by Krishna Mohan
Pheasant-tailed Jacana
I found this Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) in non-breeding form at Mallyadi Bird Sanctuary near Kundapura last February. I was using my Canon EOS 5D mark II with Canon EF 300mm f/4.0 L IS USM attached with Canon EF 1.4x II Extender to photograph this beautiful bird.
Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) is the only member of the Jacana family to have different plumages for the breeding and non-breeding seasons. Distributed on the Indian subcontinent and from Central China through South East Asia, Afghanistan and as far as Java and the Philippines. Resident on lakes, marshes and ponds where it feeds on invertebrates, frogs and fish. Jacanas are a group of waders in the family Jacanidae that are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in shallow lakes, their preferred habitat. The Pheasant-tailed Jacana is capable of swimming, although it usually walks on the vegetation.
It is conspicuous in the breeding season because of the long pheasant-like tail of the male. The plumage is blackish-brown with white head and neck. On the nape of the neck there is a yellow mark. Its wings are dazzlingly white in flight. Females are slightly larger than males with similar but brighter colours. Non-breeding adults lack the long tail. The underparts are white except for a brown breast band and neck stripe. The side of the neck is golden.
Pheasant-tailed Jacana
In the breeding season, the male grows the 15cm (6″) arching tail, to which the bird owes its name. A female may mate with up to ten males, each of which incubates a clutch and raises his own brood. The female is able to present her males with a full clutch of 4 eggs at intervals of 9-12 days. Each male is visited twice in succession giving a total of 6-8 clutches or 24-36 eggs in a year.
The cocks were seen to approach the clutch with great care and carefully to preen, especially the breast feathers, so that they are quite dry and airy for the brood. Then he spreads his pale-green legs and lowers his breast slowly while supporting himself on his wings. He pushes the eggs together under his belly with the wings and, swaying from side to side, scoops the eggs up from the wet ground with his white wings so that they lie warm and protected between his breast and underside of the wings.
After torrents of rain and rising water levels, this jacana moves its nesting site. If disturbed, the eggs are moved to previously built nests at new sites. Moves have been observed in July and August. The distance moved is 1-15m. It is a common but not regular and on occasion seen to occur 3-4 times with the same clutch.
After the first chick is hatched, it is not easy for the cock to remain sitting firmly on the clutch; his changed position, higher and looser tells the experienced observer that some hatching has taken place.
Pheasant-tailed Jacana
If one approached the nest, the chicks, when only a few hours old, will leave the nest slowly and hide under leaf or among water plants where they remain motionless with only their beaks above the water surface.
About 2-3 times an hour, the father gathers the chicks together at a suitable place such as a lotus leaf on the water or on somewhat firmer ground – there he broods them under his abdomen or his wings. First, with legs spread out and bending his legs, he slowly lowers his body. Then he raises his wings slightly and with them protects the chicks as they snuggle up to him. Such a comforting rest period of 5-10 minutes breaks up the strenuous foraging for food. The cock can hold the brood between body and wing in such a way that they are practically carried with their legs dangling freely.
Their call is a mewing me-onp and a nasal teeun
EXIF info…
Camera:
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens:
EF300mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
Exposure Mode:
Auto exposure
Exposure Time:
1/640 sec.
Exposure Bias:
0.0
Aperture (F Stop):
f/5.6
ISO Used:
200
Flash Used:
Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode.
White Balance:
Daylight
Focal Length:
420.0 mm
Metering Mode:
Pattern
Date Time:
2010:02:21 08:24:19
GPS Location in Google Map:
13° 33' 11.3" N, 74° 42' 53.5" E, 47 m.a.s.l.
Copyright ©
Krishna Mohan
All rights Reserved. This Image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or trasmitted in any forms or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission. If you’d like to make usage request, just ask: drkrishi@drkrishi.com
EXIF info…
Camera:
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens:
EF300mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
Exposure Mode:
Auto exposure
Exposure Time:
1/640 sec.
Exposure Bias:
0.0
Aperture (F Stop):
f/5.6
ISO Used:
200
Flash Used:
Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode.
White Balance:
Daylight
Focal Length:
420.0 mm
Metering Mode:
Pattern
Date Time:
2010:02:21 08:24:22
GPS Location in Google Map:
13° 33' 11.3" N, 74° 42' 53.5" E, 47 m.a.s.l.
Copyright ©
Krishna Mohan
All rights Reserved. This Image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or trasmitted in any forms or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission. If you’d like to make usage request, just ask: drkrishi@drkrishi.com
EXIF info…
Camera:
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens:
EF300mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
Exposure Mode:
Auto exposure
Exposure Time:
1/640 sec.
Exposure Bias:
0.0
Aperture (F Stop):
f/5.6
ISO Used:
200
Flash Used:
Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode.
White Balance:
Daylight
Focal Length:
420.0 mm
Metering Mode:
Pattern
Date Time:
2010:02:21 08:24:28
GPS Location in Google Map:
13° 33' 11.3" N, 74° 42' 53.5" E, 47 m.a.s.l.
Copyright ©
Krishna Mohan
All rights Reserved. This Image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or trasmitted in any forms or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission. If you’d like to make usage request, just ask: drkrishi@drkrishi.com
Tags: Asia, Aves, birds, Canon EF 1.4x II Extender, Canon EF 300mm f/4.0 L IS USM, Canon EOS 5D mark II, Charadriiformes, Chinese Water-pheasant, Chordata, Hydrophasianus, Hydrophasianus chirurgus, India, Jacanidae, Karnataka, Kundapura, Malladi, Mallayadi, Mallyadi, Malyadi, Malyadi Bird Sanctuary, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Tringa Chirurgus Scopoli, Udupi, Waterpheasant
Posted in Nature, Photography, Wildlife | Comments (2)
by Krishna Mohan
Barn Swallow
Last Sunday (15th Feb 2009) I went to Malyadi Bird Sanctuary. This is an abandoned clay query 9 kms away from Kundapura inhabited by water birds for the swampy land created by collected rain water in the left over clay fields. This year I was little late to reach there. Usually I used to go in the month of January. This birds were much less in number as well as variety.
Here is a common swallow (also called Barn Swallow) Hirundo rustica sitting on the wooden post beside the swamp. Shot using Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM using Giottos Monopod as support.
EXIF info…
Camera:
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens:
EF400mm f/5.6L USM
Exposure Mode:
Auto exposure
Exposure Time:
1/500 sec.
Exposure Bias:
0.0
Aperture (F Stop):
f/8.0
ISO Used:
800
Flash Used:
Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode.
White Balance:
As Shot
Focal Length:
400.0 mm
Metering Mode:
Spot
Date Time:
2009:02:15 08:19:05
GPS Location in Google Map:
12° 53' 21.4" N, 74° 49' 14" E, 33 m.a.s.l.
Copyright ©
Krishna Mohan
All rights Reserved. This Image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or trasmitted in any forms or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission. If you’d like to make usage request, just ask: drkrishi@drkrishi.com
Tags: Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM, Canon EOS 5D mark II, Giottos P-Pod Monopod, Kundapura, Malladi, Mallyadi, Malyadi Bird Sanctuary
Posted in Nature, Photography, Wildlife | Comments (0)
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