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Mieke WA Minkjan | all galleries >> Photo a day gallery >> January 2010 Monochrome > 13 Magpies
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11-JAN-2010 © MiekeWAMinkjan

13 Magpies

Melbourne, Australia

The magpie family around my house surviving the heat wave.
It was 44.1 C (111.38 F) when I took this picture Monday afternoon.
Believe me that was a shocking temperature.

Birds dissipate heat absorbed from their surroundings by gape open-mouthed,
while rapidly fluttering their throat region to evaporate water from their mouth cavities.


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Bernard Bosmans27-Jan-2010 08:51
It was a shocker indeed, good effort to capture these two panting in the shade. I left my camera in the bag that day.
Sam X18-Jan-2010 01:15
you can sent an extra degrees to us ... pour birds need some water. great shot
Carl and Racine Erland15-Jan-2010 02:37
They look warm...nice shot of the poor babies, hope the weather cools down soon. - Racine
Ronald Bijtenhoorn13-Jan-2010 18:18
Precies op het juiste moment afgedrukt; deze eksters zien er toch iets anders uit dan bij ons.
Gary Blanchette13-Jan-2010 15:16
I love the white running through their feathers. The crows here are just black.
Barbara Heide13-Jan-2010 14:07
great find , nicely composedç
Guest 13-Jan-2010 14:06
I would be lying at the bottom of the lake ... with a long straw clenched in my teeths ... checking the fishes. Luckely it is -20°C here, and the sun is shining on this deep white stuff. :)
Bernard Davis13-Jan-2010 12:20
Much too hot for comfort.
They're similar, but not identical to our magpies.
Guest 13-Jan-2010 10:19
Het lijkt wel een tweeling, grappig!
Goed gezien en op het juiste moment een foto geschoten, Mieke.
Doug Cruden13-Jan-2010 08:05
That's just mad! 44.1C??? Crazy! I feel for you folks out there, struggling through that heat! And for the wildlife as well - these guys look like they've got it sorted though....
Sheila13-Jan-2010 07:47
It is outrageous the weather you have been having. Hope you get respite soon.
I see our Maggies doing this a lot.
Ann...13-Jan-2010 07:39
You are brave to be outside in that heat! I haven't seen this type of Magpie before, they seem unafraid of your approach.
borisalex13-Jan-2010 07:06
Woow that´s hot indeed, poor animals, using their own air conditioning! Stay out of the sun! Mieke!
Mary Terry13-Jan-2010 05:17
Nice capture of these birds trying to stay cool!
Walter Otto Koenig13-Jan-2010 03:59
Looks like magpies have a good method of dealing with the heat. Stay cool!
Frank Brault13-Jan-2010 02:46
Excellent. I like their "pose" and that you caught them with their beaks open.
Guest 13-Jan-2010 02:38
Wow, that is hot! Is that normal for your summer? Great catch of these two squawkers!
Bill Ewart Jr13-Jan-2010 02:06
wow...I've never seen a Magpie before!!!!!!!!!
Yvonne13-Jan-2010 02:02
Was it a dry heat Mieke? I kept the bird bath full and the birds were so glad to find water, though it must have been close to boiling point. Excellent capture.
Jeff Lobaugh13-Jan-2010 01:51
Ah yes! Almost forgot about these quiet little creatures gently waking me up in the morning.
Fay Stout13-Jan-2010 01:23
I think I'd be fluttering my throat too! That's way too hot.
Guest 13-Jan-2010 01:22
It was very hot here too, but it didn't reach 44 ªC . Poor birds, how did they survive?
Very nice shot Mieke!
Stephanie13-Jan-2010 01:13
A superb compo Mieke! 111* F - As Paris Hilton would say, "That's Hot!"
Available Light Images13-Jan-2010 01:07
A striking portrait of this pair, the iron railing is a great counterpoint to their pied plumage.
J. Scott Coile13-Jan-2010 01:05
That kind of heat is hard to escape. Great contrast.
Cindi Smith13-Jan-2010 00:28
calling out to others...the food is here!
carol j. phipps13-Jan-2010 00:28
Large birds with a lot of personality.
Phillip Normanton13-Jan-2010 00:06
Wow, that's some temperature - hope you and your magpies found some shade :)
Jola Dziubinska13-Jan-2010 00:02
Very clever birds.
marita toftgard12-Jan-2010 23:55
that is very hot!
great capture
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