Broken wing display

Gallery: AvianPosted July 18, 20071,523 views19 comments

This shot is from the same day and place of my previous upload. This pair of collared pratincoles were performing a broken wing display to drive my attention away from the nesting site. This is a common behavioural response of ground nesting birds (plovers, nightjars, partridges...) as a defensive measure against mammalian nest predators. In this case the potential predators is the photographer.

Here both parents are feigning a wing injury to lure me and make believe to me that they are easy preys. Obviously, I walked following them (to avoid nest disturbance) and after a while their injury disappeared and they fly away. I hope you will enjoy this picture and sorry for the long explaining.
Your comments and critics are highly appreciated

Nikon D2X AFS Nikkor 300VR +1,4XTC, handheld.

Juan Aragonés
Córdoba
Spain

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on July 18, 2007 at 4:26 AM

Great crisp behaviour shot Juan - I also like the ochre tones.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Gaurav Manglik on July 18, 2007 at 4:27 AM

great action and love the low angle ...

Registered on December 2, 2005, 191 Posts, 2126 Comments

Comment posted by David Marotta on July 18, 2007 at 7:45 AM

Beautifully captured Juan...handheld too.

Registered on January 3, 2007, 111 Posts, 622 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on July 18, 2007 at 7:55 AM

Hi Juan. The interaction and poses of these two could not be improved on in my opinion. Superb control of the dof. The lighting is wonderful too, love the warm ochre colors throughout. I'm glad to see that you are getting around again on two good legs.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Chi Wang on July 18, 2007 at 9:57 AM

Well explained and photographed, thanks

Registered on March 29, 2004, 68 Posts, 179 Comments

Comment posted by Michel Lemaire on July 18, 2007 at 10:27 AM

Hello,

I love the low angle. In the circumstances, it is a great presence of mind, in my humble opinion.

Michel.

Registered on April 14, 2007, 44 Posts, 502 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on July 18, 2007 at 12:30 PM

Juan,

Very well done. It is so hard to get two birds in a shot with limited DOF, and have them both be sharp. You did a great job of positioning yourself to accomplish that while also keeping the light and the BG . Congrats on a superb image.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on July 18, 2007 at 12:50 PM

An excellent image as presented - I love these colors and the interaction.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Losin on July 18, 2007 at 1:41 PM

Hi Juan,
Lovely! Great interaction between these two birds!

Registered on September 16, 2005, 145 Posts, 3524 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Thompson on July 18, 2007 at 2:45 PM

Very well captured Juan

Registered on March 15, 2005, 114 Posts, 2639 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Webster on July 18, 2007 at 7:17 PM

Wonderful behavior image, Juan. I love the limited color pallette of this image.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 73 Posts, 644 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on July 18, 2007 at 11:58 PM

I agree with everyone else, outstanding image! And thanks for showing me a species I've never seen before.

Registered on September 29, 2005, 252 Posts, 3380 Comments

Comment posted by Jose Suro on July 19, 2007 at 11:39 AM

Great behavior shot with excellent color and low angle. Well done!

Jose

Registered on June 24, 2006, 267 Posts, 2273 Comments

Comment posted by Phillip Tomkinson on July 19, 2007 at 7:10 PM

Hi a nice image and nice to see you avoided nest disturbance.

Phillip.

Registered on July 14, 2005, 194 Posts, 427 Comments

Comment posted by Krijn Trimbos on July 20, 2007 at 3:56 PM

I would so like to see these beautiful birds!! Love the shot, great one.

Registered on October 18, 2005, 260 Posts, 2979 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 22, 2007 at 6:35 PM

Great shot Juan

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by David Kjaer on July 23, 2007 at 12:35 PM

Hi Juan

Super shot - can't fault it!

David