GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

First, this is my initial post in this section and I would like to thank Bhowdy and BirdPix for convincing Admin to start this section on UHH, and Nikonian72 for assisting. Your efforts are most appreciated. It should be listed on the Home Page without having to look in "All Sections" to see that it exists.

Its become a chore looking in the Picture Gallery for subjects that interest one. Its too congested and not accurately policed - i.e. people, sports, HDR, macro, and underwater pics not in respective sections. Now we need a Wildlife & Nature section (not pets or livestock). Landscape, and Street Photography sections might help, too. I could suggest others.

I guess these qualify as BIF and BOW pics. I went down to the river one day to see what kind of waterfowl was there. As I came out from the underbrush of the trail, the ground on the gravel bar exploded and startled me. It was this hen Mallard and her ducklings running for the water. The swift current carried them downstream as mom carefully lead her brood to an eddy of calmer water. I guess she thought the fast water was too much for the ducklings. She led them to some rocks on the opposite shore and jumped up on a boulder with the little ones following her path toward another eddy further downstream. They all joined together and swam away.

I sent these to the local TV station and they featured a series of them with the title "Mother knows best" during one of their newscasts when they show local photogs' pics.

I used a Canon EOS 50D w/EF 100-400mm L lens HH. Settings: Av @ f5.6; ISO 400; Partial metering; AI Servo @ 5-fps; cropped and PP w/PSE8.

Enjoy these. Comments welcome.

-- Gene

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Birdguide Loc: Ormond Beach, FL

Very nice images of Ma duck and the kids. Love the ones of the kids making the plunge from the rocks. Good Job. :thumbup:

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Very Nice Series, Gene. Welcome to BIF/BOW!

GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

Thank you. I was so intrigued watching the action that I almost didn't take the pics! It was so much fun watching how the little ones followed her and had the courage to make the jump.

Glad you like these and thanks for looking.

GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

Thanks, glad to come aboard. I have more. And thanks for looking.

fstop11 Loc: Huntington Beach Ca

Good work quick thinking. All mother duck brood pictures are great examples of mother know best.

bhowdy Loc: Maryville, Tennessee

Very fun series ... I would qualify the duckling plunge as BIFs .... It's the best that they can do at this point!

GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

Thanks for your comments and thanks for looking.

GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

:) I was amazed with how they did it with those little wings. I guess it was just a dive bomber routine quickly learned. Thanks for looking.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Birds In Fall?

GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

:lol: Doug, besides garnering good info from your excellent photography expertise, we can always depend on you to add a little bit of humor to your posts. Thanks for looking.

rlaugh Loc: Michigan & Florida

These are great!

GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

Glad you like them. Thanks for looking.