Warning!

Gallery: Man & FaunaPosted September 28, 2011562 views12 comments

I posted an image similar to this awhile ago - a redtail sitting on a cross-post above a "High voltage" sign. It had been circling the post, crying, and it's mate was dead on the ground below:

http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/ic.cgi?a=vp&pr=149849&CGISESSID=e7b1eb0c75783eaf4537c8ed379fe244&u=592

This hawk seems not to have gotten into trouble yet. Electrocuted birds are a common occurrence - why can't safer posts be used, as they are in other countries??

D300
500mm + TC 1.4
Subject dist: 38m
1/400 sec, f/8
Mode: Av
Metering: Multi-segment
Exp comp: +1/3
ISO: 320
White balance: Auto
Almost full frame

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on September 28, 2011 at 7:35 AM

HI Sandy, I have similar photos, but w/o the warning sign. The sign is what IMHO makes this image stand out. Good message. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Hank Pennington on October 3, 2011 at 3:59 PM

I agree that including the high voltage warning sums up the situation "nicely," though a different adjective better fits the potential outcome. In many uses, this will have much more impact on viewers that showing the dead bird though, simply because viewers will worry a little more about the safety of this particular bird and find empathy. The fact that is is staring right at the viewer adds to the effect.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 226 Posts, 1532 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on October 3, 2011 at 5:19 PM

Maybe a caption like "I can't read - would you please protect me?"
Anyone have an y ideas who to write to to try and get more protections in place? (Simply longer cross-beams would help, or having the hot wires underneth the crossbeams)
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Hank Pennington on October 3, 2011 at 6:56 PM

I suspect you'll have better luck incorporating the changes into new construction rather than finding funds for retrofits. I'd be in touch with the environmental officers at PG&E there in CA to discuss it, along with copies of your photo of course. If it's feasible to incorporate the design changes in new construction, then it would seem feasible also to make the changes next time they refurbish a line. My choice of course, is to do away with overhead lines entirely.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 226 Posts, 1532 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on October 5, 2011 at 8:19 PM

Congratulations Sandy, this photo certainly leaves an impression.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on October 6, 2011 at 12:37 AM

Congrats on a great photo and for your EP! Well deserved

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Kennedy on October 6, 2011 at 4:35 PM

Very powerful image Sandy! I love how the hawk is looking right at the camera. Congratulations on the EP!

Registered on March 9, 2009, 79 Posts, 676 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 7, 2011 at 12:46 AM

Congrats Sandy

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 7, 2011 at 12:41 PM

Congratulations, Sandy. Excellent.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Harris on October 8, 2011 at 12:12 PM

Congrats Sandy. Well deserved.

Skip Harris

Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on October 8, 2011 at 8:03 PM

Congratulations on the EP Sandy, thank-you for the thought provoking image.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Soubhik Patranabis on October 12, 2011 at 3:41 PM

Good one ! congrats on the EP.

Registered on January 25, 2010, 54 Posts, 610 Comments