Sandhill Crane in Full Stride


Posted by Sandy Mossberg on Mon Sep 01, 2003 8:48 am

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Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)
Bay Hill Estates, Palm Beach Gardens, FL on 5 Aug 2002

Watching this stately bird walk down a hill on a golf course did much to take my mind off the mid-summer heat and humidity in Florida. Twelve of these cranes live at Bay Hill all year round. Most of them are friendly. This particular bird once screwed up enough courage to eat an earthworm from my curled hand.

Thanks for looking. Comments, critiques, and reposts welcome.

Canon 1D, 400 DO IS
F5.6, 1/1250, ISO 200, No flash
Manual mode, Sunny-f16 minus 1/3
Image/Adjustment, Toolbox, USM, Crop ~10% from below
BreezeBrowser Conversion
Sandy Mossberg
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by Lillian Roberts on Mon Sep 01, 2003 8:50 am
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Nice bird, nice action, and technically well done. SOMething about that manicured lawn just doesn't quite do it for me though. Not that I wouldn't be out there taking their pictures too. :)

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by Matthew Whitley on Mon Sep 01, 2003 9:14 am
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Sandy,
I like it! I like the soft greens and the rusty colors in the bird together. Nice.
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by Bruce DiVaccaro on Mon Sep 01, 2003 9:20 am
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Sandy,

Very nice shot. I like the foot coming off the ground and the slight head turn back to you. The technicals look perfect.
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by Daniel Bergmann on Mon Sep 01, 2003 9:21 am
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Do you always drag along a camera when you play golf?
I like it a lot, but I knew you were paying your models. I just knew it.
 

by Sandy Mossberg on Mon Sep 01, 2003 9:28 am
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Daniel Bergmann wrote:Do you always drag along a camera when you play golf?
I like it a lot, but I knew you were paying your models. I just knew it.
You're correct, Daniel. These guys do seem like models. It's a wonderful feeling being close to these large creatures.

I was not on my home turf, however. In fact I have been unable to swing a club for about thirteen years. The pro at Bay Hill is kind enough to provide me with a golf cart free of charge and allows me to roam through the entire private compound. Great fun.
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by Bruce Sherman on Mon Sep 01, 2003 10:04 am
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Sandy,

Very nice shot! The exposure looks perfect.

Non-golfers (or people who never set foot on a golf course) don't know what they are missing from the standpoint of birds. The course I play has a lot of natural areas and small ponds. I see an incredible variety and number of birds every time I play. We even get a few of these guys on the course each winter.
 

by Jill on Mon Sep 01, 2003 10:07 am
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Aha, Sandy. I now understand why the birds sit in your lap and give you hugs. Way to go, my friend! I love this image and the trimmed turf does not bother me.
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by Karen S on Mon Sep 01, 2003 10:29 am
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Nicely done Sandy. This is a beautiful shot!
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by Laura Stiefel on Mon Sep 01, 2003 12:00 pm
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Lovely image Sandy. Nice looking course too! You seem to have the magic touch with your local birds. They respond to your voice and eat out of your hand... What a talent. My uncle is the superintendent of a local course. I'm going to have to convince him to lend me a cart. ;)
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by chew on Mon Sep 01, 2003 12:05 pm
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I like the simplicity, nothing to distract the eye. Just a beautiful bird and background. Well done too.
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by Heather Forcier on Mon Sep 01, 2003 3:16 pm
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Beautiful! I don't mind the turf, it makes for neutral background that allows even more attention for the bird. Love the reddish and other hues you picked up on the bird.
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by Jim Neiger on Mon Sep 01, 2003 7:13 pm
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He sure is a fine looking fellow. What's his handicap? The problem with Cranes is they have lousy golf etiquette. They never replace their divots. :wink:
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by Alan Murphy on Mon Sep 01, 2003 7:23 pm
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Nice Birdie :)


Great shot
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by Andrew Mc on Mon Sep 01, 2003 7:27 pm
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Lovely looking bird. Must be a nice lush course too - the cranes front foot is fairly well sunk into the turf. Kudos to the local pro, too :).
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by KK Hui on Mon Sep 01, 2003 7:45 pm
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Nice shot of this tall walking bird, Sandy!
I can't see the claws of its right foot. Was the turf so soft?
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by Jim Urbach on Mon Sep 01, 2003 8:58 pm
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Sandy,

Nice sandhill image. I'm glad you did not offer him a morsel this year because it's now agianst the law to feed them. Golf courses do present golden opportunities to capture images.

Jim
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by E.J. Peiker on Tue Sep 02, 2003 9:49 am
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A nice shot of this Crane. the lawn doesn't bother me - he does seem tilted though.
 

by Alan Melle on Tue Sep 02, 2003 11:50 am
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Very nice! Great colors. The thought of hand feeding a bird that size with a bill like Sandhill's have is interesting.
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by Rich S on Tue Sep 02, 2003 12:09 pm
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Is this another one you want to hug? ;)

Your normal great timing, composition and detail. Love the raised leg in back. I don't mind the manicured grass since it complements the bird so nicely. The only thing I would wish different was to be able to see the toes on the front leg.

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