Frigate Birds

[Mongo]

These effective long range fliers are seldom seen near established land preferring instead to roam the open oceans and stop at the odd island on their way. (see images 1 and 2 below).

They have a particularly ruthless and opportunistic reputation. Mongo has watched them hunt in coordinated packs. They single out a smaller bird that may be carrying fish or other food in its beak and methodically chase it in turns. During the chase, the frigate birds attempt to grab the smaller  bird’s tail with their beaks frightening it into releasing the food from its beak which the friates then immediate catch and eat in mid air. This was quite an enthralling  spectacle which Mongo watched for about an hour. Here is one quick shot which shows you the all out and often dangerous efforts made to carry out their purpose. Often risking breaking a wing or worse. In either case, most injuries will mean certain death. (See image 3 below)

[Tom Hook]

Your photographs are very fine. The peering yellow eye in the second shot and the harassment of the tern in the third are especially so.

It is quite a bird.

Its cousin, the magnificent frigate bird, is rarely seen anywhere around my parts unless blown north in a storm, but does show up in our southern coastal waters. I just read that the wingspan of the magnificent is 7.5 feet. Are yours comparable in size? It's hard to tell from the pictures.


 

[Ron Scubadiver]

The split tail is the mark of the long distance flyer.  In South America I would see many sea birds over 100 km from land, amazing how strong they are.

[Mongo]

Thanks Tom and Ron for your comments about this most fascinating and slightly mysterious bird species.

Tom, these were taken on a very tiny coral island about 400 kilometres off the east coast of semi-tropical Australia. Mongo is aware of the larger of this species that you have referred to. The birds Mongo photographed were very large in wingspan. Overall, they were close to the figure you quoted but perhaps a little less. They are incredible flyers with effortless quick and complex manoeuvres that you would not expect from birds so large. Mongo has acquired a very healthy respect for these creatures.

[John Geerts]

Impressive Mongo. Also the story.  Love that last attack one, beautiful wing-span.

[Jakov Minić]

Mongo captured the action in wonderful fashion!
I enjoyed the story, thanks

[Mongo]

thank you John and Jakov.

Some have told Mongo that they see halos in some of these images. Mongo cannot see them on his screens so would be grateful if you would let him know if any of you can see any halos. Mongo understands this can be because of the type of screens others are using or sometimes, from various actions in PP; especially the type of sharpening used

[Jakov Minić]

The only thing that I see and the distracts me a bit is the out of focus background on the 3rd chasing image.

[armando_m]

The dog fights are amazing to watch, I'll be shooting these in a few weeks

Nice images Mongo , I specially like the last one

[Akira]

Yeah, the tension of the last one is terrific!

[charlie]

thank you John and Jakov.

Some have told Mongo that they see halos in some of these images. Mongo cannot see them on his screens so would be grateful if you would let him know if any of you can see any halos. Mongo understands this can be because of the type of screens others are using or sometimes, from various actions in PP; especially the type of sharpening used

I can see some haloing, it is subtle but noticeable once pointed out (NEC LCD monitor). It is in the first to images on the blue sky. A soft halo surrounding the birds, The type of halo that is often brought on by raising the shadow detail or darkening the blue sky or a mid-tone contrast adjustment (clarity or large radius sharpening). If you open the photo in photoshop, select the color picker, and drag it across the blue sky you can see the blue channel luminosity raise about 20 points as you get close to the edge of the bird.

Then maybe a small over sharpening halo surrounding the bird in all three photos.
I didn't notice any of this until I read your post and took a second look though.

[Mongo]

First, thanks to Jakov, Armando and Akira

I can see some haloing, it is subtle but noticeable once pointed out (NEC LCD monitor). It is in the first to images on the blue sky. A soft halo surrounding the birds, The type of halo that is often brought on by raising the shadow detail or darkening the blue sky or a mid-tone contrast adjustment (clarity or large radius sharpening). If you open the photo in photoshop, select the color picker, and drag it across the blue sky you can see the blue channel luminosity raise about 20 points as you get close to the edge of the bird.

Then maybe a small over sharpening halo surrounding the bird in all three photos.
I didn't notice any of this until I read your post and took a second look though.

Special thanks to you Charlie for going to this trouble. Your feedback seems 100% spot on. The PP actions you described were indeed the ones used and in the images you mentioned. This information, cross  referenced with other information from another site, virtually confirms the cause of the halo problem. Not sure how to avoid it in future in practical terms but at least now Mongo knows where it is coming from. Sincere thanks again.

[charlie]

No problem.

My advice would be to either apply less of those adjustments, try the same adjustments in a different manor (curves/levels instead of a shadow slider for example), try different program to see if it renders a better result, or if you feel so inclined make the adjustments manually by use of masks in photoshop or the finicky brush tool in lightroom.

[ColinM]

Lovely to see these Mongo.
I've only seen these once before (Trinidad) and they were like awesome pirates!

As for their technique, I believe they not only force their prey to release what's in their beaks, but the contents of their stomachs too sometimes

[Mongo]

Charlie, thanks for the additional advice which Mongo will try on some other images due for PP.

Colin, thanks for your comments. "Pirates" is probably the best description of these birds one could use. Thanks also for the additional info about also stealing the stomach contents of their victims.  Bizarre but interesting and not inconsistent with their ruthless behaviour (which Mongo believes includes stealing eggs and new bourn from nests). This is one really bad pirate !