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The Ugliest Duckling
The Ugliest Duckling
skewsme


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study 2009-09 (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: stories
Camera: Canon EOS-40D
Lens: Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Lens
Location: my garage door
Date: Sep 30, 2009
Date Uploaded: Sep 30, 2009

 This is a vulture chick that landed in my backyard.

---Nope it couldn't fly and yup I did call wildlife experts in, especially since the poor thing seemed injured as well. They came and we chased him around my yard and scooped him up (he could run!). There is a healthy vulture population in my area, and some seem to roost in my neighbor's barn - I'm guessing that's where this little guy came from. As if his odd appearance wasn't enough, he also did this weird raspy growl if I got too close - like a movie vampire. Vultures are such meek, shy and clumsy (on the ground) creatures, yet they seem to have a concentration of traits humans find repugnant. Makes you wonder what they did wrong in their past lives!

Statistics
Place: 249 out of 400
Avg (all users): 5.5616
Avg (commenters): 6.6000
Avg (participants): 5.5556
Avg (non-participants): 5.5789
Views since voting: 816
Views during voting: 244
Votes: 146
Comments: 14
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
 10/15/2009 07:44:25 AM
VERY cool! I don't think he's ugly in the slightest.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/14/2009 12:29:47 PM
*scratching head* so how did vulture chick get OUT of your yard? It barely looks fledged enough to leave the nest! Or did you call the Vulture Chick Removal Specialists? :-)

Intriguing capture of a birdie destined to be one of nature's garbagemen. Cool!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/14/2009 10:04:35 AM
Could it even fly yet? I feel so sorry for it for some reason. And yeah, they may not be the prettiest birds, but they're gorgeous in flight.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/11/2009 01:42:05 PM
it would be really cool to have something like this land in your backyard - lucky! I think you hurt it's feelings tho by calling the poor babe ugly Of course, when they grow up, it doesn't get any better for them tho, does it? :) Great shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/11/2009 08:23:33 AM
From the thumb nail he looks to be at least 10 feet tall! LOL! Boy is he ugly!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/11/2009 06:31:02 AM
Commenting as part of my Team Suck duties...

Brave move submitting something "ugly" in a free study. Lucky to get the shots at all given your description, and I imagine you'd have been under some pressure to take the photos quickly... never know if mummy is close by... image is VERY top heavy, and the feet are OOF. Fortunate capture, but probably not the DPC enough, especially for a FS.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2009 09:38:06 PM
Aww....that poor baby!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2009 09:23:07 AM
You have very interesting birds that land in your backyard. We get sparrows, starlings, cardinals, blue jays etc, but no vultures. Hopefuly, that's not a bad omen!!!

Nice closeup by the way.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2009 01:20:40 AM
I can't decide which I like better, the photograph or "this is a vulture chick that landed in my backyard." Beautifully, improbably sweet and charming.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
10/07/2009 10:26:40 PM
lovely subject, and pose! I wish his legs were sharp too
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/03/2009 11:58:23 AM
Nice! Love the pov.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/03/2009 09:11:06 AM
I like the texture. What kind of bird is that?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/01/2009 03:20:36 PM
Oh my. The creature looks almost embarassed to be seen this way, yet it is quite fascinating. Wonderful catch.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/01/2009 01:05:32 PM
What greate legs!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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