[NatureNS] A Few Nature Notes

Date: Tue, 26 Dec 2006 12:28:27 -0400
From: Hans Toom <Htoom@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: "Naturens@Chebucto.Ns.Ca" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
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The reputation our owl's have for their ability to rotate their heads is well deserved.  This ability also extends to all the raptors since it is such a useful adaption. They can search for prey from a fixed position much like a rotating radar dish searching for both visual and auditory stimulation.  Laura and I watched a Sharp-shinned Hawk, our winter resident, sitting on its usual perch in the centre of our backyard pond. The shutter release of my camera was loud enough for this raptor to rotate its head around to look back at me.  I don't know the limit of its rotation range but at one point it rotated 225 degrees from the frontal position which would represent a 450 degree capability in both directions. This is a useful ability since hopping about to look backwards would certainly alert all the local birds.  I've posted two photos of this experience.

Interestingly, when the Sharp-shinned Hawk was perched the only birds that did not scatter were the Black-capped Chickadees although they were noisy.  I've posted one photo of a chickadee feeding and chirping while the hawk looked on.

Yesterday morning I took an early morning walk and caught the sunrise at Mackerel Cove, Crystal Crescent Beach PP, one photo attached.  Further along at the tree line near Island Rock Head I met a small troop of Golden-crowned Kinglets.  This bird is one of my many bugaboo, photography wise, birds.  It tends to haunt dark and damp woods and never stays still.  I caught one in the open for a change but the light was poor so my shutter speed wasn't fast enough to freeze the image, but I'm getting closer to a satisfying photo.  Two photos are attached.

Hans

http://www.hanstoom.com/Highlights/Highlight93.html

__________________________________________________
Hans Toom
E-mail: htoom@hfx.eastlink.ca
Migration count website: http://hanstoom.com/NAMC/Index.html
Nature website: http://hanstoom.com
___________________________________________________

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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The reputation our owl's have for their ability 
to&nbsp;rotate their heads is well deserved.&nbsp; This ability also extends to 
all the raptors since it is such a useful adaption. They can search for prey 
from a fixed position much like a rotating radar dish searching for both visual 
and auditory stimulation.&nbsp; Laura and I watched a Sharp-shinned Hawk, our 
winter resident, sitting on its usual perch in the centre of our backyard pond. 
The shutter release of my camera was loud enough for this raptor to rotate its 
head around to look back at me.&nbsp; I don't know the limit of its rotation 
range but at one point it rotated 225 degrees from the frontal position which 
would represent a 450 degree capability in both directions.&nbsp;This is a 
useful ability since hopping about to look backwards would certainly alert all 
the local birds.&nbsp; I've posted two photos of this experience.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Interestingly, when the Sharp-shinned Hawk was 
perched the only birds that did not scatter were the Black-capped Chickadees 
although they were noisy.&nbsp; I've posted one photo of a chickadee feeding and 
chirping while the hawk looked on.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Yesterday morning I took an early morning walk and 
caught the sunrise at Mackerel Cove, Crystal Crescent Beach PP, one photo 
attached.&nbsp; Further along at the tree line near Island Rock Head I met a 
small troop of Golden-crowned Kinglets.&nbsp; This bird is one of my many 
bugaboo, photography wise, birds.&nbsp; It tends to haunt dark and damp woods 
and never stays still.&nbsp;&nbsp;I caught one in&nbsp;the open for a change but 
the light was poor so my shutter speed wasn't fast enough to freeze the image, 
but I'm getting closer to a satisfying photo.&nbsp; Two photos are 
attached.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hans</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A 
href="http://www.hanstoom.com/Highlights/Highlight93.html">http://www.hanstoom.com/Highlights/Highlight93.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial 
size=2>__________________________________________________<BR>Hans 
Toom<BR>E-mail: <A 
href="mailto:htoom@hfx.eastlink.ca">htoom@hfx.eastlink.ca</A><BR>Migration count 
website: <A 
href="http://hanstoom.com/NAMC/Index.html">http://hanstoom.com/NAMC/Index.html</A><BR>Nature 
website: <A 
href="http://hanstoom.com">http://hanstoom.com</A><BR>___________________________________________________</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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