Birds in Landscapes, Chile: Caro Aravena Costa

Chilean Flamingos. Photo: Caro Aravena Costa/Audubon Photography Awards
Contest: Chile and Colombia
Species: Chilean Flamingo
Image Location: Puerto Natales, Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, Chile
Camera: Sony Alpha 7 IV with a Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens; 1/1000 second at f/16; ISO 64

Behind the Shot: Despite very few daytime hours, the sunlight in Patagonia is exquisite in winter. After arriving in Puerto Natales, my group walked along the waterfront as the sun began to set and spotted these backlit flamingos. I got my camera, and we walked carefully to the snow- and ice-covered shore. In subfreezing chill, I lay down on the cold ground to take photos. The warm sunlight, which enveloped everything, created a magical atmosphere.

Bird Lore: Many think of flamingos as tropical birds, but three South American species live in cold climates. All can be found on the Altiplano, the plateau between the highest ridges of the southern Andes, where they use their odd bills to filter tiny crustaceans, insects, and diatoms from shallow, salty lakes. The most widespread of the three, the Chilean Flamingo, also lives at sea level, all the way to the frigid, extreme south of the continent.

Judge’s Take (Natalia Ekelund): This serene and poetic scene transports us to the heart of the Chilean wetlands. The soft light, the reflection in the water, and the harmonious arrangement of the birds create a magical atmosphere. This image invites you to stop, take a deep breath, and contemplate the silent beauty of nature.