Red legged Seriema Birds for C&C

[IzzieK]

According to Wikipedia, male and female Red-legged Seriemas look alike, although males are slightly larger than females. Both weigh about 1.5 kg, and stand approximately 90 cm. Their most striking feature is the crest, which is unique among South American birds. The crest is comprised of permanently raised slightly stiff feathers at the base of the bill which can reach 10 cm in length. Seriemas are one of the few birds with eyelashes. Seriemas have loose plumage, especially on the neck and underparts. They are mainly gray in coloration, with shades of brown, except the abdomen which is white. The wing and tail feathers are banded black and white. The skin surrounding the eye is blue and the iris of the eye is yellow. The bill and legs are both red.

1 I am out of here...Can you see what she is doing???



2 These birds are quick runners, generally preferring to run from danger than fly. Perhaps one of the most distinguishing characteristics of seriemas, is their call. Often compared to that of a yelping puppy, it is a loud cry which can be heard from several kilometers away. The call is usually performed in the early morning hours, but may be heard at any time of day. It is used to defend territory between pairs. The call is usually initiated by one member of the pair, followed by the other member responding, with a sort of duet resulting..



3 Hear Me Bark...



4 Your like that one, eh??Here's another one...let me get on that side first..



5 I want to smell this plant since we do not have roses in this cage...



6 Pffffffttttttt......!!!!




For C& C and any comments will be well received and appreciated...Thank you...Sorry for my antics...I just like a little bit of comedy here...

[Rebel]

Nice shots Izzie, I have never seen this type of bird before. Are they kept as pets?

[bnnrcn]

Hi Isabel,nice images , the bird looks nice too

[Shadowman]

Mean looking creature, nicely done.

[dje]

What an interesting bird Izzie, and very well captured.

Dave

[Benjy]

Well captured Izzie,Belters....

[terrib]

This is an interesting looking bird and you've managed good focus. I know that many times, options are limited in zoos but I think it can be a good place to experiment with the effects of different focal lengths, different angles/perspectives and different DOF. Pay attention to your background and try different angles to minimize its intrusion into the photo. Or if a different angle doesn't work, use your longest focal length with a wide aperature. I don't know your equipment or your settings, but I think there are probably some things you could have done here to make a more pleasing background.

I've seen you offer good constructive advise to others about offending branches and other distracting elements so I'm sure you know how to critique the same issues in these. I like the last one best because you haven't cut off it's feet, there aren't any blurry branches in front of him and there are less distractions in the background.

[Ziggy]

Izzie,

I might be a little strange but I like the first the best.

[Barbara Ponder]

Good job Izzie!

[Kris V]

Birds are not my thing, but I do like 5 & 6.
And your story telling....

[IzzieK]

Nice shots Izzie, I have never seen this type of bird before. Are they kept as pets?

I have no idea Matt...I like the eyelashes though...

[IzzieK]

Hi Isabel,nice images , the bird looks nice too

I thought so too and when I read the cage label, I thought "Why not?" It is a noisy bird but the sequencing works I think...thank you for your comments.

[IzzieK]

Izzie,

I might be a little strange but I like the first the best.

Me too, Ziggy...my favourite...I have quite a few more head shot and one mug shot which looks really funny but I have met my limit of 5-6 images per page...

Thanks for commenting.

[IzzieK]

Mean looking creature, nicely done.

It is cute, John...thanks for the comments.

[IzzieK]

What an interesting bird Izzie, and very well captured.

Dave

Thanks Dave...it was the first time I have seen this kind too and I think it is cute...thank you for passing by.

[IzzieK]

Well captured Izzie,Belters....

Thank you Benjy. I am glad you like it...'appreciate the belter comments...

[IzzieK]

This is an interesting looking bird and you've managed good focus. I know that many times, options are limited in zoos but I think it can be a good place to experiment with the effects of different focal lengths, different angles/perspectives and different DOF. Pay attention to your background and try different angles to minimize its intrusion into the photo. Or if a different angle doesn't work, use your longest focal length with a wide aperture. I don't know your equipment or your settings, but I think there are probably some things you could have done here to make a more pleasing background.

I was in a tight spot because the enclosure was located straight smack in the corner with a bird in the next cage, not to count the number of times I had stopped because people were passing by even if we went there on a weekday. I was trying to avoid not only the people and screaming kids at times but also the adults who have no sense at all to keep quiet, talking loudly about the description of what the bird was doing...I also have some shots some shots where I had included the cage next door but the scenario looks more of having that "cagey feeling" so I did not upload any.

I've seen you offer good constructive advise to others about offending branches and other distracting elements so I'm sure you know how to critique the same issues in these. I like the last one best because you haven't cut off it's feet, there aren't any blurry branches in front of him and there are less distractions in the background.

The blurry leaves up front I either deleted via Content Aware or cloned out and healed using the healing tool. I tried with the doors in each but it made such a slurry mess so I left it in...I think i have done quite a bit more cloning and healing than any other sequences just removing unwanted stray something. These cages have so much leaves and tree branches to recreate the environment it lives perhaps but it is a bane to take photographs without too much unwanted rubbish that we do not want to include in our shot. I would have preferred that the designers of these cages put the branches in front of the door instead...

[IzzieK]

Good job Izzie!

I am still waiting for your recent bird shots, Barbara..what is happening? When I took shots of the first image here, I was thinking of you, what you might have done to get shots of this bird, how you would have posed it...hence that pose and others I did not include but quite nice too...maybe in another separate thread...maybe not...

Thank you for passing by and your kind comments..'appreciate it very much...

[IzzieK]

Birds are not my thing, but I do like 5 & 6.
And your story telling....

I am just trying to expand my shooting genre and get good at it before I move on...and getting out of the house once a week at least (aside from shopping) so I have different themes when I get to them. When we were at the athletic area for the firemen and firetruck events, I thought of Geoff and wanted to get into sports one day when this birdie thingie is finished. I still have one more birdie spot to go -- the Wild Bird Sanctuary and see what they have there...I missed the photographers day Sunday where they flew birds for the photographers to practice BIFs because I thought it is too soon to go out again as we were out the day before. The good thing about public events like little league sports or this fire demonstration, for example, are that people are willing to look at you and not prevent you from taking a picture of them. I am sure the kids will even enjoy that. It is more encouraging...Flowers don't confront you about being photographed and so with animals like my dog or buildings. Different people, different interests but I am not hooked on any genres at all so passionately that it is the only thing I want to photograph. Like doggies, I live for the moment when I am with my camera.

Thank you for looking and commenting...and for the feedback. I truly appreciate it very much.