Helmeted Honeyeaters, and one of my favourite images, are both winners.
Helmeted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops cassidix)
1/1000, f/5.6, ISO 1600
The photograph above is one of my favourite shots, ever. I often look for symbolism in an image and I feel that this bird is calling for help while perching on dead bracken, a sign of it’s dwindling riparian habitat. I like the muted, diffused background that makes the honeyeater stand out clearly. The image has been exhibited in almost 100 international exhibitions, and has received many awards. I was helping with the supplementary feeding program and was kneeling on the ground when this hungry bird landed beside me. I think the eye-to-eye feel of the shot enhances the impact of the image. Most of my HeHo shots are of their legs, often with their head chopped off, as I looked for band details or checked for injured toes.
The good news is that thanks to an amazing team of professionals and volunteers Helmeted Honeyeaters numbers have risen from a low of about 50 birds to a current level of about 200. They are still Critically Endangered but a fourfold increase in numbers is wonderful. I have a large, framed print of this image hanging on the wall beside me; I feel that it’s an image of hope.
Helmeted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops cassidix)
1/500, f/6.3, ISO 200
This little fledgling photograph has also been exhibited internationally. The babies don’t come so close to the feeding stations but using a long lens and cropping the image gives a feeling of closeness. Young birds aren’t as vividly yellow as the adults, their helmets are greenish and their bills are yellow rather than black. Their feet and legs are pinkish, and their tail feathers take a while to grow to their full length.
Helmeted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops cassidix)
1/500, f/6.3, ISO 1600
Helmeted Honeyeaters are one of the four subspecies of the Yellow-tufted Honeyeater. They are the largest and brightest of the subspecies, with a pronounced ‘helmet’ that gives them their name.
You can visit the Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater site for information and a beaut selection of gifts: HeHo Friends
Happy birding
Kim
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They are all stunning, it’s difficult to pick a favourite among them. Beautiful work, as always. With so much destruction and devastation in the last months it’s great to know that these birds are steadily increasing in number.
Thank you. I think it’s important to share some good news stories amid the sadness.
Perfect!
Thank you CM, much appreciated!
We ALL need images of hope – and what stunners you have given us today. (I am still missing the follow-up comment feature.)
I’m so sorry about the feature EC. Something odd is happening with comments in general disappearing and with subscribers not being able to subscribe. Hopefully I’ll be able to sort it out before too long.
Brilliant photos Kim , and as usual a well worded write-up 😊
Thank you Bill 🙂