Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
WC573 Killdeer camoflage
‹ PreviousWeekly Challenge GalleryNext ›

WC573 Killdeer camoflage

by Keith A Anderson

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted February 26, 201388 views6 comments
I'm thinking embryonic birds should count for this challenge. I took this several years ago at Devil's Lake, ND. I walked by this area twice, noting the unhappy parents but not seeing the eggs until the second trip past.

Canon 1D2N, EF 17-40 at 26mm, iso 400, 1/15, f22

Comments

6 comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 26, 2013 at 9:58 PM
Good entry. I've seen this as well both in NJ and AZ and was fascinated by how hard the eggs were to see both times.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Williams on February 27, 2013 at 12:11 AM
Excellent Keith. This is a great scene. If you hadn't mentioned the killdeer to look for I would never have seen the eggs. I have been amazed at this same type of scene one time in the mountains of Northern California in medium deep grass. I would never have seen the eggs had I not seen momma come off the nest to play crippled for me. Nice balance and really nice low perspective to be down there in the rocks.
Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments
Comment posted by Carolyn Derstine on February 27, 2013 at 8:18 PM
Oh my, it's good you didn't accidentally step on the eggs. They certainly are well camouflaged among those rocks! Hopefully no severe rain storms come. . . looks like an area that could flood. Great entry for the theme, Keith. :smile:
Registered on February 16, 2011, 610 Posts, 3684 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Minish on February 28, 2013 at 2:40 AM
Those eggs are really hard to see! Pretty amazing camouflage and also amazing that they survive just laying in the rocks like that. Nice capture and perfect for the challenge.
Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Rebmann on February 28, 2013 at 10:33 PM
Yes, any stage of life should count. What a treat that must of been to see. And a wonderful image. I don't know if the surroundings would cooperate, but it would be interesting to see if a version with the eggs just a little farther from the front would work. I definitely like the low angle.

Paul
Registered on July 17, 2012, 31 Posts, 122 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on March 1, 2013 at 12:09 PM
Great job of seeing/finding. Your picture really shows how well these eggs blend in. I like the long, angled view of the gravelly bank and the distant cattails. It shows off the environment nicely, as well.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments