Nest Building

Gallery: AvianPosted June 1, 2011322 views10 comments

Swallows at the Kern NWR in central CA.

I have never seen 3 swallows working on a nest - maybe last year's fledgling helping out? A menage a trois?

Anyone know if this is normal behavior?

D300s
300mm
450mm (in 35mm film)
1/60 sec, f/10
Mode: Av
Metering: Multi-segment
ISO: 320
White balance: Auto
Flash: TTL - 3
Reflectors to bounce sunlight under the eaves

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on June 1, 2011 at 2:59 PM

Really cool image, Sandy. I really had to look carefully. Thought for a minute that it belonged in photo art- looked like a chinese silk screen. Great find and great job imaging it.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Bob McQuade on June 1, 2011 at 4:43 PM

Really neat image. I too, wondered if I was looking at a piece of oriental silk work.

Registered on October 8, 2009, 214 Posts, 432 Comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on June 1, 2011 at 9:09 PM

Don't know - but its a great shot whatever!
JohnR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on June 1, 2011 at 9:36 PM

Colors are terrific in this sharp image. Catch light in all 3 birds! Good head position for the three too. Wow!
I've never seen a swallow nest with a frame around it.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on June 1, 2011 at 10:02 PM

Beautiful shot, it does look like a painting. Excellent work.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on June 1, 2011 at 10:36 PM

Reading the comments you've received so far, seems I wasn't alone in thinking this was an artistic rendition in paint ;^)

Very nice effect indeed Sandy, and good use of reflectors, well done :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Harris on June 1, 2011 at 11:22 PM

Sandy, A big wow. We really like this one. You set up for great lighting and achieved it. Just stunning. I noticed a 300mm was used, is the 500 getting heavy. lol.

Harry

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

Comment posted by Robert Holguin on June 2, 2011 at 2:46 AM

Great shot. Love the poses on the front two. Great interaction you captured here. Well done.

Registered on January 25, 2011, 44 Posts, 294 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on June 3, 2011 at 7:37 AM

Sandy, good job getting light in the eye in all three swallows. Sharpness and exposure looks good. Do you know that all three were actually "working" on the nest? I'm wondering if perhaps one of them was simply using it as a temporary resting place - maybe the one on the right...

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 3, 2011 at 1:43 PM

Ron, yes they were all three bringing in mud to add to the nest.
Sandy

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