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Flightless Cormorant


Flightless Cormorant
Photo Information
Copyright: Selen Ediger (SelenE) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2249 W: 65 N: 4205] (13972)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-27
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM, Hoya UV 77mm
Exposure: f/8, 1/80 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Endangered, Animal Portraits II, Birds of South America, Birds of Ecuador [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-05-05 7:13
Viewed: 4353
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
As far as I can see this will be the first flightless cormorant photo in Trek Nature- the endemic flightless cormorant resting on the nest on Fernandina Island. Please check the workshop version for a detail of the wing.

Flightless Cormorant
Nannopterum harrisi
Endemic (found only in Galapagos)
Red List Status: Endangered

The Flightless Cormorant is a cormorant native to the Galapagos Islands, and an example of the highly unusual fauna there. It is unique in that it is the only cormorant that has lost the ability to fly.
With only 1500 estimated individuals, it is one of the world's rarest birds and is the subject of an active conservation programme. (wikipedia)

*The only cormorant found in the islands , the flightless cormorant is a(95cm) dark brown-to-black bird. Aptyl named owing to its complete inability to fly. Its wings are no more than vestigial appendages which appear to serve no useful purpose. Unmistakable when seen hanging its stubby wings out to dry after coming ashore. When in the water, the body is almost entirely submerged with just the snake-like head and neck visible. Adults are black above and dark brown below, but look completely black when wet. Juveniles are completely black. They have large, black-webbed feet with very short sturdy black legs. The eyes are brilliant turquoise and the bill is long and strong , with a pronounced hook at the tip. The males are noticeably larger than the females.

The flightless cormorant feeds on small fish, eels and octopus which it catches within 100m of the shore. İt dives from the surface with a jack-knife movement and uses only its large and powerful webbed feet to pursue its prey.

Flightless cormorants have an elaborate courtship ritual which normally starts in the water with an aquatic dance. The necks are held in a snake-like pose known as ‘snake encking’ and the birds swim back and forth past each other. The dance is continued on land and a large bulky nest is made of seaweed , which is largely brought by the male and presented to the female as part of the courtship ritual. The nest is added to by the male, which brings more seaweed when he takes over the incubation. Most eggs are laid between may and october.

Incubation takes about 35 days and initially both parents feed the young. If however the food supply is good, the female may leave and mate with another male, while the frist male continues to look after and feed the young, for up to 9 months.

Best viewed: Fernandina- Punta Espinosa; Isabela- Urvina Bay, Punta Moreno to Punta Gracia.

Source: Wildlife of the Galapagos
Julian Fitter,Daniel Fitter,David Hosking
Princeton Pocketguides, ISBN 0-691-10295-3

Manual Exposure
Exposure Time: 1/80
F-Stop: f/8.0
ISO Speed Ratings: 400
Focal Length: 400/1 mm
Date Taken: 2007-04-27
Metering Mode: Partial
Monopod
elefantino, mikou, egeerhan, nglen, rousettus, delic, ecem35 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Selen,
Good compo.
I like the little green eye which is depicted in a subtle way here.
TFS
Annick

Nice portrait, the colors are natural and the eye is amazing!
Good notes, too.
Andrea

  • Great 
  • mikou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 869 W: 68 N: 1479] (6093)
  • [2007-05-05 8:31]

Hi Selen.
Beautiful portrait of this cormorant.I like composition and very interesting light.Good colors and details.Little green eye is really amazing.Well done,TFS.
Best greetings Milos.

Derinlik,kadraj ve dogal renkler güzel olmuş.ellerine sağlık selen.

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2007-05-05 17:41]

Hi Selen. What a good shot of the Cormorant.good detail in the feathers and head. with a good compostion..TFS well done.
Nick

çok güzel bir portre olmuş. derinlik ve netlik de çok güzel. elinize sağlık.
ışığınız bol olsun.
Ahmet

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 440 W: 6 N: 310] (898)
  • [2007-05-07 2:16]

Hello Selen,
Remarkable species. Well-reported including the detail in the workshop. This being Galapagos, I can't help wonder what evolutionary path this cormorant took to end up so unwinged. Thanks for sharing this. Best,
Hakan

Güzel bir fotoğraf,açıklamalar harika tebrikler selen

Hi Selen,
A wonderful document of the famous flightless cormorant. The Galapagos Islands are truly unique!

TFS

Verite

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