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My first flying Killdeer


My first flying Killdeer
Photo Information
Copyright: Michel Pilon (pilonm) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 588 W: 90 N: 975] (3321)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-05-29
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 40D, Canon 300mm F4L IS USM + 1.4x ext
Exposure: f/8, 1/1600 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite bird in-flight photos 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2010-01-21 4:43
Viewed: 5076
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello my friends,

It's been a long time I was trying to get a Killdeer flying. With my bridge Panasonic FZ-20, I tried alot without a satisfying success. I finally reached my goal with my Canon 40D at Frisco (near Dallas), Texas, last May 2009 :-)

What do you think of it?

Thank you again for commenting my picture. It is really appreciated :-)

Michel

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Killdeer get their name from the shrill, wailing kill-deer call they give so often. Eighteenth-century naturalists also noticed how noisy Killdeer are, giving them names such as the Chattering Plover and the Noisy Plover.

Gravel rooftops attract Killdeer for nesting, but can be dangerous places to raise a brood. Chicks may be unable to leave a roof because of high parapets and screened drain openings. Adults eventually lure chicks off the roof, which can be dangerous – although one set of chicks survived a leap from a seven-story building.

The Killdeer’s broken-wing act leads predators away from a nest, but doesn’t keep cows or horses from stepping on eggs. To guard against large hoofed animals, the Killdeer uses a quite different display, fluffing itself up, displaying its tail over its head, and running at the beast to attempt to make it change its path.

A well-known denizen of dry habitats, the Killdeer is actually a proficient swimmer. Adults swim well in swift-flowing water, and chicks can swim across small streams.

The male and female of a mated pair pick out a nesting site through a ritual known as a scrape ceremony. The male lowers his breast to the ground and scrapes a shallow depression with his feet. The female then approaches, head lowered, and takes his place. The male then stands with body tilted slightly forward, tail raised and spread, calling rapidly. Mating often follows.

Killdeer lay their eggs into an empty nest but add other materials later on. Some of these items they pick up as they are leaving and toss over their shoulder into the nest. In one nest in Oklahoma, people found more than 1,500 pebbles had accumulated this way.

The oldest known Killdeer was 10 years 11 months old.
loot, CeltickRanger, zulfu, JoseMiguel, boreocypriensis, scottevers7, anemone, Miss_Piggy, tuslaw, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

very nice capture, TFS Ori

Very good capture of this bird in flight.
Nice image.Well done.
Best regards.Alin.

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5524 W: 722 N: 4163] (11276)
  • [2010-01-21 5:16]
  • [2]

Hi Michel

There is nothing as sweet as success and especially if one tried so hard for so long.
This shot was sure worth the while. You didn't just capture a good shot, you really
nailed it. Perfect and super sharp details, wonderful pleasing colours, a beautiful BG
kindly provided by the clear blue sky, and a great composition with the bird pointing
in the upward direction, wings well in motion occupying the lower region in the frame,
and ample space in front of the bird to fly into. Great stuff. I really like every bit of it.

Well done MF and TFS.
Regards
Loot

Hi Michel.
Well that has to be worth waiting for good colours and details plus the eye contact.
Cheers Dave

bonjour Michel

une excellente photo envol du Pluvier kildir,
avec un excellent POV et cadrage, superbe focus
netteté et détails, une très belle luminosité, le catch-light
à l'oeil qui rend la photo encore plus belle, la position des ailes
et de la queue donnent l'impression de la vitesse de l'envol,

au printemps 2009 j'avais fait une photo envol du Killdeer
avec mon bridge Fujifilm FinePix S6000fd, je rêve d'en
faire un, un jour avec un DSLR comme dans ta photo, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 967 W: 26 N: 3888] (16941)
  • [2010-01-21 7:45]

Hello Michel
Excellent capture taken with perfect focus and great details
Well done
Regards
Razvan

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer [C: 685 W: 0 N: 2] (43)
  • [2010-01-21 12:27]

Hello Michel, impressive dynamic shot of this lovely Killdeer in-flight with excellent details.
TFS and R's,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2010-01-21 12:37]

Hello Michel,
A fantastic photo of this Kildeer in flight. Sharpness and details are amazing. Splendid clear colours. The blue sky in the BG is very beautiful. Very good composition, POV and eye contact. A beauty!
Regards,
Peter

Salut Michel,
Bravo pour cet exploit! Vraiment pas facile de photographier les oiseaux en vol avec une belle netteté comme ici. On dirait même qu'il t'a vu! Amicalement,
Catherine

Hi Michel,
What do I think of it?
Well, that the pose got is very artistic, I found this particular moment of flight so aesthetic.
Besides that, focus spot on, and all those rich and sharp details all over the moving subject.
Just look at that stare!
Great pic and thanks for share it,
JM

Hi MF Michel,

What a honour that we can see you come back:) after a long interval:D
As always you did, an another masterpiece job of this beautiful killdeer in-flight from great POV!
Impressive and impeccable shot with excellent notes MF!
TFS and have a nice night!
Cheers,

Bayram

Hi Michel,

Nice work here. Well composed and framed. A spot on exposure has colors and detail looking perfect.This looks great.

Scott

Hi Michel. Very beautiful photo of a beutiful bird in-flight.
Colours, details and composition are excellent.
TFS
Best regards
Özgür

Hallo Michel
I personally think the way this Killdeer has folded it paws against its body is what makes this image special to me, followed by the big eye with its red circle, not forgetting to mention the catch light that is well seen, we then add the beautiful and well detailed wingspan, an extra round of applause for the freeze framed motion of the bird in the sky and we end of with the clear blue sky as background. I can only add to say: "Marvellous photography" Thanks for sharing. Kind regards.
Anna

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 282 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2010-01-22 20:33]

Hello Michel,
A gorgeous in-flight photo filled with fine detail and beautiful colors. You even managed to capture some catch light in it's eye, which is always a bonus. A super shot and very nicely shown with just the right amount of exposure. Well done!!
Ron

Hello Michel,
Definitely a great photo in flight, with great composition and perfect exposure, for a frozen bird in motion accompanied by a blue in the sky which is a work of art.

Doing this with a compact or bridge is almost impossible! I know only Asbed (CeltickRanger) he able to make good "in flight's" with almost any camera! :-)

TFS and Happy Sunday for you!

Jesús

Bonjour Michel,

Cet oiseau en vol est impressionnant. La prise de vue permet de voir avec précision les détails et les couleurs du Pluvier Killdir. Le sujet est bien cadré. Le beau ciel bleu envoie une lumière qui embellie les couleurs. Bonne journée.

Pierre

Hello Michel,
overwhelming in-flight capture, stunningly precise details, perfectly frozen in motion.
Capturing birds in high precision certainly will be beyond a bridge camera's limits.
With a Canon 40D in your hands you seem to have found the perfect tool.
My congratulations! With best regards,
Peter

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