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Ostrich


Ostrich
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3749 W: 483 N: 8155] (28054)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-02-19
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 10D, Sigma 80-400 OS, Hoya UV 77mm
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Great Portraits [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-02-19 4:19
Viewed: 4043
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Ostrich

Class: Aves
Order: Struthioniformes
Family: Struthionidae
Genus species: Struthio (ostrich) camelus (camel-like)
Size: approximate height 2.75 m (9 ft.)
Weight: up to 156.5 kg (345 lb.)

Description: largest living bird, males are jet black with white plumage and bright red or blue skin: females are fairly uniform in color, with earthy gray-brown plumage and skin color.
Life span: around 40 years in managed situations, unknown in the wild
Sexual maturity: 3 to 4 years
Incubation: around 40 days
Habitat: common in the wild in East Africa: in open country, desert areas, and dry savannah.
Diet: bulk of food is vegetation, fruit, seeds, leaves, shoots, shrubs, succulent plants; also invertebrates, occasionally lizards, and other small vertebrates. Stones are ingested to aid in digestion.

Fun Facts
One ostrich egg equals up to 24 chicken eggs. And it takes approximately 2 hours to boil!

Ostriches can run up to 70 km/hr (40 mph) and can outpace most pursuers, such as lions, leopards, and hyenas.

It is the largest and heaviest living bird. It is unable to fly and does not possess a keeled sternum (breastbone) common to most birds.

Ostriches stretch out their neck and lay their head on the ground to keep from being seen, hence the myth that ostriches hide in the sand.

Ostriches are so powerful that a single kick at a predator, such as a lion, could be fatal.

A female ostrich shows a remarkable ability to recognize her own eggs even when mixed in with those of other females in their communal nest.

Ecology and Conservation

Humans have had a close relationship with ostrich for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians farmed ostrich and present day farming, which began in 1833, is run much the same way. Ostrich feathers have been used for adornment by humans for at least 5000 years and the eggs are still used by Bushmen as jewelry and receptacles for carrying water. Extensive hunting for feathers, meat, and skin coupled with overgrazing by domestic animals on their habitat has lead to the near extinction of the ostrich from the Middle East and North and South Africa. Although they are not globally threatened, the four subspecies of ostrich require strict protection and farming has helped to conserve the wild populations.

The above information obtained from http://www.seaworld.org/AnimalBytes/ostrichab.html


Image Information

Camera: Canon 10D
Time of day: 11:33 a.m.
Date: 19th February 2005
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Sigma 80-400mm OS
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/125
F-Stop: F/6.7
Flash: No
Tripod: No
Focal Length: 400mm
ISO: 100
dew77, gerhardt, hummingbird24, sAner, red45, pompey, PDP, deud, valy67 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4432 W: 248 N: 4028] (13270)
  • [2005-02-19 4:31]

Very good shot,Pam!details can be seen perfect...
TFS

Good clear detailed portrait against a good neutral background. Good image Pam

What a nice portrait. Nice and sharp, well composed and OOF BG. Try the saturation +10 - +20. Excellent note. Well done, Pam.

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1538 W: 5 N: 2240] (12636)
  • [2005-02-19 5:02]

Bon portrait avec de beau détails et une belle mise au point. Merci pour l'envoi et bonne journée.

This one has me wondering... what on earth is going on inside this brain, what thoughts? Those eyes are incredibly aged, yet wise and wary looking. Captured very well! The background is perfect as it presents no distraction from this subject. Beautiful posting. Thank you for sharing.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1455 W: 74 N: 1426] (4750)
  • [2005-02-19 8:15]

Good portrait! Good sharp details and nicely composed. Informative note aswell. TFS.

Very nice portrait, a bit more contrast would give more details.
Well done.
TFS.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9100] (31094)
  • [2005-02-19 14:39]

Great close-up Pam! Excellent quality especialy on beak, eye and feathers.

  • Great 
  • pompey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 144 W: 4 N: 746] (2774)
  • [2005-02-19 14:46]

Nice sharp image Pam, great background colour, lovely pose.
Good note also.
TFS.

Wonderful post Pam!
It's perfect as always and very, very nice.
I really love it.

Joanna

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-02-19 17:41]

Very nice portrait Pam. Lovely subdued colours and plenty of detail. Well done.

Pam, Very nice portrait with great sharpness & detail! Great nuetral BG also. Excellent note - Well done!

Very nice portrait Pam.
It's a very good picture with nise pose and details but IMO it's need a little more contrast. Check the histogram under levels.
Very well done.

Great portrait, Pam ! Very sharp, with beautiful details and nice colors. Good BG and good composition, too. Well done !
Valerie.

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