Juan Jesús Gonzalez Ahumada's Image
Juan Jesús Gonzalez Ahumada (Spain) watches as toad tadpoles feast on a dead fledgling sparrow.
Drama unfolded near Juan’s home when a newly fledged sparrow launched itself from a nest on his neighbour’s roof and fell into a pond, where it drowned. Juan knew the pond well, having visited it often to photograph amphibians.
The common toad tadpoles’ enthusiasm for their meal caused the dead sparrow to roll around unpredictably in the water. Juan had to pick his moment to show the tadpole formation and the sparrow’s eye.
Lucas Bustamante, Wildlife Photojournalist, Conservation Biologist and Competition Judge, says, ‘this is one of the Competition’s most unique and striking images! Here the photographer did a great job with the light when documenting this behaviour. I love how neatly and elegantly the tadpoles are formed around their meal - an artistic and, at the same time, shocking frame. Nothing gets wasted in nature.’
Common toad tadpoles have varied diets consisting of algae, vegetation and tiny, swimming invertebrates. As they grow larger, they become more carnivorous, so when a banquet like this arrives, they take full advantage.
