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White-tailed Kites
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White-tailed Kites

by Charlie VanTassel

Gallery: AvianPosted April 5, 20151,216 views10 comments

The male is the hunter (top). The female pushes him to go out and hunt. Once he catches something, he signals her to come and get it. She then flies up and they do a midair exchange, then she takes the food to the nest to feed the young.

For full disclosure... the female was baited by the male for this shot, but I had nothing to do with it.

D4
600mm
1/3200
f8
iso 500

Comments

10 comments
Comment posted by Keith Bauer on April 5, 2015 at 10:59 PM
Charlie:

This is really terrific!! Love the acton captured. Nicely done :toast: :toast:
Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 5, 2015 at 11:26 PM
Utterly gorgeous and great action, Charlie. Superb detail in the plumage of the female and the red eye is just great.

:toast: :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on April 6, 2015 at 12:50 AM
Fantastic Charlie...love the in flight action and the techs are excellent as usual. Very nice work! :toast:
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by Greg Morris on April 6, 2015 at 1:17 PM
Great capture Charlie. Beautiful image.
Registered on January 23, 2015, 38 Posts, 104 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on April 7, 2015 at 3:56 PM

What a fine behavioral shot, Charlie.  You've got excellent dynamic range with the whites and blacks.  Her red eye really shows well in the new improved larger version.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Tjie Poo on April 7, 2015 at 7:02 PM

Spectacular interaction shot Charlie !!     devil

Registered on December 4, 2012, 51 Posts, 511 Comments
Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on April 7, 2015 at 7:08 PM

Charlie,

Wonderful shot of the birds, not so good for the vole, though.  When you post it is always good. 

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 9, 2015 at 10:22 PM

Super capture Charlie, love the open beak and excited look of the female and of course the prey exchange. devil

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on April 20, 2015 at 1:07 AM

A stunner, Charlies. Excellent capture and a well-deserved EP. You've raised the benchmark for all of us.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on April 24, 2015 at 1:03 PM

Charlie: What a marvelous shot of this behavior. Congrats on a well deserved WP. >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments