| Photograph Information |
Photographer's Comments |
Camera: Canon EOS-50D
Lens: Sigma 170-500mmD f/5-6.3 APO DG Aspherical for Canon
Location: Wakkerstroom
Date: Jan 18, 2013
Aperture: 6.3
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/1000
Date Uploaded: Jan 24, 2013
Viewed: 163
Comments: 11
Favorites: 0
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The Secretary Bird is instantly recognizable as having an eagle-like body on crane-like legs which increases the bird’s height to as much as 1.3 m (4 ft) tall. This bird has an eagle-like head with a hooked bill, but has rounded wings.[9] Body weight can range from 2.3 to 4.5 kg (5.1 to 9.9 lb) and height is 90–130 cm (35–51 in). Total length from 112 to 152 cm (44 to 60 in) and the wingspan is 191–220 cm (75–87 in).[10][11][12] The tarsus of the secretarybird averages 31 cm (12 in) and the tail is 57–85 cm (22–33 in), both of which factor into making them both taller and longer than any other species of raptor.[10] The neck is not especially long, and can only be lowered down to the inter-tarsal joint, so birds reaching down to the ground or drinking must stoop to do so.[7]
From a distance or in flight it resembles a crane more than a bird of prey. The tail has two elongated central feathers that extend beyond the feet during flight, as well as long flat plumage creating a posterior crest.[9] Secretary Bird flight feathers and thighs are black, while most of the coverts are grey with some being white.[13] Sexes look similar to one another as the species exhibits very little sexual dimorphism, although the male has longer head plumes and tail feathers. Adults have a featherless red face as opposed to the yellow facial skin of the young.[9]
Habitat
Secretary Birds are endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa and are non-migratory, though they may follow food sources.[14] Their range extends from Senegal to Somalia and south to the Cape of Good Hope.[9] These birds are also found at a variety of elevations, from the coastal plains to the highlands. Secretary Birds prefer open grasslands and savannas rather than forests and dense shrubbery which may impede their cursorial existence.[15] While the birds roost on the local Acacia trees at night, they spend much of the day on the ground, returning to roosting sites just before dark.[16] |
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02/07/2013 08:27:36 PM |
| Now there̢۪s a bird I haven̢۪t seen before. Thanks for sharing. I really like the grass effect. It adds so much to your image. |
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01/31/2013 09:54:29 PM |
| Somehow the quality of the photograph fits the difficulty and rarity of the subject. Maybe not perfect but you got it and we didn't. |
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01/27/2013 06:50:21 AM |
| Secretary birds are impressive - I was lucky enough to spot one in Namibia when I was on vacation there. Thanks for posting! |
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01/27/2013 02:16:09 AM |
It's wonderful to follow the wildlife images of you and your fellow South Africans in this thread.
I think my friend, who is an avid birder, would say that this is record shot. And I'm sure he'd be mighty pleased to tick this off his list |
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01/26/2013 01:15:52 AM |
| It's always sad when I read/hear of any creature that is becoming scarce on this dear planet - you were so fortunate to catch it in it's environment. |
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01/25/2013 08:23:58 PM |
| How exciting! I would love to see one of these and get any kind of shot of it. Congrats. |
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01/25/2013 11:04:07 AM |
| I would love to see one of these guys in the wild. Thanks for the background info! I hope s/he gets whatever is being eyed for dinner. :) |
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01/24/2013 02:25:01 PM |
Great sightings Sandy. I particularly like the grassland as environment, key to the sighting. Lovely to see there are some about still in the wild. I don't have a shot at all. You live in a borders birders paradise! A bit of DeNoise 5 would do wonders and pull back a bit of detail with the sliders.
Message edited by author 2013-01-24 23:48:52. |
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01/24/2013 12:08:35 PM |
| Oh, wow. Congratulations on your sighting. |
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01/24/2013 10:12:57 AM |
| Fascinating information - must have been quite a thrill to see. |
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01/24/2013 05:31:12 AM |
How lucky you were to see these birds in the wild. I can't even remember the last time I saw one. They have become very scarce I think. And they are so impressive and fun to watch, because they are always busy.
I wonder if you could get the image a bit "de-noised" and/or get some more sharpness in via "detail" (if you have such an option on your editing program. One of the Topaz plug ins offers this, but I am sure other programs have it as well).
... and I had not realized till now you were a fellow SAn :-) |
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| Photographer found comment helpful. |
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