hi Rick,
Wow what a wonderful bird. The image is really sharp and colorful. I have to get my self one of these.

There is a website at http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/western_meadowlark/id.

Here you can listen to the bird songs. Lucy is right it does sound pretty happy. My favorite is a Song Sparrow.

It looks like you nailed this one. Get it :-)
Denis.

Hello Rick

Excellent close-up photo of the Western Meadowlark,
with very fine POV and framing, very beautiful light,
excellent focus sharpness and details, excellent contrast,
beautiful catch--light, beautiful bokeh of the background,

TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • Zeno Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 483 W: 0 N: 1345] (10867)
  • [2011-05-15 5:02]

Hi Rick,

Great shot of a bird that I have never seen. I guess we don't see this bird in europe. I like the pose on the fence. Colors and sharpness are superb.

regards,
Zeno

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