Apr

15

Kurly Ku(du) – April 2010

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Shot of the Month – April 2010

 

What can weigh up to 600 pounds and has a mane?

No, try again.  The male lion only weighs up to 400 pounds.

The picture is a big clue.  It is the Greater Kudu.

Believe it or not, these massive antelopes are only the 2nd largest antelopes in the world.  For those of you keeping score at home the largest antelope is the Eland, weighing in at up to 1,500 pounds.  But that is a story for another month.

Greater Kudu can be found across a wide range of Africa.  In the east, they live in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Eritrea, and Kenya.  In the south, they live in Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and in Botswana, where this photo was taken.

Kudus prefer to live in thick, wooded areas, rocky hillsides, dry river beds, and areas with lots of water.  Turns out that kudu are vulnerable on the open plains as they do not run very fast and they do not have much stamina —  ergo with nowhere to hide they can be easily run down by lions, leopards, and wild dogs.  However, among the thick bush kudu have a better chance of success.  Despite their size, kudu are excellent jumpers and a male can easily leap 8 feet or more (Picture a 600 lb antelope jumping clean over your head with a couple of feet to spare!)  When pursued they simply leap over rocks and bushes that predators have a hard time navigating.  And for the kudu, the best defense is a good offense, of sorts.  Amongst the thick vegetation, their colorations and markings make them very difficult to see – so if they remain perfectly still they can often go undetected by carnivores on the prowl.

Despite their wide range kudu numbers are declining.  Much of their habitat is disappearing as humans cut down the forests to make farmland.  Hunting is also a big problem as trophy hunters prize those amazing cork-screw horns that are found only on males.  At full maturity, the horns make a complete 2 ½ twist.

Alas, if humanity continues its relentless encroachment the kudu will soon have no place left to hide, and then, ironically, we will truly never see them again.

Mar

15

Gracious Goliath – March 2010

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Shot of the Month – March 2010

A few years ago while living in Kenya took advantage of a long weekend to explore a couple of lakes that I had never found time to visit previously.

We first stopped at Lake Bogoria which is famous for its hot springs.  We had hoped to find the lake brimming with flamingos but there were few to be found and although the springs were interesting, overall we were underwhelmed.  Matters got worse when a large group of college students descended on the site.  Our goal of communing with nature suddenly disappeared as we became bit actors in a scene of the movie Animal House.  After one night we pulled up tent in search of more tranquil pastures.  Next stop – Lake Baringo.

Lake Baringois an ornithological wonder and is home to over 400 types of birds.  Each morning and afternoon we hired a canoe with a “captain” and patrolled the shoreline in search of wildlife.  Late one afternoon we discovered this majestic Goliath Heron standing on an outcropping.  The Goliath Heron is aptly named given that it is the largest heron in the world and can reach 5 feet in height with a wingspan of close to 8 feet across and these birds can weigh up to 11 pounds.

Herons typically stand perfectly still by the water’s edge with seemingly endless patience waiting for a meal to come by.  The Goliath Heron feeds primarily on large fish using that long bill as a deadly spear though it will also feast on small mammals, frogs, and insects.

Often, serene images of nature belie a frenzy of activity taking place behind the camera.  Upon finding “the shot” the photographer springs into action feverishly setting up the tripod or support system.  Next s/he has to ensure that all of the camera settings are correct for the given type of scene.  Then s/he must adjust the lens and compose the image.  All this must take place before the subject moves or flees, or before the perfect light fades, or before some other calamity befalls that perfect moment.  Often that special something is gone in an instant and the photographer didn’t really get a chance to be a part of it, to really experience it, being too caught up in the details of the craft.

In this case, you couldn’t have asked for a more accommodating subject.  The heron stood patiently as we moved the boat around in search of the perfect angle and as I changed lenses trying different perspectives.  In this exceptional case, I managed to get the shot and then put the camera down, sit back, and soak it all in.

Ahhhhh, nature…………

Feb

15

Built for Speed – February 2010

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Shot of the Month – February 2010

Ok, you guessed it, this month we are going to talk about cheetahs.  This is a glamour shot of a healthy cheetah that I found on the plains of Kenya, Africa.  The allure is a bit dampened by that bit of drool, uh, just there, yeah, there on the right.  At the time of this shot the cheetah and I were surrounded by thousands of zebra –perhaps this fellow was contemplating the dining bonanza before us.

Attacking an adult zebra is a daydream at best.  Adult zebra can weigh from 450 to 1,000 lbs – far outside the weight class of our speedy cat.  A full-grown cheetah weighs from 80 to 140 lbs and focuses on smaller prey that usually weighs less than 90 lbs often preferring Thomson’s Gazelle, Grant’s Gazelle, springbok, or the Impala.  On a good day, a cheetah might go after a baby zebra or wildebeest.

No creature in the world can run as fast – cheetahs can reach speeds of 75 mph in 3 seconds flat and can cover 24 feet in a single stride.  That means a cheetah can accelerate faster than any Ferrari, Porsche, or Lamborghini made today.

Virtually every aspect of the cheetah’s body has been transformed to maximize speed.  They have a slender, long-legged torso very similar to that of a greyhound dog.  They have semi-retractable claws – claws that cannot be fully withdrawn.  The claws are therefore always in contact with the ground ensuring excellent traction acting much like a good set of track cleats. Cheetahs have large nostrils to improve oxygen intake and they have an enlarged heart, liver, and lungs to efficiently circulate oxygen throughout the body.  They have small heads to lower wind resistance.  An unusually flexible spine acts like a giant spring that can produce explosive surges of speed and long strides.  Black “tear marks” that run from the inside corner of each eye down the side of the nose help reduce glare from the sun and improve vision (think football players with black makeup on their cheeks).  Finally, cheetahs have especially long tails which act like rudders that enable them to make exceptionally sharp turns and outflank fleeing prey.

Basically, a cheetah is a supercar on paws.  But so many words…. as they say, a picture is worth a thousand of ‘em…

 

(Source)

Now.  That’s.  Fast.

 

Until next month…:-)

Jan

15

Time to Fly – January 2010

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Shot of the Month – January 2010

After only a few minutes into our morning game drive, we drove around a sharp corner and as we cleared the bend my guide slammed on the brakes.  In front of us, we were startled to find a young, seemingly mesmerized owl standing on a large log.

It was like a scene out of a fairy tale.  The air was cool and the morning air fresh, but still.  The owl’s fuzzy down feathers were softly lit as the sun just began to rise over the horizon.  The fledgling stared forward as if in deep thought or reflection.

While obviously still young, this owl was BIG.  After a moment of taking this all in the questions began to cascade through my brain.  What kind of owl is so big yet still so young?  Why is he on a log?  Why on the ground?  Where are the parents?  Why is he just sitting there?

I broadened my field of view to see if I could find any clues to this mystery.  After a few seconds of scanning, I found two adult Giant Eagle Owls (that explains the size, they are the largest owls in Africa) high up in a nearby tree peering down at their offspring.  The scene started to make sense.

This was Junior’s first flight!

He had soared down from the nest and was now on the ground trying to figure out what to do next.  Our fledgling finally broke free from his meditation and turned to look up at his parents.

He opened his wings and hesitantly leapt into the air.  I was startled again, this time by the width of his wing span.  This was a large bird but the wing span seemed exaggerated beyond reason compared to his body size.  Regardless, the motion of the wings was absolutely silent.  His first effort only garnered about 6 feet and then he landed (read “crashed”) onto the trunk of a nearby tree.  In parrot-like fashion, he used his beak to help climb up the tree to a higher branch.  He then leapt into the air again and gained a few more feet before “landing” a bit higher in another nearby tree.  He slowly zigzagged his way up to the tree where his proud parents were waiting.

What an extraordinary experience.  One of my safari favorites.

A few insights from this encounter to help start the New Year:

  • Get out and explore the world. (You never know what will be around the next corner)
  • Wake up early.  It is a magical time. (painful, yes, but magical)
  • Make time to reflect (before you leap)
  • Set high goals.  Take small steps to reach them
  • Expect a few crashes along the way, but don’t let them stop you

 

Happy New Year!

Dec

15

In Search of the King – December 2009

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Shot of the Month – December 2009

This month some celebrate the birth of the King of Kings.  One Christmas story tells how three wise men were aided by a bright star that led them to the new King.

While less transcendent, three men (also less wise) were aided in finding the king of the animal world allowing me to capture this regal portrait of the male lion.

Our journey began on a crisp morning in Botswana as I, a visiting friend, and our guide/driver (the three wise-ish men) left camp in our Toyota Landcruiser (all out of camels) in search of royalty.  After a few minutes on the trail, we heard the roar of a lion.  We drove in that direction and found a young male lion walking with purpose.  The young lion was agitated; he was clearly trying to find his missing pride.

Finally, after 20 minutes of plaintive calls and walking hither and thither, we heard a bellow off in the distance.  Our young prince looked hopeful and called again and walked briskly in the direction of the deep roar.  After another 10 minutes of the lion equivalent of “Marco Polo” the young lion led us to the magnificent black-manned lion in this photo.  He was with a female and it was clear they were a mating couple.  Their reunion was full of head bumps and body rubs.  The animal lover in me reveled in the moment and the photographer in me went giddy as the sun finally rose above the horizon and an orange beam of light basked the lion in this heavenly glow.  Click….sigh.

During this holiday season, I hope that you will likewise manage to reconnect with those dear to you and revel in the simple pleasure of being together.  A warm head bump to you all.

(Speaking of great reunions.  In 1969 two Australians living in the center of London bought a lion cub at Harrods department store.  After a few months, it became clear that Christian, the lion, was becoming too big to live in the city.  Rather than put him in a zoo they persuaded conservationist George Adamson (remember “Born Free”?) in Kenya to take Christian and teach him how to live in the wild.  A year later the men returned to Africa to see how their now wild lion cub was doing.  See the amazing reunion here )