ChrisMak
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 p.239 #7 · "Official" Nikon 500 f/5.6E PF Discussion and Image Thread | |
bs kite wrote:
Today at the pond of my boyhood.
I went for the main purpose of ascertaining that the loons were still incubating. Very discouraged as the loons have abandoned their 2022 nest, this time 20 days into incubation.
But I did enjoy some wildlife photography.
Before the below Wood Duck image-sequence started to unfold, I had reversed my very-slow-moving canoe, and started backing away from a Great Blue standing on the crest of the dam, because I did not want to force it to take to flight. It's tough making a living out there. Wildlife cannot go to the fridge and pull something out that looks good. That's probably the reason why I don't deliberately flush wildlife for the sake of getting an exciting image.
Seconds later a single Wood duckling appeared in this open water, just upstream of that dam the GBH was standing on. Apparently, it had spotted me, and wanted to get to the other side of the pond (about 50 yards distance).
Wood ducklings always stick to their mother, following her lead or vocal directive. I've never seen one alone.
Then the duckling turned back, but just as soon as it did, its siblings and mother broke cover and headed in the same direction, following its lead. Had they all stayed where they came from, I doubt I would have seen them.
At this first pond of my boyhood, the Wood Ducks are wild and they always stay close to cover, along pond's edge. Wood Ducks got their name for a reason. It's always been my experiences here, that a female Woody that feels her brood is threatened, will suddenly hurry to the thick shoreline vegetation, turn and usher her scooting brood past her and up into the woods, where they disappear. She often (not always) goes last. And on this basin, it takes nothing for a hen Wood Duck to feel threatened.
Look at their order in the last image. They passed her, paddling as fast as they can, and she's now in the rear and still peeping.
Robert  ...Show more →
Nice shots Robert, from the 500PF that is missed!
Why do you think the Loons abandoned the nest?
I hope nothing serious or threatening.
I had a bitter experience visiting one of our large colonies of Sandwich Terns. We had around 20.000 pairs, which is appr. 30% of the entire European population.
A devastating wave of avian flu, the H5N8 variant that apparently originated in tame Geese in China in the late 80's, has wiped our complete breeding colonies of the face of the earth, around 10.000 dead birds were gathered and disposed off. Sandwhich Terns (ringed) as old as 28(!!) yrs were found dead amongst them. The virus goes straight to the birds' brain and kills it in a day.
The virus is now, since 2021, present the whole year round, it does not die out in the summer anymore, and breeding colonies of wild birds are wiped away across North Western Europe. Not just Sandwich Terns, but also Razorbills and Puffins. Nothing has been so complete though as the annihilation of our Sandwich Tern colonies. There are great worries it may not recover and become extinct.
Sorry to tell this sad story, but I wonder if in your corner of the world breeding birds are also at great peril?
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