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Coleen Perilloux Landry | all galleries >> Galleries >> Birds in Louisiana > Red Shoulder Hawk - Bird of Prey
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28-FEB-2009 Coleen Perilloux Landry

Red Shoulder Hawk - Bird of Prey

Louisiana

I am a bird lover and a supporter of all living creatures. The coot was still alive when I came upon this and it made me sick. I know it is nature and "survival of the fitness" and laws of the jungle etc, but this made me very sad.

Canon EOS 40D
1/640s f/9.0 at 300.0mm iso400 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time28-Feb-2009 13:19:12
MakeCanon
ModelCanon EOS 40D
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length300 mm
Exposure Time1/640 sec
Aperturef/9
ISO Equivalent400
Exposure Bias
White Balance
Metering Modematrix (5)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Programshutter priority (2)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
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pkocinski09-Mar-2010 00:19
I know what you are feeling but it's a great image!
H. P. Henriksen Starman08-Mar-2010 17:35
Your compassion for the coot would I like to stretch to the environmental impact the world is facing right now. Fantastic shot. B v.
Milan Vogrin14-Jan-2010 16:57
Great catch!
Aat Bender02-Jul-2009 16:47
Spectacular image!
carol j. phipps27-Apr-2009 01:44
Voted.
Earl Arboneaux 01-Apr-2009 11:33
Very nice capture, although sad!!!
Fay Stout15-Mar-2009 16:22
You have caught nature at just the "right" moment so to speak. I have trouble with things like this too but this is called survival.
carol j. phipps08-Mar-2009 02:01
Raw! Excellent capture!
Chris P.07-Mar-2009 23:28
This is a great capture, regardless of your feelings. I've been shooting raptors for years and it's rare that I get them with prey.
Guest 05-Mar-2009 03:13
Agreed, but still an amazing picture
petesie04-Mar-2009 04:43
Outstanding catch, Coleen. I think my purple martins left early last year because of hawks....and they are not back yet......I miss them. Truly a beautiful bird of prey though.
Greg Harp03-Mar-2009 20:57
Outstanding shot Coleen. I'm with you. On the other hand hawk's have their place in the grand plan as well...
Jackdad02-Mar-2009 23:28
I'm with you Coleen. I can't imagine that being eaten alive is a nice way to go. But for all we know, the coot was already weak or ill which was how the raptor managed to catch it. In the animal kingdom, when it's time to go, survival of the fittest at least makes for a relatively swift, not lingering ending.
Herb 02-Mar-2009 22:00
There are sooo many coots.
Nice catch
Guest 02-Mar-2009 17:13
Great shot, Colleen! I guess my heart is hardened. I just see a magnificent creature enjoying lunch. Thank you for sharing.
Maralee 02-Mar-2009 17:04
The Hawk is beautyful. We don't have that type up here. It makes me sad too. It natures way. Thank You for sharing....
Guest 02-Mar-2009 14:40
Nice image Coleen..
Bill Ewart Jr02-Mar-2009 14:22
It is sad but nature's vicious cycle....and you captured it so well~
Neal Nye02-Mar-2009 12:34
A fantastic capture of Nature in action.
Dave Hein02-Mar-2009 08:43
Nature isn't cruel, just indifferent.
Dennis Hoyne02-Mar-2009 04:56
Outstanding Photo, Coleen! The hawks got to eat.
coaster02-Mar-2009 04:05
I know exactly how you feel....Even so, an excellent shot.
s_barbour02-Mar-2009 03:51
As disturbing as this is, you have managed to captured magnificent shot!
Guest 02-Mar-2009 01:46
Beautiful bird, beautiful photo, congratulations.
As a non-hunter and animal lover, it's sad to see. But the reverse side is what others have said, overpopulation. Animals hunt only to survive.
Rob Philip02-Mar-2009 01:18
It's true that as a vegetarian it's reasonable to feel badly about the death of another animal. But don't forget - that hawk is the descendant of millions of years of evolution that formed it to eat other birds. The other bird is of a species that would likely overpopulate its environment were it not for predators. Your photo is, literally, evolution in action. The prey-bird had a good life, ending in one bad day. We should all be so lucky!
Cindi Smith02-Mar-2009 01:13
Yeah, we all have to do what we have to do to eat! It does bother me when I see this but then again, I like steak and I know where it comes from. Not easy to watch, though. Great capture of it!
Robin Reid02-Mar-2009 01:12
The way of the wild. Well seen.
Guest 02-Mar-2009 00:52
The circle of life.
A J Adams02-Mar-2009 00:26
Feelings aside Coleen, it is a great capture.
Rob Philip02-Mar-2009 00:07
It's true that as a vegetarian it's reasonable to feel badly about the death of another animal. But don't forget - that hawk is the descendant of millions of years of evolution that formed it to eat other birds. The other bird is of a species that would likely overpopulate its environment were it not for predators. Your photo is, literally, evolution in action. The prey-bird had a good life, ending in one bad day. We should all be so lucky!
Guest 01-Mar-2009 23:48
Hawks are regal, there is no doubt of their role in the food chain.
J. Scott Coile01-Mar-2009 23:02
What an amazing capture. I understand the feelings but WoW.
Al Chesworth01-Mar-2009 21:46
It's truly a harsh world, at all levels.
We meat eaters get others to do the dirty work.
However we have to take the shot, and it's a good one.
laine8201-Mar-2009 21:27
Such is life...as they say. It's all about survival.
northstar3701-Mar-2009 21:17
brutal!
Katherine 01-Mar-2009 21:16
This hawk looks like it's checking you out for dessert. Beautiful hawk, great shot - nature can be cruel.
sschex01-Mar-2009 21:15
Very good shot.
Mairéad01-Mar-2009 20:53
Perfect timing and a great depiction of the
natural world.
Guest 01-Mar-2009 20:50
I can empathize with you Coleen. I love birds of prey for their wonderful flying skills and tend not to dwell on the kill! When watching wildlife programmes on television I have to turn away at the point of kill.and suspect most of us in the "civilized" world would shy away from meat if we had to kill animals ourselves!!:>) Well catured shot though, Coleen!
Frank Wilson01-Mar-2009 20:30
To the victor go the spoils. This is real life in the animal kingdom. Good catch.
Chris Cox01-Mar-2009 20:07
Nice Shot Coleen, as sung . . . . "only the strong survive!" CC