Hitchhiker and Thief

Gallery: AvianPosted September 22, 2010194 views17 comments

North Santa Cruise Island. The Galapagos.

This was very interesting. The brown pelicans would dive and as soon as they emerged from the water the brown sooty terns would land on their heads and try to get the catch. This was repeated each time the bird dove. I never saw the tern successfully get the fish, but they must sometimes-or the behavior would be extinguished.

D3 ISO 1250. 70-200/2.8 @160mm. f10 1/1250. Hand held in a dinghy in a bay. Early morning sun on the day we left. :(

There is something that has never been quite right on this photo. I looks rotated, but the reflection is right. Maybe its that the tern is very flat in it's coloration. If someone can finger a problem I'd appreciate it.

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on September 23, 2010 at 12:24 AM

That's a neat capture Angela, it looks good to me. I've witnessed and photographed this with Heermann's Gulls and Brown Pelicans in Mexico and the gulls were often successful in grabbing dinner right out of the mouth of the pelican.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on September 23, 2010 at 12:26 AM

Sure looks fine to me!
I saw this behavior too when in the Galapagos - very interesting!
The tern doesn't look too flat from here - the large image has enough feather detail to avoid looking "flat".
The tern looks straight too - even though the pelican, with it's angled pose, looks a bit tilted.
A very nice image!

Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on September 23, 2010 at 12:38 AM

I saw the same behavior with common noddies and brown pelicans in the Galapagos (even posted a pic here, IIRC). Nice light and I agree with Sandy that the tern doesn't look too flat to me.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on September 23, 2010 at 1:28 AM

Nice capture, and very nice management of that harsh light the Galapagos gives you all but about an hour a day; I especially like the light on the underside of the Brown Noddie.

I've also seen Heerman's Gulls and Brown Pelicans in this behavior off of La Jolla, CA.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Giorgio Gregori on September 23, 2010 at 4:42 AM

Beyond the comic side of thing, you captured a truly unique moment of wildlife.
Giorgio

Registered on November 16, 2007, 87 Posts, 793 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on September 23, 2010 at 5:02 AM

Most interesting behaviour well captured Sandy.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on September 23, 2010 at 10:47 AM

Cool capture Angela.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Ronnie Gaubert on September 23, 2010 at 12:01 PM

Hi Angela,
Great behavioral image. Amazing how the tern has adopted this method for catching or stealing the catch. Maybe this method allows them access a species of fish that they normally don't have the ability to catch on their own.

Ronnie

Registered on November 1, 2003, 810 Posts, 3495 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on September 23, 2010 at 12:01 PM

Excellent angle, timing and exposure to capture this behavior. I looked too hard trying to find a problem with this, so just when I thought I could detect a slight CCW tilt, now all the text on this page seem to have the same tilt!

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on September 23, 2010 at 2:36 PM

Nice capture of a cool behavior! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on September 23, 2010 at 9:12 PM

This is just too funny Angela. I think it looks rotated because the Pelican is leaning to the right. I love this shot. well executed and captured.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Dottie Short on September 23, 2010 at 9:13 PM

I would call this image "tweed & Velvet". I like the different textures and the unique behavior of the birds. I don't see a thing wrong with this image. Outstanding!

Registered on April 12, 2010, 61 Posts, 375 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on September 24, 2010 at 7:16 AM

This is great action Angela! I've seen the action too with Brown Pelicans and Laughing Gulls of the west coast of Florida. Very nicely captured

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on September 24, 2010 at 8:19 AM

Great interaction here Angela. My type of shot for sure. Nice light and exposure too. Very cool.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on September 24, 2010 at 11:40 PM

Neat to see, and well documented.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on September 25, 2010 at 5:30 PM

W!!! Great inter-action between these species. Very Nice Work Angela!!!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on September 27, 2010 at 7:59 AM

Cool and unusual shot Angela..I'd much rather see the pelicans dealing with these pesky terns, than the oil along our Gulf Coast.
Well done!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments