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Great Bowerbird


Great Bowerbird
Photo Information
Copyright: Chris Chafer (sandpiper2) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1906 W: 107 N: 4875] (16757)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-11-05
Categories: Birds
Camera: Fujifilm Finepix S5000, Fujinon 10X zoom
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Birds of Australia [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-11-20 20:12
Viewed: 6461
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Great Bowerbird (Chlamydera nuchalis) is the largest of the Australian bowerbirds (34-38cm). It lives in the open tropical woodlands of northern Australia. Bowerbirds are a unique group of 19 species from the Austro-Papuan bird region, 10 species being found in Australia. In this shot we see a young male in his bower, an avenue-like display structure which is built on the ground from thousands of sticks and decorated with ‘objects’; shells, stones, flowers etc. The bower is used by the male to attract females and the fussy females will only choose males with the biggest and best decorated bowers.

In the workshop version I have posted one of the biggest bowers of this species I have seen, the bower is over a metre long and decorated with hundreds of shells, stones, seed pods, bones etc.

This particular bird was found at Wangi Falls a beautiful part of Litchfield National Park. The bower (60cm long, 50cm high) was being built in the middle of the car park and has very few decorations, a few stones and plastic. It will take a male bowerbird 5-6 years of practice and copying rival male bowers before he is able to attract a female and retain her interest in him. Rival dominant males in the area may destroy the bower if they think he’s getting to good at construction.
Once the male has the attention of a female he must then retain her interest with a complex display of dancing through and around the bower, picking up and presenting objects (presents), wing-shuffling, singing, enticing the female into the bower and then, importantly, knowing when the moment is right for copulation.
The males are polygamous, mating with as many females as they can attract to the bower and take no part in nest-building or raising the young. Nevertheless, once a female finds a male with a big bower and good display, she will remain faithful to him for many years. Most bowerbirds live for 20-30 years and males take 7-8 years to reach maturity.
Shot was cropped, 60% USM applied and brightness increased slightly.
marhowie, gerhardt, willie, LordPotty, PDP has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To gerhardt: Its not a nestsandpiper2 3 11-22 00:49
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Critiques [Translate]

Chris, Great capture, interesting structure this Bowerbird makes. I like the composition displaying the bird very well along with it's unique "bower". A sharp photo with good detail and the bird poses well I think. Excellent supporting note...A great post!

Amazing! What a nice capture Chris. This is a superb post showing the bird, it's nest and the egg very well. Ace write up as well. Wonderfull contribution to the site.

Very great shot,the nest of the bird is indeed original, I never have anything seen of equal

  • Great 
  • willie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1023 W: 61 N: 648] (2083)
  • [2004-11-21 4:48]
  • [2]

Very informative post. Nice compo and good notes. Good job

Nice shot, good note, very nice composition.
Well done

Cracker mate!Good compo,dinkum colours,pretty good all round.No worries.

Great Shot Chris.
Perfect timing, Very good details , composition and pose.
Great note.
Great work.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2004-11-21 9:22]

Chris, This is a great shot. I have only seen these birds in BBC wildlife documentaries. I like this image for the sharpnes, detail and the great note.

Thanks for posting

great pic and note !

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2004-11-21 17:41]

Very nice capture Chris. I love the composition here and the note is superb. Thanks for posting.

Good record shot of the bird with its incredible nest. Excellent and interesting note.

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