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Let's Have a Talk


Let's Have a Talk
Photo Information
Copyright: Harry Eggens (Proframe) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 549 W: 183 N: 1069] (4096)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-11-03
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon F5, Nikon 300mm F2.8 AF-I, Fuji Provia 100F, Nikon L37c UV filter
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/320 seconds
Map: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Pentaxfriend's favorites, Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-04-14 14:46
Viewed: 10067
Favorites: 3 [view]
Points: 94
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
First of all many thanks again to all my friends on TN who did take a look at and made there wonderful comments on my previous uploads.
Highly appreciated!!!!

Although I know winter time is over at the largest part of the Northern Hemisphere I ones more like to show you an image of the wonderful Polar Bears I did meet with during my trip to Churchill in the Province of Manitoba in Canada, November 2004.
It's a great sight to look at how these large animals are going along with eachother.

From www.polarbearsinternational.org

-----------------------------------------------------

Where do polar bears live?

Polar bears range throughout the circumpolar north in areas where they can hunt seals at open leads. The five "polar bear nations" in which the bears are found include the U.S. (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Denmark (Greenland), and Norway. Polar bears do not live in the southern hemisphere.

Are polar bears endangered?

Scientists predict that, if current warming trends continue in the Arctic, two-thirds of the world's polar bears could disappear by 2050. At the most recent meeting of the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group (held in Seattle in 2005), the world's leading polar bear scientists reported that of the 19 subpopulations of polar bears, five were declining, five were stable, two were increasing, and seven had insufficient data to make a determination. The group reclassified the polar bear as vulnerable on the IUCN World Conservation Union's "Red List of Threatened Species," noting that the species could become extinct due to sea ice changes. Individual countries with polar bears have reclassified the species as well. Due to concerns about shrinking sea ice habitat, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed that polar bears be added to the Threatened Species list under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The agency will make a decision on this in January 2008. Canada and Russia both list the polar bear as "a species of concern." The major threat to the polar bear is shrinking sea ice habitat due to climate change. Other threats include pollution, poaching, and industrial disturbances. Hunting could become a threat if populations are not well managed.

How many polar bears are there?

Scientists estimate that there are between 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears.

What is the polar bear's scientific name?

Ursus maritimus or the "sea bear." Its closest relative is the brown bear.

How big are polar bears?

Adult male polar bears measure 2.5 to 3 meters (8 to 10 feet) tall. They weigh 250 to 770 kilograms (550 to 1,700 pounds). Adult female bears are smaller. They measure 1.8 to 2.5 meters (6 to 8 feet) tall and weigh 90 to 320 kilograms (200 to 700 pounds). The largest polar bear ever recorded was a male weighing 2,209 pounds.

What adaptations have polar bears made to their environment?

Polar bears are perfectly adapted to survive in the harsh conditions of the Arctic, where winter temperatures can plunge to -45 degrees Celcius (-50 degrees Fahrenheit). Two layers of fur provide the bears with such good insulation that they experience almost no heat loss. In addition, they are protected with a layer of blubber that can measure 11.5 cm (4.5 inches) thick. Compact ears and a small tail also prevent heat loss.

Polar bears are so well protected from the cold that they have more problems with overheating than they do from the cold. Even in very cold weather, they quickly overheat when they try to run.

Other adaptations include small bumps called papillae that keep their feet from slipping on ice; strong, powerful claws that enable them to catch seals; and a nose powerful enough to detect prey that is miles away.

What do polar bears eat?

Seals are the polar bear's primary prey, particularly the ringed seal and, sometimes, the bearded seal. When hunting is good, polar bears will typically eat only the fat and leave the rest of the carcass for scavengers including arctic foxes, ravens, and younger bears.

Polar bears also sometimes kill and eat both walrus and beluga whales. They have been known to hunt short-legged reindeer and sometimes snack on other foods including birds, bird eggs, kelp, and beached whales. On Norway's Svalbard Islands, polar bears were once found feasting on a 350-year-old bowhead whale carcass that was uncovered by a retreating glacier.

What is the polar bear's place in the food chain?

Polar bears top the food chain in the Arctic. They help keep the balance of nature by preventing an overpopulation of seals.

What is a polar bear's life span?

In the wild, polar bears live an average of 15 to 18 years, although biologists have tagged a few bears in their early 30s. In captivity, they may live until their mid- to late 30s. One zoo bear in London lived to be 41.

How many cubs does a female bear have?

There are usually two cubs in a litter. Female polar bears have their first set of cubs between the ages of four and eight (most frequently at age five or six). Polar bears have the one of the slowest reproductive rates of any mammal, with females typically producing five litters in their lifetime. (See more about cubs.)

When and where are the cubs born?

Polar bear cubs are born in snow dens called maternity dens. In the late fall, a female polar bear will dig a den after feeding heavily in April or May. Most choose den sites in snowdrifts along mountain slopes or along hills near the sea ice. Some dig their dens in snow drifts out on the sea ice.

What do the cubs look like?

At birth, the cubs are 30 to 35 centimeters (12 to 14 inches) long and weigh little more than half a kilogram (about a pound). They are blind, toothless, and covered with short, soft fur. They are completely dependent on their mother for warmth and food.

When does the family emerge from the den?

The cubs are born in November or December and remain in the den until March or April. During that time, the mother does not eat, drink, or defecate. The cubs grow rapidly while they are in the den, thanks to the calories in their mother's rich milk, which has a fat content of roughly 31%.

How long do the cubs remain with their mother?

Polar bears cubs normally stay with their mother until they are 2 1/2 years old, although some bears in the Hudson Bay area wean their young at age 1 1/2. During the time that the cubs are with their mother, they must learn how to hunt and survive in one of the Earth's harshest environments.

Do polar bears hibernate?

Polar bears do not hibernate in the true sense of the word. True hibernators experience a marked drop in heart rate and a body temperature that plunges to nearly 0 degrees Celcius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). Polar bears do not enter a state of deep hibernation; instead they undergo "walking hibernation." Only pregnant female bears enter a den. They do so in the fall and give birth to their cubs in November or December. The bear family will remain in the den until March or April.

Are there different populations of polar bears?

Scientists recognize nineteen distinct populations of polar bears, but no subspecies.

Does the polar bear have any enemies?

Only humans and, on rare occasions, other polar bears. Climate change is the biggest threat that the bears face.

What is the polar bear's scientific classification?

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Genus: Ursus
Species: Ursus maritimus

Hope you like this image like I do.
Thanks in advance for viewing and your comments.

Warm regards from the Netherlands,

Harry
vanderschelden, Amadeo, marhowie, rousettus, angela926, rcrick, Luis52, Dis. Ac., Jamesp, gracious, tasos, SueThomson, goldyrs, CeltickRanger, pekkavalo1, maurydv, Pentaxfriend, kmr13777, gannu, Argus, spalaxtr, SelenE, loot, hester, Silvio2006, anel, earthtraveler, jusninasirun, Adanac, Alex99 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

great shot, you captured them with good timing and good POV

  • Great 
  • Amadeo Gold Star Critiquer [C: 168 W: 0 N: 755] (3323)
  • [2008-04-14 15:02]

Hola Harry, excelente toma, con muy buena exposición, los blancos perfectos y la luz en su punto. Un saludo y gracias por compartir la fotografia y la información.

Hello Harry,
Brrr..."warm" regards from the Netherlands:-).
Churchill is called Polar Bear City. Did you visit the Polar Bear prison?:-)
They top the food chain in the Arctic; I see they were too busy chatting here:-)
Fantastic experience. If you travel again, I volunteer.
Well done. TFS.
Annick

Hello Harry,
second note record, I think, belongs to you:) after my longest. good information. but your capture of Ursus maritimus or Thalarctos maritimus also perfect. Excellent composition. White balance, focus, POV wonderful. Thanks for sharing, best wishes
Ahmet

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1457 W: 0 N: 1176] (6526)
  • [2008-04-14 16:51]

Hi Harry,
Wonderful image! Perfect timing, excellent composition and great low POV. Superb shot!
Chi

Hello Harry,
Great capture, superb sharpness, excellent composition, fantastic tining and very nice point of view.
Angela

Hi Harry,

Just wonderful what a capture, right place at the right time, excellent detail and exposure, well composed and framed, stunning work mate, all the best,

Cheers Rick :)

great capture!excellent sharpness and detail.very nice composition.

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1175 W: 8 N: 4240] (15809)
  • [2008-04-14 18:12]

Hola Harry.
Here another great image(as usual) Very nice photo My friend. It should be a great moment to see this white big Polar bears in a real life and in their natural place.
Your Note is also interesting document.
Saludos My friend.
Luis52.

Hi Harry,

Wat een supergave foto laat je hier zien om je vingers bij af te likken.
Veel details in de beren en goede dof en pov maar ook een goede BG.

groet Gert

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1369 W: 9 N: 6334] (18906)
  • [2008-04-14 22:44]

Hi Harry

Superb shot - great detail in the fur - and I love the dusting of snow. Great pose too.

James

Hello Harry,
Beautiful image well captured and composed!
very good white-balanced here with sharp details on the two cute fellow!
a good job well done
best regards
tony

Wow, amazing shot.
Timing is perfect.
You captured everything sharp and detailed.
The low POV is very good.
TFS Tatjana

Beautiful capture!

  • Great 
  • tasos Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 11 W: 0 N: 14] (167)
  • [2008-04-15 1:46]

Amazing shot!
Very good timing and exposure
Thank you
Tasos

  • Great 
  • jesst Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 368 W: 0 N: 172] (2441)
  • [2008-04-15 2:45]

Really great shot!
Fantastic scene and good detail and sharp. TFS

Hi Harry
This is a great photo...well captured and aptly named.
Cheers
Sue

Hi Harry

It was a great sereies and this is another great shot. White on white...great exposure and really good details. Well composed of course.
Good scan conversion from print too.

Well done
Chris

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1739 W: 224 N: 6872] (24909)
  • [2008-04-15 5:17]

A really fantastic shot Harry!!!!
The pose you have captured is exceptional!
Very, very sharp with immense detail.
Perfect exposure too.
Great low-down POV.
Incredible work my friend!
TFS!!!!!!!

Joe

Harry,
A true blue collectors shot, if there is such a thing!
It's gone right into my favourites!
Cheers!
Goldy

hello Harry

superb image of these great and wonderful wild animals,
fine POV, fine DOF alos with the little details
of the background snow, the bears are very well placed
in the frame, excellent sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

The interaction is priceless, one of a kind Harry.
I'd be proud :)
Very well done mf.
Howard

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-04-15 10:33]

Hello Harry

The composition is wonderful.
Excellent POV the pose is terrific.
Well focused with sharp details.
The shot is well exposed great use of lighting.
TFS

Rob

Thank you Harry...
Laurent

Hi Harry,

Extremely difficult target when everything is just shades of white. You have captured a flash of their life very well. Good pose, lighting, contrast, sharpness and visibility of details. Great work!

TFS

Pekka

Spettacolare immagine, meraviglioso momento di cattura, eccellente composizione, tecnicamente di altissimo livello. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Ha Harry,

Fantastisch shot
PERFECT belicht
Uitstekende scherpte
Schitterende POV

TFS Thijs

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 988 W: 4 N: 3277] (14761)
  • [2008-04-15 21:16]

Hello Harry,
How you manage to shoot such a lovely moment. This is an live and superb moment to capture and also enjoy to see behind the lenses. Excellent frame and well done friend Ganesh

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2008-04-15 22:19]

Hello Harry,
Great one from your archives!
The light management, pose of these two Polar Bears, POV and technical quality are all excellent.
A superb capture that will become all the more precious as these wonderful beasts fight to survive even more in the climate changes of the future.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful glimpse of what must have been a marvellous experience.
Best regards, Ivan

Hi Harry,
Very hard condition for photography, every thing white. However you manage to capture this great frame. Very well. TFS.
Mustafa

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2249 W: 65 N: 4205] (13972)
  • [2008-04-16 0:37]

Hi Harry,
Your timing and the pose you captured are very nice. Exposure control is very good, details are clearly visible with the white background.TFS
Greetings,
Selen

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5524 W: 722 N: 4163] (11276)
  • [2008-04-16 9:14]
  • [4]

Hi Harry

First, let me congratulate you on the notes. Good reading, but such heart wrenching stuff. We are killing this wonderful world we live in and sadly I am one of those pessimists who believe that "mans" track record of greed and abuse proves that we won't be able to turn this around. We are too late and the message keeps on falling on deaf ears.

Obviously one doesn't want to read too much human emotions into this, but I cannot help to think about these bears living in that cold and relentless environment (seemingly) showing such warmth towards one another. The brotherly embrace and the rubbing of noses. Yes, I realise there are probably much more to bear live then meets the eye on this photo, but it just looks so peaceful. Excellent contrasts in bringing out the details on all that white stuff all around and especially on the animals.

Well done and TFS.
Regards
Loot

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1515 W: 18 N: 3165] (11638)
  • [2008-04-16 10:21]

Hi Harry

A trip to Churchill would be on my all time wishlists of destinations..if I ever go it will have to be by myself as I can't persuade anyone else to go with me! I don't know why as I can't imagine a more impressive sight than this. Amazing exposure, framing, sharpness and subject. All stunning

TFS

Karan

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 485 W: 0 N: 772] (3395)
  • [2008-04-16 11:23]

Hi Harry
great image
Perfect timing, excellent composition

Hi Harry, lovely composition with splendid white bears in nice pose, wonderful sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2008-04-17 8:01]

Hello Harry,
Amazing to see these giant bears to be so tender with eachother. You really have been lucky to see them in their natural environment. Most interesting note too.
Thanks and best regards
Anne

This is a really wonderful image Harry. Great moment you captured of these two. The paw and mouth contact is charming.
Woderfully sharp and fine exposure to show the fur and facial details very well. Great POV, poses, and comp. Fine work!
Tfs Richard

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2008-04-17 16:14]

I haven't words,the pic is so beautifull that talk alone,my best compliments for the note too,thanks for share,Luciano

Hello Harry. Beautiful shot at this polar bears in a misty composition and yet capturing the detail well and very timely. I like the whole image like they are above in the cloud. Well done and best regards. Jusni

Classic action shot Harry.Not positive, but think I marveled at this one on your website. It is hard to say anything else but "Fantastic" for this one.
TFS

Hello Harry,
Great one from your archives :) It is really cool to see this wild guys dancing tango :)
Hi quality as usually.
TFS
Ralf

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2008-04-18 3:19]

Awesome shot Harry - what a great capture of the 2 polar bears interacting like this.
Well done
Janice

Hi harry this is just awesome polarbears are my favorite animals with leopards and you have a such great shot of them while they are fighting
amazing
you will see at my favorites
very well done
Toba

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 1 N: 6188] (21378)
  • [2008-04-18 18:28]

Hello Harry,
I love bears and so this is a real treat for me. Your excellent camera work gives us fantastic fur details in this wondedrful composition. Thanks Harry for sharing.
Rick

Hi Harry,

You have a great wild life gallery; really, I don’t know where to give eyes :) This is an amazing moment and I never had the chance to see such a scene in the wild; you are lucky! This is an excellent capture of those superb creatures. Every time, I see a Polar Bear picture, my hearth cries for a moment as I know that they are now, endangered … TFS,

Claudine

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2008-04-20 0:43]

Hi Harry.
Superb composition created by fine animals. Exposure and details are fantastic considering the colouration of the bears and scenery. Timing is spot on too. My congratulations and TFS.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • izler Gold Star Critiquer [C: 1387 W: 3 N: 9] (44)
  • [2008-04-25 11:21]

hello Harry
well captured and composed of these cute polar bears
i like dynamic composition, POV and sharpness
TFS
regards
izler

Hello Harry,
Snow White!!Great shot with an excellent pose from the bears and perfect exposure. Very fine details captured.

TFS
Kirti

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