equivocality » Blog Archive » Avian Encroachment

05 May 08

Posted in: Photo/Misc, Random | Tags: photography

One of my photographs, entitled “Avian Encroachment”, has been selected as one of the finalists in CBCs 2008 Nature in Focus contest under the category Your Habitat. There were 1200 entries entered this year.

The title is a play on the term “urban encroachment”, which is used to describe the destructive habits of human activity spreading over natural areas.

Since the photo is of a pigeon sitting next to the spikes used to keep birds off the ledges of buildings, it appeared to me that he was flaunting his position, and pushing back.

One of my geology teachers in university said that it was silly to think of us trying to save the planet, because the earth, as a living thing, is going to be around for a long time. Environmentalism is really about saving ourselves.

You can check out the winners and other finalists on the CBC website.

9 comments — Follow the feed

#1trolley

Wow. Congratulations man. That’s a great photo. Too bad you didn’t win, but being a finalist out of submissions from across the country is no small feat!

#2loo

Great Photo Jeff!

There’s this oddly constructed house on Sommerset at Lyon street in Ottawa. It’s next to the beer store (i think), you might want to check it out. In the summer rediculous numbers of pigeons stack nearly one on top of another on the roof of the house.

The house faces Lyon street, but the roof is best viewed from the park across the street. Best viewed after a big plate of sauteed snow pea leaves with garlic and a bubble tea(o=

#3Jeff

@trolley — Thanks…you’re right, I’m happy to have even made the finalists.

@loo — I’m going to have to check out that house, I think I know which area you’re talking about (there’s only one Beer Store on Somerset with a park across the street, as far as I remember). I’ll be sure to bring my longest lens for that.

And where can I get some sautéed snow peas?

#4loo

Re: the crazy pigeons.
They weren’t crazy everytime i went by, i can’t seem to figure out if its the weather or the time of day or.. something else i can’t quite put my finger on, but what i remember is warmer days, not quite overcast, but not blazing sunlight either.

On the topic of snow pea leaves/tips (not snow peas themselves) you can buy them at the asian market at the corner of Montgomery and Montreal road and cook them yourself with some rice wine and garlic and oil OR you can go to Yangtze and ask for an order of snow pea tips with garlic (AND an amazing egg tart)… and for you, maybe a “milky” tea. (o=

Hopefully the pigeon-house owners haven’t replaced its old roof, i think the pigeons were there eating up the little stones from the shingles (i think that helps them digest or something to that effect)

#5Jeff

I’m going to have to check that out, it sounds delicious.

Pigeons eating stones reminds me of the dinosaurs who had smooth rocks in their stomachs to grind food.

#6Pearl

Awesome. Good show. That’s a great image. Glad it will get more viewing.

#7Em

Amazing. I absolutely love it.

#8Joe Lencioni

Congratulations. What an honor.

#9Jeff

Thanks everyone!