Sterna albifrons: Feeding the Chicks

Sterna albifrons: Feeding the Chicks (common name: Little tern)

Watching a pair taking care of its young is really thrilling. You can imagine how happy we were when we finally managed to take some photos of a pair of Sterna albifrons feeding their young chicks. The photos capture different parts of the process. The way the parent comes, the way it lays the little fish in the tiny mouth and the love and affection of the parents for their fluffy offspring. The photo of the young asking for food with its little wings extended as much as possible is perhaps the cutest of them all. Shot in Strophylia reserve, West Peloponnese, Greece, during summer 2010.

Photos by Mahi Goula and George Parchas

Shooting Data:

1. Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 100-400mmf/4.5-5.6L USM IS @ 400mm
Sensitivity: ISO 125
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/250 sec - f/11, Manual mode
Flash: no flash
Image: NEF edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized.

2. Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 100-400mmf/4.5-5.6L USM IS @ 400mm
Sensitivity: ISO 125
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/250 sec - f/11, Manual mode
Flash: No flash
Image: NEF edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized. 

3. Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 100-400mmf/4.5-5.6L USM IS @ 400mm
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/320 sec - f/9, Manual mode
Flash: No flash
Image: NEF edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized.

4. Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 100-400mmf/4.5-5.6L USM IS @ 400mm
Sensitivity: ISO 125
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/320 sec - f/9, Manual mode
Flash: No flash
Image: NEF edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized.

5. Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 100-400mmf/4.5-5.6L USM IS @ 400mm
Sensitivity: ISO 125
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/320 sec - f/9, Manual mode
Flash: No flash
Image: NEF edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized.

6. Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF 180mmf/3.5L USM Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 125
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/320 sec - f/9, Manual mode
Flash: No flash
Image: NEF edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized.

7. Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 100-400mmf/4.5-5.6L USM IS @ 400mm
Sensitivity: ISO 125
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/500 sec - f/9, Manual mode
Flash: No flash
Image: NEF edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized.