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Egg Thief
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Egg Thief

by Jerry Austin

Gallery: AvianPosted October 28, 201788 views9 comments
It's not only the bears that benefit from the salmon runs. This Stellar's Jay was all about the salmon eggs. Processed with Lightroom, Photoshop and Lightzone. Comments and critiques welcome.

Canon 1DX Mark II
Canon 200-400 f4.0 L IS
f5.6
1/800s
Focal Length 560mm (Teleconverter engaged)
ISO 2500

Comments

9 comments
Comment posted by Barbara Graham on October 28, 2017 at 4:52 PM
Beautiful colors.  The very shallow water over the rocks there makes me feel how cold it is. :)
Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 28, 2017 at 7:45 PM
That's some really interesting behavior you captured well here Jerry, I have never seen jays feeding on salmon eggs before.  The head looks a bit soft, I'm not sure if it's from movement, the crop or something else.  devil
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 29, 2017 at 12:52 PM
Very cool, Jerry.  I should go check out some of the local spawning grounds.  Where did you take this?  Excellent dof showing the creek habitat well.
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Jerry Austin on October 29, 2017 at 1:04 PM
Dennis, this was taken on my recent trip to the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia.
Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments
Comment posted by David Schoen on October 29, 2017 at 3:49 PM
I like this behavioral image of the Stellar Jay.  They do eat just about anything but I have never seen them go for salmon eggs.  Perhaps I'll get together with Dennis and we can go hang out during one of the salmon runs and see we can find out if they do that in our area.
Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments
Comment posted by Jerry Austin on October 29, 2017 at 4:37 PM
Here's another image of the jays and the salmon eggs. What I observed was that the jays, while occasionally picking at the flesh, would almost exclusively seek out the eggs.
Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments
Comment posted by David Bogener on October 29, 2017 at 6:55 PM
Interesting behavioral image, Perhaps a little dark as presented, but a difficult exposure to retain detail in the darks while taming those highlights in the water.
Registered on October 30, 2013, 417 Posts, 1255 Comments
Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on November 1, 2017 at 1:11 AM
This is a story-telling image! Really interesting behaviour captured!
Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Williams on November 1, 2017 at 10:42 AM
Very interesting natural history here Jerry. I like the dark lighting for the detail it preserved while controlling the water highlights. As others, this is new behavior to me. I like both shots you have posted.
Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments