2007: 15-17 Years - Winner
Evan Graff (United States)
Skimmers on show
'Black skimmers are one of my favourite birds, so when I was on Merritt Island in Florida, it was great to see a big flock resting, all facing the same way. I lay on the ground, and crawled towards them on my stomach. Their bills look big from the side, and I wanted to show how thin and delicate they are.' Skimmers are the only birds where the lower mandible of the bill is longer than the upper one. Flying just above the water with beaks open, they use their lower mandible to trawl for fish. They are also the only birds to have slit-like vertical pupils, similar to a cat, which may protect their eyes from sunlight reflected off water and sand.
Nikon D200 + Sigma 50-500mm EX lens; 1/320 sec at f6.3; ISO 400; tripod.
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