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Galapagos Hawks Mating
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Galapagos Hawks Mating

by Angela McCain

Gallery: AvianPosted June 19, 2010487 views20 comments
Taken at Punta Suarez on the Island of Espanola.

The Galapagos hawk is endemic to the Galapagos, having arrived there about 300,000 years ago. Males are monogamous, but females may mate with up 7 different males during mating season. There are estimated to be approximately 150 pairs. It is though to be most genetically related to Swainson's Hawk in North America.

Our biologist guide, Juan Tapia, has been a park ranger for 21 years and hikes all the islands weekly and told us this is the first time he has seen hawks mating. WE WERE REALLY LUCKY!

Juan works on a consultant basis and if you can ever request him when there, I highly recommend it. He is a fountain of knowledge

There are some technical issues with the photo that I relate to the harsh overhead sun all the time. Still I am happy to have seen and captured this.

D3. 300mm/2.8 F8 1/1000. Handheld.

Comments

20 comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on June 19, 2010 at 11:59 AM
That's a fantastic image Angela and the jagged rock shows the Galapagos environment. Big congrats on this shot. :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on June 19, 2010 at 12:16 PM
Great capture and detail in both birds
Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments
Comment posted by Monica Siri on June 19, 2010 at 12:58 PM
Unique moment you captured here, Angela. Great behavioural shot! :toast:
Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Gulash on June 19, 2010 at 1:15 PM
What a great opportunity and you really made the utmost of it!!! Wonderful dof and good timing to get both birds posed well. Good choice with the vertical presentation. Fabulous!!!
Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments
Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on June 19, 2010 at 1:41 PM
:toast: Love this shot well done :wink:
Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on June 19, 2010 at 1:49 PM
What a great opportunity Angela, and you took good advantage. Very nice shot for sure. Love it.
Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments
Comment posted by antino cervigni on June 19, 2010 at 3:02 PM
Fantastic image. Regards
Registered on April 17, 2010, 70 Posts, 202 Comments
Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on June 19, 2010 at 11:13 PM
excellent comp, good job with the difficult light, and a great moment captured. :toast:
Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments
Comment posted by Satie Sharma on June 20, 2010 at 4:44 AM
Fantastic shot, Angela! :toast:
Registered on November 11, 2003, 189 Posts, 5335 Comments
Comment posted by David Sparks on June 20, 2010 at 10:59 PM
Angela:
Congrats on taking such good advantage of the unusual opportunity. :toast:
Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on June 21, 2010 at 4:03 PM
We can't always have perfect light and settings but this really is an amazing photo and story. Nice and sharp with good detail even in the bright light, well done.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments
Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on June 22, 2010 at 12:08 AM
A very fortunate and well captured photo, Angela! Congratulations! :smile:
Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on June 22, 2010 at 7:54 PM
Wow, just about as good as it gets. Amazing it was with only a 300 - congrats on finding this and the WP

- Luke
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 22, 2010 at 7:58 PM
Excellent catch and lovely, sharp image.
Congrats on the well-deserved EP!

Sandy r
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Stephen on June 22, 2010 at 8:37 PM
Great behavioral image and what a chance sighting...Congrats!
Registered on November 11, 2007, 42 Posts, 803 Comments
Comment posted by Doug Benner on June 22, 2010 at 8:49 PM
Dramatic and beautifully captured. Congratulations.
Registered on December 8, 2003, 482 Posts, 1868 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on June 23, 2010 at 12:06 PM
Congrats Angela :toast: :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Dottie Short on June 23, 2010 at 11:02 PM
I know the light is harsh, but you played it to good advantage. Love the texture on the rock and the bird's feathers. I tend to like a contrasty image so I think this one is tops.
Registered on April 12, 2010, 61 Posts, 375 Comments
Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on June 27, 2010 at 10:00 AM
It has all been said!
Jagdeep Rajput :toast:
Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments
Comment posted by Muhammad Zaid Wani on September 18, 2010 at 11:40 PM
Outstanding!! :toast: :toast:
Registered on August 18, 2005, 23 Posts, 1406 Comments