Are You Down There
by DB Hayes
Title
Are You Down There
Artist
DB Hayes
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Fine Art Americas (FAA) watermark does NOT appear on sold art as FAA removes the watermark before each sold copy is "museum quality" printed onto canvass, photo-paper, metal, acrylic or any of FAA's many other available medias regardless of which one is chosen by the buyer.
COPYRIGHT DISCLOSURE NOTICE: THIS IS A COPYRIGHTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PROTECTED IMAGE.
WE are proud to write the following highly respected art groups have featured on the date indicated by each group's name our "Are You Down There" image;
1 - Animal Photographs: 03/21/2017
2 - KINGDOM Animalia: 03/28/2017
3 - FAA Portraits - Birds: 03/28/2017
4 - Poetic Poultry: 03/28/2017
Deb and I visited the bird rookery at the Alligator Farm located on the infamous A1A highway in Saint Augustine, Florida on March 15th and 16th, 2017. Of course, we photographed many, many amazing birds all of which were either already nesting, building their nests or had built their nest and were displaying themselves for a mate. The bird activity in this rookery is stunningly amazing.
The Roseate Spoonbill shown was captured by Deb from the rear as one can plainly see as it was looking down as if searching for its mate. Or for some other reason. Regardless we thought it a nice image due to the wing display, which lead us to post it. Now for a few facts on this species.
The roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) (sometimes placed in its own genus Ajaja) is a gregarious wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family, Threskiornithidae. It is a resident breeder in South America mostly east of the Andes, and in coastal regions of the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, the Gulf Coast of the United States and on central Florida's Atlantic coast Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge adjoined with NASA Kennedy Space Center.
The roseate spoonbill is 71 to 86 cm (28 to 34 in) long, with a 120 to 133 cm (47 to 52 in) wingspan and a body mass of 1.2 to 1.8 kg (2.6 to 4.0 lb). The tarsus measures 9.7 to 12.4 cm (3.8 to 4.9 in), the culmen measures 14.5 to 18 cm (5.7 to 7.1 in) and the wing measures 32.3 to 37.5 cm (12.7 to 14.8 in) and thus the legs, bill, neck and spatulate bill all appear elongated. Adults have a bare greenish head ("golden buff" when breeding and a white neck, back and breast (with a tuft of pink feathers in the center when breeding), and are otherwise a deep pink. The bill is grey. There is no significant sexual dimorphism.
Like the American flamingo, their pink color is diet-derived, consisting of the carotenoid pigment canthaxanthin. Another carotenoid, astaxanthin, can also be found deposited in flight and body feathers. The colors can range from pale pink to bright magenta, depending on age and location. Unlike herons, spoonbills fly with their necks outstretched. They alternate groups of stiff, shallow wingbeats with glides.
This species feeds in shallow fresh or coastal waters by swinging its bill from side to side as it steadily walks through the water, often in groups. The spoon-shaped bill allows it to sift easily through mud. It feeds on crustaceans, aquatic insects, frogs, newts and very small fish ignored by larger waders. In the United States, a popular place to observe roseate spoonbills is "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Roseate spoonbills must compete for food with snowy egrets, great egrets, tricolored herons and American white pelicans.
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"Art Elevates The Spirit"
Bill and Deb Hayes
Uploaded
March 18th, 2017
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Comments (14)
Morris Finkelstein
Wonderful photo of a Roseate Spoonbill in a unique pose, with great colors, light, perspective and composition, Bill and Deb! F/L
Anita Faye
Bill and Deb, pink perfection! Featured on Poetic Poultry! https://fineartamerica.com/groups/poetic-poultry-.html
HH Photography of Florida
Gorgeous color, feather detail and wing display. Beautiful Roseate capture. l/fv
DB Hayes replied:
Thank You Helen for your awesome compliment, visit and the L/F. All much appreciated. Bill and Deb Hayes
Anita Faye
Bill and Deb, how cute! Amazing color! lfp
DB Hayes replied:
Thank you Anita for visiting, your gracious compliment and the L/F/P. WE very much appreciate all. Bill and Deb
John M Bailey
Beautiful Bill and Deb! l/f/pin
DB Hayes replied:
Thank you John. WE very much appreciate your visit, compliment and the L/F/Pin. Bill and Deb
Jane Selverstone
Wonderful and unusual capture of a roseate spoonbill, with glorious colors and detail.
Wes Iversen
An excellent detailed capture, Deb! The detail is superb, and the color is so lovely that at first, I thought it was a flower! These birds are so pretty, and you've shown that off wonderfully here! L/F
Linda Crockett
Wow, what beautiful feathers, like a frilly pink dress, the colors in this image are all so pretty, love the blue in the background, too - wonderful shot, Bill & Deb! l/f
DB Hayes replied:
Thank you very much Linda. WE sincerely appreciate your visit, awesome compliments and the L/F. Bill & Deb