Vulture

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

I got this shot Saturday at Kenoza Lake in Haverhill, Mass. Not as sharp as I would like but OK I guess.

KD Talbot

 

[Mark Schaefer]

Very nice photo. You could not ask for a less distracting background. These are nasty, prehistoric looking birds and your photo captures that well.

It appears the camera might have focused on the feathers in the foreground, and so the head and more importantly the eye are slightly out of focus. It also looks like the vulture's head might have moved slightly which could also account for the lack of sharpness.

Still a very effective image.

 

[Puck]

These are nasty, prehistoric looking birds and your photo captures that well.

They are considered sacred by the Iriquios. A turkey vulture put the sun in the sky by balancing it on its head and soaring up. The sun burned off all of the feathers that is why they are bald and red. The great spirit wanted to reward the bird for the feat and let him have first pick of the feather suits. there was one condition; if the vulture passed up one suit he could not reconsider. The vulture was to picky, he passed up the blue and white suit to the blue jay, the red suit to the tanager, the yellow suit to the gold finch and so it went until the only suit left was one of dingy dark feathers that could not fit him over his red head. (it didn't have enough magic left to form to the bird's size and shap) so the vulture is remembered for puting the sun in the sky and for being to picky and undecisive. And they are beautifull in thier own way. You photo catches that well.

 

[Toe Cozy]

They are considered sacred by the Iriquios. A turkey vulture put the sun in the sky by balancing it on its head and soaring up. The sun burned off all of the feathers that is why they are bald and red. The great spirit wanted to reward the bird for the feat and let him have first pick off the feather suits. there ws one condition; if the vulture passed up one suit he could not reconsider. The vulture was to picky, he passed up the blue and white suit to the blue jay, the red suit to the tanager, the yellow suit to the gold finch and so it went until the only suit left was one of dingy dark feathers that could not fit him over his red head. (it didn't have enough magic left to form to the bird's size and shap) so the vulture is remembered for puting the sun in the sky and for being to picky and undecisive. And they are beautifull in thier own way. You photo catches that well.

Thanks for that story, Puck. I will always think of it when I see these birds from now on. Cool.

Pretty intense close up picture, Kevin!

 

[bikehikeskifish]

I think it is a great shot. Focus is a bit sharper on the wing and less so on the head, but the eye has the glimmer of light which is so important.

Is it definitely a turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)? The ones I see usually have a redder head.

Tim

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

Thanks!

I too like the Iroquois Legend, though I have found that most of them are anglo-saxon myths about what the "Indians" believed.

If I had used manual focus I would have focused on the head, but the camera was in control. One draw back to this particular Nikon is the lack of manual focus. I miss my film camera and lenses. I need to step up my camera so I can go back to using my old lenses. Well, Christmas is coming.

The head doesn't appear as red as you would expect because the side we are looking at is shaded. I probably could have brought it out more in photoshop, but I try not to alter things too much.

I do believe it is a turkey vulture, that is all you're going to see around here. Years ago you'd never see one this far north, but the wonderful use of open land fills instead of incineration drew them north. Well, you've got to do something with the garbage now, don't you? There is an incinerator about 15 miles from here. The reservoir 2 miles southeast of there has the highest mercury levels in its fish of anywhere in New England. That is where I shot this vulture, at that reservoir. Interesting.

KDT