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Great White Pelicans for Ulla


Great White Pelicans for Ulla
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1369 W: 9 N: 6334] (18906)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2003-01
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1vHS, Canon EF 300mm f2.8 USM IS, Fuji Provia 100
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Dedications at treknature: Part Five, TN Favourites [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-07-21 8:06
Viewed: 7137
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I am dedicating this posting - long overdue - to Ulla in recognition of all her great work. I quite like this shot because of the contrast between the white of the pelicans and the black volcanic sand on the shore. Everone associates Lake Nakuru with flamingoes, but there are also massive flocks of pelicans.

The White Pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus also known as the Eastern White Pelican or Great White Pelican is a bird in the pelican family. It breeds from southeastern Europe through Asia and in Africa in swamps and shallow lakes. The tree nest is a crude heap of vegetation.

This is a large pelican, at a mass of 10 kg (22 lbs), 160 cm (63 in) long and with a 280 cm (110 inch) wingspan. It differs from the Dalmatian Pelican, the only larger species of pelican, by its pure white, rather than greyish-white, plumage, a bare pink facial patch around the eye and pinkish legs. Males are larger than females, and have a long beak that grows in a downwards arc, as opposed to the shorter, straighter beak of the female. Immature birds are grey and have dark flight feathers.

More than 50% of White Pelicans breed in the Danube Delta. This pelican migrates short distances, wintering in northeast Africa. In flight, it is an elegant soaring bird, with the head held close to and aligned with the body by a downward bend in the neck.

Pelicans catch fish in their huge bill pouches, most, like this species, while swimming at the surface.

Like the Dalmatian Pelican, this species has declined greatly through habitat loss and persecution.

The White Pelican is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

There is a group of about five semi-wild pelicans living on Pelican Island, St. James's Park, London. Their ancestors were donated to the United Kingdom by foreign ambassadors.

Lake Nakuru is one of the Rift Valley soda lakes. It lies to the south of Nakuru, in central Kenya and is protected by a small Lake Nakuru National Park.

The lake's abundance of algae attracts the vast quantity of flamingos that famously lines the shore.

Other birds also flourish in the area, as do warthogs, baboons and other large mammals. Black and White rhinos have also been introduced.

The lake's level dropped dramatically in the early 1990s but has since largely recovered.

Nakuru means "Dust or Dusty Place" in Maasai language. Lake Nakuru National Park, close to Nakuru town, was established in 1961. It started off small, only encompassing the famous lake and the surrounding mountainous vicinity. Now it has been extended to include a large part of the savannahs.

This is a scanned slide.
PaulH, jaycee, zulfu, Necipp, boreocypriensis, Dis. Ac., Evelynn, goldyrs, ramthakur, xTauruSx, eqshannon, Argus, uleko, Janice, cicindela has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2008-07-21 9:15]

Hi James,

Lovely shot of all of these Pelicans - I assume this was only a part of the group. Something must have captured their interest since they are facing the other way giving us a view we rarely see. The ones in profile have good facial details. I agree - the contrast is wonderful. A nice dedication to Ulla who always posts interesting and top notch photos.

Jane

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer [C: 685 W: 0 N: 2] (43)
  • [2008-07-21 10:42]

Hello James, wonderful shot and nice dedication to Ulla. TFS. Regards, Mehmet

A fine dedication James, good contrast with the dark ground and light bird, nice light angle making the shadows horizontal. Rgds Necip.

Hi James, crazy looking birds, wonderful colours to the bills..I like the shadows and dark markings on the wings. regards h

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2008-07-21 13:04]

Hi James A nice dedication to are friend Ulla. i am sure she will love it. They have all turned there backs on you James what did you say to them. As you say the black of the sand helps to make them stand out so well. I always fine the bills so strange. with interesting notes.
TFS.
Nick..

Hello James,
What a beautiful and worthy dedication to our esteemed friend Ulla my friend! Great shot of these Great White Pelicans like your dedication. TFS.
Cheers,

bayram

Hi James,

Nicely shot of these Pelicans.
Gooddedication to Ulla.
Great contrast between the birds and the sand.

Gert

Hi James
Excellent picture and nice dedication for Ulla
Kind regards,
Leyla

The contrast is really nice James. Pelicans are one of my favorite birds. They always make me smile. It is interesting that the one large on on the left seems to tower over the rest.

TFS
Evelynn : )

As you rightly pointed out in your note, the beauty of this five years old image lies in the fantastic contrasts it presents between the white birds and the dark sand they stand on.
Seen from behind, the Pelicans look elegant and beautiful.
Ulla would be pleased with the dedication of this fine picture to her.
Regards.
Ram

Hi James,
A great shot of these beauties in all aspects. Nice dedication too. thanks for sharing.
Greetings,
Deniz

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1137 W: 26 N: 3879] (13882)
  • [2008-07-22 6:24]

Hi James, yeas you're right, the contrast between the black sand and the Pelicans is very striking. Good exposure too in this high contrast shot, with also a good DOF too.
tfs,
Paul

Very good use of contrast here for gathering the eye right into the photo...and then the awkward gaze to many directions by the birds almost draws one away again. It would almost be fun to hook up one of those eye movement meters to an image like this. Sometimes folks do not even realize there are patterns in which we look at things...quite the study of eye and image..very nice James.
Bob

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2008-07-22 8:28]

Hello James,
A fine capture of a group of Great White Pelicans in an excellent scanned slide. They contrast well with the dark gravel BG.
When I saw this and told Ulla she was delighted!
TFS, Ivan

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2008-07-22 8:49]

Dear James,
I'm so sorry to have missed this kind dedication! But just to show my appreciation I'm taking a break in cooking and want to say how very pleased I am to have this lovely capture from you! Your posts on TN are always a great joy to look at and this fine capture of Pelicans makes me really happy! Lovely and sunny and tecnically excellent.
Many thanks and all the best wishes, Ulla
PS On a day like today (!) it cheers me up no end!.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2008-07-22 14:05]

Hi James. you have a great photo of these Pelicans together. I do like the lighting here, shining on the birds making some of them have quite a golden tone. And the black ground helps too.
THank you
Janice

HOW BEAUTIFUL!This is such a lovely shot, James!
I cant even find a flaw!
Goldy

Hello James!
Pelicans! These are wonderful birds! And very big! :) I saw another species twice, in Romania (Danube Delta) and in Macedonia (Prespa Lake). And I hope to see them again very soon in Greece :)
Beautiful capture and very nice dedication to Ulla :)
TFS and best regards!
Radomir

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