Hungry Red

Gallery: AvianPosted January 11, 2015467 views5 comments

This is a Red Cardinal taken at Morton National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge has "allowed" feeding of birds for many years - to the point where a variety of species will readily land in your hand to feed. This practice is now being discouraged as it has caused an uptick in the rat population - which then preys on endangered species like the Piping Plover which nest not too far from the main entrance. But of course, that doesn't stop the public from coming and throwing gobs of seed around...

Nikon D7100 300mm f4 + 1.7X TC HH crouched
f/8
1/1600s
ISO 640
Cropped to approximately 65%

Minor adjustments made in PS

- Luke

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on January 12, 2015 at 12:40 AM

A nice close up. Maybe a little light on the left side?

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on January 12, 2015 at 6:25 AM

Another gorgeous shot, Luke. Posed nicely for you, too, and not bashful about having its mouth full!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Thompson on January 12, 2015 at 1:47 PM

Nice look at this Cardinal Luke. Details look sharp and I like the seed in the beak. It looks cold!

Registered on August 7, 2014, 125 Posts, 2319 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 12, 2015 at 10:13 PM

Love he low POV on this Luke. The light is very nice and the meal is perfect. Glad to see you decided to stick around NPN and that you are posting more again.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on January 19, 2015 at 8:14 AM

Luke it must be nice to get close to these smashing birds, lovely colour and detail, bird looks good on that snowy setting.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments