Storied Photos

Taken 18-May-13

Visitors 242

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Info

Categories & Keywords

Category:Animals

Subcategory:Mammals

Subcategory Detail:

Keywords:Birds, Brown-headed Cowbird, Bull Elk, Elk, Mammals, Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park

Photo Info

Dimensions3414 x 2446

Original file size3.19 MB

Image typeJPEG

Color spaceAdobe RGB (1998)

Date taken18-May-13 10:40

Date modified27-May-13 14:12

Shooting Conditions

Camera makeCanon

Camera modelCanon EOS 5D

Focal length560 mm

Max lens aperturef/8

Exposure1/400 at f/8

FlashNot fired, compulsory mode

Exposure bias0 EV

Exposure modeManual

Exposure prog.Manual

ISO speedISO 640

Metering modePattern

Bull Elk with Cowbirds, Yellowstone National Park, WY (May 18, 2013, 9:40am)

Just one of those rare moments to see - probably not rare for the elk. A male and female cowbird feed on insects going for a ride on a resident elk in Yellowstone National Park.

It's not uncommon to see cowbirds travel on the backs of bison. Through evolution, cowbirds have adapted to their nomadic lifestyle by depositing their eggs in other birds' nests.

This elk just seemed to enjoy the friendly cleansing.

Canon EOS 5D, Canon 100-400mm f/4.5/5.6L IS @ 400mm with Canon 1.4X Teleconverter III - effective focal length - 560mm, 1/400 sec @f/8, ISO equiv 640, Calumet 8000 Carbon Fiber Tripod, Gitzo G1276 Ballhead