Sunday, August 30, 2009

Best feet forward?


Caspian Tern, originally uploaded by What the heck was that?.

The obvious amazing element of this photo is the bill has just cut the water without a ripple yet to break. The gape is open ready to grasp some hapless fish or perhaps it will be all splash and no lunch. Less conspicuous is the posture of the feet. As well as I know Caspian Terns I realize I don't know why the feet are forward in lieu of back. It would seem more stream lined to have them far back like the Pelicaniformes in their underwater pursuit for fish. Perhaps the feet forward are in position to allow for a quick burst off of the water. Caspians are not ones to sit and float on the water like a gull or even some of the smaller terns.

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