Some creatures are so damn intelligent.

Some creatures are so damn intelligent. · 11:57 PM

Near to where we are staying on Oahu is a saltwater marsh nature preserve. I took some stale bread down to feed the fish (it's not ok to feed the birds). I didn't count on the intelligence of one of the birds so I did end up feeding a bird...........sort of:

I sat on the river bank and threw some bread into the middle of the body of water and the surface boiled with fish trying to get at the bread. Did you ever see that movie 'Piranha'?

Next I threw some bread close to the bank, just below my feet, for the smaller fish. As soon as I did so, a Black Crowned Night Heron, the largest species in the preserve, flew down and snatched the piece of bread.

But he didn't eat it, no more than four or five feet in front of me, this heron was waggling the piece of bread on the surface as a lure.

The fish came to get it and the heron got the fish. This was no coincidence, I tried it a couple more times and he did it. I even moved along the bank and he did it again.

Stu helped me with some PP, there was a big piece of trash on the bank just a few inches from the action and I do not yet have the skills to remove something that big.
Apart from that, not much has been done to them. These shots were taken at about 2 pm in bright sunshine.
Gary

KrisK10D · 07-16-2008, 06:14 AM

Great story, DB... smart bird indeed and a fantastic save from Stu. I didn't even notice any PP till I got to your second post. You 2 make a team

Gotta love the surfing turtle too.

And Mel +1 for the tattoo shot

cupic · 07-16-2008, 06:51 AM

A well done series Gary clear and crisp

cheers

zeek10d · 07-16-2008, 10:02 AM

Great captures^^ Sometime nature surprises us in its own way^^

Damn Brit · 07-16-2008, 01:36 PM

Originally posted by Tom S.

Great story and pics! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Tom.

Originally posted by KrisK10D

Great story, DB... smart bird indeed and a fantastic save from Stu. I didn't even notice any PP till I got to your second post. You 2 make a team

Gotta love the surfing turtle too.

And Mel +1 for the tattoo shot

Thanks. I will definitely post a shot.

Originally posted by cupic

A well done series Gary clear and crisp

cheers

Thanks mate.

Originally posted by zeek10d

Great captures^^ Sometime nature surprises us in its own way^^

It sure does surprise us doesn't it?
Gary

**Marc Langille** · 08-10-2008, 05:59 PM

Great series Gary! Even though the head shot is partially obscured by that leaf, it adds to the personality of the capture. I do like that shot!

Regards,
Marc

Damn Brit · 08-10-2008, 06:17 PM

Thank you Marc.
Gary

cupic · 08-10-2008, 07:39 PM

Nice and clear Gary well done or should I so when the 300 f/4 coming if not already

cheers

Damn Brit · 08-10-2008, 09:31 PM

Originally posted by cupic

Nice and clear Gary well done or should I so when the 300 f/4 coming if not already

cheers

Have you been hitting the sauce mate?

You posted pretty much the same thing on this thread already.
Gary

gawan · 08-11-2008, 11:20 AM

Thanks for sharing these great photos! What a catch!

daacon · 08-11-2008, 11:22 AM

Miised this one - natural fishermen well done !

**monochrome** · 08-11-2008, 11:43 AM

My wife saw a feature yesterday on a small New England harbor town that has a 7-11 type bodega near the pier.

Every morning, when the proprietor opens the store, a seagull lands on the rubber mat that controls the self-openting door.

When the door opens, the seagull walks in, turns the corner and grabs a large bag of chips from the bottom shelf of the rack (same kind every time).

The seagull then retraces his steps - except that he walks onto the rubber mat for the exit door.

When the door opens he calmly walks out the door and flies down to the pier, where he and his cronies rip open the bag and eat the chips.

The twonspeople love their thieving seagull, and whoever is in the store during his heist will "add a bag of chips" to whatever they were buying.

Now that is smart!

Jimbo · 08-11-2008, 11:44 AM

What a great story and the PP work took the picture to a whole new level Gary. Was that the stamping tool he used? There is so much to learn on Photo Shop... Have a great time and shot a picture over of you new Tatoo! Cheers JIMBO

**tmacdon** · 08-11-2008, 12:08 PM

Wow. These are sharp! Can you tell us more about the shots--lens, speed, f stop, ISO, anything to help us "new guys" to SLR digital

Damn Brit · 08-13-2008, 05:59 PM

Haven't replied sooner because our phone lines have been down for three days and the dsl with it.

Originally posted by gawan

Thanks for sharing these great photos! What a catch!

Thanks Georg

Originally posted by daacon

Miised this one - natural fishermen well done !

Thanks Dave

Originally posted by monochrome

My wife saw a feature yesterday on a small New England harbor town that has a 7-11 type bodega near the pier.

Every morning, when the proprietor opens the store, a seagull lands on the rubber mat that controls the self-openting door.

When the door opens, the seagull walks in, turns the corner and grabs a large bag of chips from the bottom shelf of the rack (same kind every time).

The seagull then retraces his steps - except that he walks onto the rubber mat for the exit door.

When the door opens he calmly walks out the door and flies down to the pier, where he and his cronies rip open the bag and eat the chips.

The twonspeople love their thieving seagull, and whoever is in the store during his heist will "add a bag of chips" to whatever they were buying.

Now that is smart!

Saw something similar a while back, this was in England I think and it was a cat.

Originally posted by Jimbo

What a great story and the PP work took the picture to a whole new level Gary. Was that the stamping tool he used? There is so much to learn on Photo Shop... Have a great time and shot a picture over of you new Tatoo! Cheers JIMBO

Thanks Jimbo, Stu probably used a repair tool.

Originally posted by tmacdon

Wow. These are sharp! Can you tell us more about the shots--lens, speed, f stop, ISO, anything to help us "new guys" to SLR digital

Sigma 28-300 full extent and not so full extent. ISO 100 (middle of a bright day). F6.3 ish.

Neither myself or the camera and lens can take all the credit. The heron was quite happy to be five or six feet away from me (I was his fishing buddy I guess). He was also below me so that helped a bit with the sun and it meant, laterally, he was even closer than five feet.
With animals you just have to take time with them, gradually get closer and take your shots when they are ready (you just better make sure you are ready too). I was sitting there for about forty minutes and as the birds got more relaxed, more got closer. And I don't think any bird ate a piece of bread.
Gary

**Lowell Goudge** · 08-13-2008, 06:31 PM

Gary

Story is great and so are the pictures.

What has me thinking is why does this not work with squirrels, peanuts and hawks

There has to be a way.......

08-11-2008, 11:43 AM	#26
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Intelligent Creatures My wife saw a feature yesterday on a small New England harbor town that has a 7-11 type bodega near the pier. Every morning, when the proprietor opens the store, a seagull lands on the rubber mat that controls the self-openting door. When the door opens, the seagull walks in, turns the corner and grabs a large bag of chips from the bottom shelf of the rack (same kind every time). The seagull then retraces his steps - except that he walks onto the rubber mat for the exit door. When the door opens he calmly walks out the door and flies down to the pier, where he and his cronies rip open the bag and eat the chips. The twonspeople love their thieving seagull, and whoever is in the store during his heist will "add a bag of chips" to whatever they were buying. Now that is smart!

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07-16-2008, 06:14 AM	#16
KrisK10D Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,274	Great story, DB... smart bird indeed and a fantastic save from Stu. I didn't even notice any PP till I got to your second post. You 2 make a team Gotta love the surfing turtle too. And Mel +1 for the tattoo shot

07-16-2008, 06:51 AM	#17
cupic Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia-NSW Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,824	A well done series Gary clear and crisp cheers

07-16-2008, 10:02 AM	#18
zeek10d Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 260	Great captures^^ Sometime nature surprises us in its own way^^

07-16-2008, 01:36 PM	#19
Damn Brit Guest	Originally posted by Tom S. Great story and pics! Thanks for sharing. Thanks Tom. Originally posted by KrisK10D Great story, DB... smart bird indeed and a fantastic save from Stu. I didn't even notice any PP till I got to your second post. You 2 make a team Gotta love the surfing turtle too. And Mel +1 for the tattoo shot Thanks. I will definitely post a shot. Originally posted by cupic A well done series Gary clear and crisp cheers Thanks mate. Originally posted by zeek10d Great captures^^ Sometime nature surprises us in its own way^^ It sure does surprise us doesn't it? Gary

08-10-2008, 05:59 PM	#20
Marc Langille Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NW Arkansas, USA Posts: 4,708	Great series Gary! Even though the head shot is partially obscured by that leaf, it adds to the personality of the capture. I do like that shot! Regards, Marc

08-10-2008, 06:17 PM	#21
Damn Brit Guest	Thank you Marc. Gary

08-10-2008, 07:39 PM	#22
cupic Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia-NSW Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,824	Nice and clear Gary well done or should I so when the 300 f/4 coming if not already cheers

08-10-2008, 09:31 PM	#23
Damn Brit Guest	Originally posted by cupic Nice and clear Gary well done or should I so when the 300 f/4 coming if not already cheers Have you been hitting the sauce mate? You posted pretty much the same thing on this thread already. Gary

08-11-2008, 11:20 AM	#24
gawan Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Helsinki Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,400	Thanks for sharing these great photos! What a catch!

08-11-2008, 11:22 AM	#25
daacon Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,914	Miised this one - natural fishermen well done !

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08-11-2008, 11:44 AM	#27
Jimbo Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maple Ridge BC Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,368	What a great story and the PP work took the picture to a whole new level Gary. Was that the stamping tool he used? There is so much to learn on Photo Shop... Have a great time and shot a picture over of you new Tatoo! Cheers JIMBO

08-11-2008, 12:08 PM	#28
tmacdon Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 143	Wow. These are sharp! Can you tell us more about the shots--lens, speed, f stop, ISO, anything to help us "new guys" to SLR digital

08-13-2008, 05:59 PM	#29
Damn Brit Guest	Haven't replied sooner because our phone lines have been down for three days and the dsl with it. Originally posted by gawan Thanks for sharing these great photos! What a catch! Thanks Georg Originally posted by daacon Miised this one - natural fishermen well done ! Thanks Dave Originally posted by monochrome My wife saw a feature yesterday on a small New England harbor town that has a 7-11 type bodega near the pier. Every morning, when the proprietor opens the store, a seagull lands on the rubber mat that controls the self-openting door. When the door opens, the seagull walks in, turns the corner and grabs a large bag of chips from the bottom shelf of the rack (same kind every time). The seagull then retraces his steps - except that he walks onto the rubber mat for the exit door. When the door opens he calmly walks out the door and flies down to the pier, where he and his cronies rip open the bag and eat the chips. The twonspeople love their thieving seagull, and whoever is in the store during his heist will "add a bag of chips" to whatever they were buying. Now that is smart! Saw something similar a while back, this was in England I think and it was a cat. Originally posted by Jimbo What a great story and the PP work took the picture to a whole new level Gary. Was that the stamping tool he used? There is so much to learn on Photo Shop... Have a great time and shot a picture over of you new Tatoo! Cheers JIMBO Thanks Jimbo, Stu probably used a repair tool. Originally posted by tmacdon Wow. These are sharp! Can you tell us more about the shots--lens, speed, f stop, ISO, anything to help us "new guys" to SLR digital Sigma 28-300 full extent and not so full extent. ISO 100 (middle of a bright day). F6.3 ish. Neither myself or the camera and lens can take all the credit. The heron was quite happy to be five or six feet away from me (I was his fishing buddy I guess). He was also below me so that helped a bit with the sun and it meant, laterally, he was even closer than five feet. With animals you just have to take time with them, gradually get closer and take your shots when they are ready (you just better make sure you are ready too). I was sitting there for about forty minutes and as the birds got more relaxed, more got closer. And I don't think any bird ate a piece of bread. Gary

08-13-2008, 06:31 PM	#30
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,886	Gary Story is great and so are the pictures. What has me thinking is why does this not work with squirrels, peanuts and hawks There has to be a way.......