One Giant Step For A Chukar

In the past I’ve referred to Chukars as “rock hoppers”. This image gives some indication as to why.

 

chukar 4638 ron dudley1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in

Chukars are ground loving birds that are reluctant to fly. Instead they hop from rock to rock, rock to ground or ground to rock when traversing rough terrain. And a descending hop can cover great distance without even unfolding their wings – there have been times when I’ve seen them fall so far that I’ve thought to myself, “that landing must have hurt”.

This hop wasn’t far but I liked the shot because of the behavior and the clean background for the extended foot and leg. I also enjoy the fact that the rock is dark – part of the Farmington Canyon Complex that is common on the southern two-thirds of Antelope Island rather than the bright white Tintic Quartzite that dominates the northern third of the island. Those white rocks can be a photographic pain.

I suppose some would call this image a “novelty shot” and I’m just fine with that. We all need some occasional novelty in our lives…

Ron

 

24 Comments

  1. What a beautiful shot

  2. I have photos of Chukars in flight. You probably won’t approve but we used hunting dogs to point and then sent one person into the brush to flush them. I think this is better than shooting them with a gun and I don’t think flushing them into the air hurt them in any way.

    • Chukars in flight would be a difficult shot to get, John.

      • Yes, extremely hard to get them in flight. At 1/2000 sec, I stopped wing motion but I had a lot of misses as you would expect. I took photos of one on the ground but it was in dense brush and all you can really make out is the eye.

  3. Novelty, no way! Great shot..crystal clear..way to go!! Jer

  4. Or…riding a motorcycle?????

  5. On second, maybe third, thought, I think a novelty shot MIGHT be one of a Chukar with a lampshade on its head….???

  6. How about “statue-like” VS “intetesting”(aka “doing something”)….

  7. Wonderful photograph of one of these beautiful birds!

    Yep, it’s a novelty shot. As in: “It would be a novelty if I ever took a picture this good.”!!

  8. Very crisp image. I like it. 🙂

  9. A beagle boy. Oooh…
    One giant leap for chukar kind.
    And we all need that sort of ‘novelty’, and beauty in our lives. Thank you.

    • I remember how well you like Chukars, EC. They’re pretty common on the island but their range is quite limited here in the US so most folks don’t get to see them (and as far as I know they’ve never been introduced to Australia so they’d be a species you don’t see them either). Thank you.

  10. What a gorgeous bird! You sent me to iBird Pro on this one. The chukar is new to me, and I was hoping that it could be found in Montana! The shot is wonderful, whatever you call it! Far better than what is in the app!

  11. The combination of soft and striking colors and patterns on these birds are always so pleasing to my eye…handsome birds. Love the behavioral and action shots…don’t know whatba “novelty shot” is…

    • Thank you, Patty. Maybe I’m not sure what a novelty shot is either but on critique sites I’ve seen images referred to as such when the primary appeal of the image is something funny, cute or a little strange or different.

  12. I prefer to think of this as a behavioral shot rather than novelty. And it’s a beautiful portrait of this bird.

  13. Beautiful birds and a sensational shot Ron!
    Charlotte

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