Yoga for Birds 101

Gallery: AvianPosted October 5, 2011111 views12 comments

Canon EOS 7D, EF 500mm f4L IS USM, Aperture Priority @ f/8 (1/2500 sec), -2/3 EV, ISO 400, Tripod, JPEG from RAW, Pretty Much Full Frame; Cropped a Sliver from LH Side as Well as Upper & Lower Edges

While in truth this Southern Yellow-Billed Hornbill was for the most part actually preening, there were times like these were it looked like it was stretching to warm up it's muscles for the activities of the day ahead. Of course I could be wrong, but the impression I came away with was that this guy knew a thing or two about the discipline of Yoga!

Critique and comments always welcome.

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on October 5, 2011 at 5:37 AM

Indeed ! My first reaction was "What is this guy doing"? Nice image, great colors and sharpness. Only nit would be the branches crossing the bird here and there... All in all, well done ! Cheers, Hans

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

Comment posted by Mark Deibert on October 5, 2011 at 6:05 AM

Another magnificent shot, Ashley! I really love these kinds, I have a few preening herons, but too far away for this kind of detail. Anyway, great shot, clear and great details.

Thanks for responding to my other comment, I really appreciate the input. Cheers! Mark

Registered on September 30, 2011, 48 Posts, 125 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 5, 2011 at 6:36 AM

A neat looking bird in a very interesting position. I like it.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on October 5, 2011 at 9:47 AM

Marvellous, Ashley! Priceless look!

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

Comment posted by Peter May on October 5, 2011 at 9:48 AM

Looks like it's rubbing it's chin feathers on the uropygial gland.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 7 Posts, 239 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 5, 2011 at 9:52 AM

Fun image, Ashley. That's a crazy looking pose.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on October 5, 2011 at 12:10 PM

that must have been quite an itch. He looks like he's "ringing his own neck"! Without your title, I would have thought he'd succeeded.
Great behavior shot.

I love it when "critters" do crazy things!

Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on October 5, 2011 at 5:51 PM

Interesting action. Neat shot.
May

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

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on October 5, 2011 at 7:06 PM

Very interesting pose, Ashley. Your techs look right on. Nice image.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on October 5, 2011 at 9:24 PM

Ashley,
I had no idea what to expect when looking at the thumb nail but this is really cool. Wish I had moves like that. Love your title. The eye contact and the beak are very sharp. This one is priceless.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on October 5, 2011 at 10:22 PM

Really enjoying these images Ashley. This is great!

Ray

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on October 7, 2011 at 4:00 AM

Many thanks for your kind words and comments Hans, Mark, Ron, KC, Peter, Dennis, Lucy, May, Matt, David, and Ray :^)

Peter: Never having heard of the "uropygial gland" before, I had to look it up, and real pleased I did: The information I found on gave me one of those "Ah Ha!" moments, as it explains the reason for this behavior that I've seen with more than a few species of different birds too. Many thanks for helping to enlighten me further :^)

I find the info so interesting that I'll go out on a limb and send you all a copy of what I read, curtesy of Wikipedia:

“The uropygial gland, informally known as the preen gland, is a gland found in the large majority of birds that secretes an oil (preen oil) that birds use for preening. The chief compounds of preen oil are diester waxes called uropygiols.

The gland is found near the base of the tail and is shaped into two symmetric parts. The oil of each part of the gland is secreted through the surface of the skin through a grease nipple-like nub. A bird will typically transfer this oil to its feathers by rubbing its head against the oil and then around the rest of the body. Tailward areas are usually preened utilizing the beak. Not all birds have a uropygial gland. Exceptions include the emu, kiwi, ostrich, and bustard. These typically find other means to stay clean and dry, such as taking a dust bath.”

Hope that this was interesting also to those of you who weren't aware of this, and those that were, hope you weren't bothered too much by this email ;^)

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