Larry Treadwell  


Territorial Dispute by Larry Treadwell

February 2025 - Territorial Dispute

About the Image(s)


Nikon D850, Nikkor 200-400 f4 lens with tc 1.4 @ 1/1600, ISO 800, f5.6 on monopod
It was daybreak in the marsh lands and I was there to check out my recently (and expensively, repaired lens when I can upon this sudden, and quite loud territorial dispute. Just a few years ago the Wood Stork was considered to be an endangered species but now it has become the unwanted bully of the swamplands. The everglades are a vast area and you would think there is plenty of room but this bully wants the entire area to itself and is actively chasing out any who dare try to claim a branch for themselves. The wood stork has a large and heavy bill which when violently snapped shut sounds like the crack of an old time bullwhip. The crack of the bill is the signal for other to quicky gather to drive of intruders. In this instance as the woodstork (the one on the left) flapped its wings and heading for a Great Blue Heron, the heron wasted no time in running across the tops of the mangroves as it furiously flapped its great wings to hasten its get away. A squad of 4 woodstorks followed the GBH to make certain it was completely out of the neighborhood.

The wood storks are really vicious, I’ve seen them attack in mass and kill birds sitting on a nest when they decide to move into a “neighborhood.”


4 comments posted




Butch Mazzuca   Butch Mazzuca
I've always felt the most interesting wildlife images are those that show interaction between species - Check! As a result, the image is interesting to look at with or without the back story - Check! And I don't think you could ask for a better composition to tell the story - Check!   Posted: 02/05/2025 22:39:54
Larry Treadwell   Larry Treadwell
Thanks Butch
I pretty much agree about the interaction between species, but interaction among the same species can get pretty feisty. What I like about the composition is the GBH running! It was the leg action that seems so unusual.
  Posted: 02/06/2025 01:45:40



Susan Cifaldi   Susan Cifaldi
That stork is a real mean machine! But I'm glad it didn't get beyond the squawk-and-run stage.

I love the sharpness extending to the foreground. That with the blurred background gives it almost a 3-D look.

My 200-400 f/4 needed repair twice. The first time I paid a lot, but the second time Nikon did it for free. Apparently it was something that should have been done during the first hospital visit.
  Posted: 02/07/2025 21:48:17
Larry Treadwell   Larry Treadwell
Glad you got it fixed. I still love mine even if it is costly. The images it produces just make me smile.
Hope yours is producing images you love.   Posted: 02/07/2025 22:11:36



 

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