Secretary Birds

by Martin Creasser

Gallery: AvianPosted October 25, 20051,305 views14 comments

20d 500f4is,1.4x, iso400, 1/640@f9 -2/3ev, beanbag from landcruiser roof.

Lake Nakuru NP. Kenya.

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on October 25, 2005 at 2:32 PM

Martin great portrait ,

I really like the looks on there faces.
The back one looks a little bit STONED.
AVI

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by Juza on October 25, 2005 at 2:56 PM

Hi Martin,
it is the first time that I see this species...fantastic photo, thanks for sharing!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 374 Posts, 10466 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Creasser on October 25, 2005 at 3:32 PM

Hi Juza, thanks for commenting. Here is a bit about the species.

The Secretary bird is an African endemic. Everything about it is unusual. It is tall with very long legs and is a terrestrial predator strolling across grassland killing anything small enough (including venemous snakes) to eat, killing its prey by stamping it to death with modified toughened feet. It has a huge long tail with the central tail feathers longer than the others like a bee-eater. The name apparently comes from the quill like plumes on the head, which, as you can see can be erected at will. Unfortunately during the short time I had with them they never erected their crests at the same time.

This was a courting couple with the male behind looking rather red in the face after recent 'activity'.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 31 Posts, 469 Comments

Comment posted by Rajan Desai on October 25, 2005 at 4:02 PM

Martin,
Wondeful photo of this wondeful bird.
Also thank you for that interesting information about the bird.
-RD

Registered on March 25, 2005, 32 Posts, 395 Comments

Comment posted by Ched Bradley on October 25, 2005 at 6:07 PM

Martin,

Wonderful shot! Makes me smile!

Registered on November 19, 2004, 34 Posts, 58 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on October 25, 2005 at 6:46 PM

A wonderful image and the techs seem just right! Thanks for showing!

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

Comment posted by Bob Steele on October 25, 2005 at 10:32 PM

This is wonderful! I really like this close in composition.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 354 Posts, 13896 Comments

Comment posted by renae sandberg on October 26, 2005 at 7:06 PM

Great portrait work, I love the crop and the detail is extraordinary. Fantastic photo.

Registered on December 29, 2004, 313 Posts, 2476 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Creasser on October 27, 2005 at 1:48 AM

Many thanks to all who have commented. Always much appreciated.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 31 Posts, 469 Comments

Comment posted by Garth McElroy on October 27, 2005 at 12:23 PM

Fantastic!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 248 Posts, 4406 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Royse on October 28, 2005 at 11:59 PM

Registered on November 1, 2003, 218 Posts, 2427 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Barritt on November 1, 2005 at 2:53 AM

superb portrait. Love the female's expression..."I'm the prettiest girl in the school" type of look.

Registered on January 15, 2005, 66 Posts, 61 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Hardy on November 4, 2005 at 6:06 AM

Hi Martin,

Fantastic shot i only got to see these once but didnt egt a photo.

Registered on August 1, 2005, 37 Posts, 346 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Benner on November 7, 2005 at 6:36 AM

Wonderful expressions. Great capture - congratulations.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 482 Posts, 1868 Comments