honorable mention
Richard Verroen netherlandsPhoto © Richard Verroen
title
Serving Breakfast
This bird was almost extinct in the Netherlands due to bad water conditions and lack of nesting sites, but by human interference there now are floating boards placed in the water and this led to 1.300 couples.
During the hours I was lying on the ground I noticed the prey changed from small fish, leeches to dragon flies and caterpillars. By the hour different prey get active and the birds adapt to that. So every time I observe animal behaviour I learn something new.
And when you think the smallest one won’t get any, then you’re wrong.
The parents bring food the whole time and when the oldest one has enough, the younger ones get fed.
Black Terns @ the Netherlands.
Chlidonias niger
I am photographing since the age of eight and I bought my first SLR at twelve and started exploring nature.
At first birds had my special interest and later on landscapes and mammals too.
Particularly light at sunrise and sunset are my favorite.
And I like to capture special behaviour of animals in special light.
During my travels round the world I visited the tropical Amazon rainforest, as well as the arctic. Especially the arctic, spring, fall and winter are my favorite.
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entry description
At sunrise I was taking pictures of this rare Black Tern in the Netherlands. I followed these birds from the moment they arrived from Africa in spring time from starting its family, until fletching of the chicks. I shot over 9.000 images.This bird was almost extinct in the Netherlands due to bad water conditions and lack of nesting sites, but by human interference there now are floating boards placed in the water and this led to 1.300 couples.
During the hours I was lying on the ground I noticed the prey changed from small fish, leeches to dragon flies and caterpillars. By the hour different prey get active and the birds adapt to that. So every time I observe animal behaviour I learn something new.
And when you think the smallest one won’t get any, then you’re wrong.
The parents bring food the whole time and when the oldest one has enough, the younger ones get fed.
Black Terns @ the Netherlands.
Chlidonias niger
about the photographer
I live in the Netherlands.I am photographing since the age of eight and I bought my first SLR at twelve and started exploring nature.
At first birds had my special interest and later on landscapes and mammals too.
Particularly light at sunrise and sunset are my favorite.
And I like to capture special behaviour of animals in special light.
During my travels round the world I visited the tropical Amazon rainforest, as well as the arctic. Especially the arctic, spring, fall and winter are my favorite.
back to gallery