Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Landscape & Nature Photography => Topic started by: Glenn Bartley on February 13, 2013, 11:15:48 am

Title: Banded Ground-Cuckoo (Ecuador)
Post by: Glenn Bartley on February 13, 2013, 11:15:48 am: Greetings everyone!

I am sorry for my lack of images lately. I have been down in Ecuador leading tours for the past 5 weeks. I will have some goodies to post from the time I spent in that amazing country in the next few weeks. I just had to start wit this one though...

To give some context for this photo you have to understand that this bird is one of the hardest to see in South America. You have to get INCREDIBLY lucky if you are going to see one in a natural setting.

When these birds are seen it is usually at army ant swarms. Like many species of Antbirds these Cuckoos will follow the army ants as they raid out through the forest and hope to capture an easy arthropod meal as insects flee the advancing swarm of furious and relentless ants.

Late last year in Ecuador a woman at a research station noticed that a Banded Ground-Cuckoo was regularly attending a swarm on the property. She began trying to feed it grasshoppers so that it would stick around. To everyone's astonishment it actually worked and this site is now the only place that is reasonably reliable for this fascinating bird. In addition to being a joy for birders and photographers this has also provided an opportunity to learn a lot more about the biology of this species.

In between my two workshops I decided to travel to the station and give it a go. Lets just say I was all smiles that morning :-)

All the best!

Glenn

(http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/8434/bandedgroundcuckoo01.jpg)

Camera Model: Canon EOS 7D
Shutter speed: 1/30 sec
Aperture: 4
Exposure compensation: -1/3
ISO: 800
Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS USM
Title: Re: Banded Ground-Cuckoo (Ecuador)
Post by: Lloyd Mayeda on February 14, 2013, 09:51:13 am: Glenn, an amazing photograph of an amazing bird. Thanks for sharing!

Eagerly awaiting additional "goodies" from your Ecuador trip.
Title: Re: Banded Ground-Cuckoo (Ecuador)
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 14, 2013, 06:35:57 pm: Quote from: LloydMayeda on February 14, 2013, 09:51:13 am
Glenn, an amazing photograph of an amazing bird. Thanks for sharing!

Eagerly awaiting additional "goodies" from your Ecuador trip.
+1.
Title: Re: Banded Ground-Cuckoo (Ecuador)
Post by: gerafotografija on February 14, 2013, 10:32:19 pm: Awesome
Title: Re: Banded Ground-Cuckoo (Ecuador)
Post by: Tony Jay on February 15, 2013, 03:26:32 am: Great image of a cheeky looking bugger, Glenn.

BTW I feel pretty priveleged to feast on a steady diet of your bird images - no requirement for any apologies needed.

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Banded Ground-Cuckoo (Ecuador)
Post by: francois on February 15, 2013, 05:28:15 am: Congrats…
Title: Re: Banded Ground-Cuckoo (Ecuador)
Post by: bns on February 15, 2013, 06:01:18 am: I find the colour match between bird and background amazing.

Boudewijn Swanenburg
Title: Re: Banded Ground-Cuckoo (Ecuador)
Post by: Bob_B on February 15, 2013, 09:22:09 am: Beautiful image, and at 1/30 sec no less! Thanks.
Title: Re: Banded Ground-Cuckoo (Ecuador)
Post by: Praki on February 15, 2013, 09:27:43 am: Another winner from you. The guy looks like he was designed by Groucho Marx.
Title: Re: Banded Ground-Cuckoo (Ecuador)
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 15, 2013, 10:08:45 am: Quote from: Praki on February 15, 2013, 09:27:43 am
Another winner from you. The guy looks like he was designed by Groucho Marx.
With Photoshop you could put a cigar in his mouth and complete the image. :D