End of the Innocence w/REPOST

Gallery: AvianPosted June 25, 2012434 views27 comments

As hard as this shot was to take I knew I had to stay on it. This was the first frame of a sequence where this chick was actually killed for innocently roaming into the wrong nest. These skimmers are known for this behavior and it truly is heartbreaking to watch but it is the reality of the harshness of nature. It kind of changed my view of the loving tender way I used to see these birds from viewing those tender loving images we usually see. This behavior is displayed more than I care to imagine and one visit at the colony usually results in at least one witnessed killing. I am sad to report that the bad rains we had this past few days wiped out this colony of nesting skimmers as well as many other nesting shorebird colonies. Technically I am a little dissapointed as the chick appears soft to me but I wanted to share the image regardless.
I cleaned up the beach here and cropped about 40%
Camera Model Canon EOS-1D Mark III
Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/800
Av( Aperture Value ) 9.0
ISO Speed 800
Lens EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM +2.0x
Flash Exposure Compensation -1 Canon 580EXII better beamer

Comments

27 comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on June 25, 2012 at 10:16 AM

Well, everything's gotta eat something. Matter of fact I'll be eating some birds for dinner tonight. (Chicken). A lot of impact in this shot. The expression on both birds tells a lot. Chick is slightly soft, but still acceptable.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 25, 2012 at 10:35 AM

Striking image, and another one sure to get awards. Sobering for sure, but still - that is nature. This young bird will go to feed the skimmer's chicks.
The chick is a tad soft, but who cares, with that expression, the sharpness of the rest of the image, your perfect angle, and that expression.

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on June 25, 2012 at 10:58 AM

After reviewing I saw noise and was not happy with the image. I went back to raw and did less PP Better?

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on June 25, 2012 at 11:10 AM

The blacks on the large bird do look better. Nice.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on June 25, 2012 at 11:12 AM

Shile sad, this is a compelling image. Thank you for the lesson, Cheryl.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on June 25, 2012 at 11:26 AM

Nature is harsh and you have nailed this one Cheryl. I witnessed a mallard almost killing a a two week old wood duck until I interrupted the assult with yelling and throwing a rock in their direction.

This is two thumbs up

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on June 25, 2012 at 12:39 PM

It is a powerful image and the slight lack of sharpness on the chick is inconsequential IMO.

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

Comment posted by Geoff Powell on June 25, 2012 at 1:27 PM

Wow what a harsh punishment. Thanks for sharing and the lesson though. Sorry to hear about the rains. I'm on the east coast of FL and they've been quite troublesome here as well.

Registered on March 20, 2012, 21 Posts, 170 Comments

Comment posted by Danny Laredo on June 25, 2012 at 2:32 PM

Wonderful image Cheryl. Love the behavior you captured here.

Registered on March 18, 2008, 71 Posts, 332 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Sabiston on June 25, 2012 at 2:39 PM

Cheryl,

Second try looks a bit better to me, with smoother transitions and fewer sharpening artifacts. Excellent, natural image. Not all nature is pretty. In a bit of serendipitous timing, I just posted an image that is somewhat along the same lines before I saw yours.

The softness in the chick isn't really detrimental to my eye. All the right bits are sharp and the image is true to the scene. Very well done!

Registered on April 7, 2007, 134 Posts, 443 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on June 25, 2012 at 2:58 PM

Very interesting image, Cheryl, and different from what we usually see. The adult skimmer looks very sharp and the black & whites are both well exposed. The chick may have been moving too much even for the shutter speed. The expression on the chick is clearly the focal point of this image for me and is well placed in this image. Hard to witness perhaps, but as others have said, it is part of reality. Cannot overlook moments like this. TFS.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on June 25, 2012 at 5:06 PM

Great image showing nature in action as difficult as it may be, The softness is a real minor nit - the flash does show a bit and I think it result in the legs being a bit darker than they should be in color - but then again I usually see them flying

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on June 25, 2012 at 6:46 PM

Remarkable behavioral capture. Great documentation, and frankly I would not have noticed or picked apart the softness of the chick had you not mentioned it.

Max

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

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on June 25, 2012 at 6:59 PM

Most excellent image! Hard to see it. But beautifully done. Your description of the event and your dilemma and feelings about getting the capture are as telling as the photo itself.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on June 25, 2012 at 7:18 PM

thanks everyone

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on June 25, 2012 at 7:21 PM

Well, I'm just gonna sit here and keep thinking that maybe the adult is just moving the chick. Terrific behavioral image, but tough to witness. Sharon

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on June 25, 2012 at 9:06 PM

Incredible behavior image Cheryl, unfortunately the reason's for such dramatic behavior are a mystery in our eyes. I am sure there is a logical reason in the skimmers point of view though. Both photos look great to me also.

Excellent Work!!!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on June 26, 2012 at 12:35 AM

The repost is perfect!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on June 26, 2012 at 12:51 AM

I read the BNA article on Skimmers. 25% of chick deaths are by other Skimmers. Wow.

Terrific capture of the behavior, Cheryl. I prefer the repost. This seems to be very strange behavior for a colonial nester.

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

Comment posted by Gary Jacobson on June 26, 2012 at 1:16 AM

A great behavior shot for sure Cheryl! Mother nature seems cruel at times. You've captured a winner here.

Registered on May 20, 2012, 17 Posts, 41 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on June 26, 2012 at 7:29 AM

Thank -you for posting this Cheryl. The reality can be tough to see, but you have documented it very well both in this picture and your words.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on June 27, 2012 at 5:58 AM

Quality wise an excellent shot that certainly tells a tale, however said it may be.... I have followed two nest close to home this year: first I was happy to see some odd 12 Blue Tits getting big and flying out. Now I am following a nest of two Sparrow-Hawks that feed themselves and their young with approx. 12 little birds per day - i.e. one complete nest quantity per day. Still, that's how it works ... Back to your shot: award winning IMO ! Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on June 28, 2012 at 11:55 AM

Nature can be ugly and you have depicted this clearly.
May

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on June 30, 2012 at 8:19 AM

Outstanding Cheryl, I truly admire your work with these shorebirds.
Sad story. But alas, it's natures way..
Very nice!

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on June 30, 2012 at 8:56 AM

Amazing and disturbing shot, Cheryl. Nice detail, great bg, inconsequential minor softness in the chick. I like the comp here too.