Birds


19
Jul 10

Pelicans On The Dock

Photograph of pelicans on a dock, Moss Landing, CaliforniaPelicans perch on a refrigeration unit on a dock in Moss landing, California. A fishing boat is on its way out in the early morning fog.


13
Jul 10

Pelicans Grooming

Photograph of pelicans grooming each other on the Moss Landing breakwaterAnother photograph from the Moss Landing breakwater. Although pelicans are a frequent sight in Moss Landing, they are an endangered species. They were placed on the Endangered Species List in 1970 due to a drastic population decline caused by the pesticide DDT. There are between 4,000 and 5,000 breeding pairs in California.


12
Jul 10

Brown Pelicans On The Moss Landing Breakwater

Photograph of brown pelicans On The Moss Landing breakwaterBrown pelicans are a familiar sight in Moss Landing, often sitting on jetties , wharf pilings and breakwaters. They are more gray-brown than brown and have a yellowish crown on white heads. They are gregarious creatures, as shown here on the breakwater at the entrance to the harbor. Two pelicans seem to be eye to eye.


2
Mar 10

Polar Coordinates and the Pelican

photograph of a brown pelican distorted by a Photoshop filterToday’s post is another example of using Photoshop’s Polar Coordinates filter to radically transform an image. I explained the process here in Monday’s post. The original image (scroll down to see) is of a brown pelican drying its feathers on a boat dock in Moss Landing, California. The distorted image emphasizes the sweep of the bill and the wing feathers but leaves the eye distinct, a nice touch, I think.

photograph of a brown pelican drying its wings at Moss Landing, California


22
Jan 10

Pelican Taking Flight

Pelican in flight at Moss Landing, CaliforniaThis pelican is taking off from underneath the Highway 1 bridge as it crosses Elkhorn Slough near the power plant in Moss Landing, California. The shutter speed was 1/400th of a second in order to freeze some of the motion. The head and eye and part of the body are in sharp focus while the wings are partially blurred, suggesting motion. The pelican seems to be flying out of the frame.