Love is in the air: Hundreds of flamingos captured by photographer forming the shape of a heart

By ANTHONY BOND

Love really was in the air when this flock of colourful flamingos gathered together to form the shape of a heart.
The amazing bird’s eye view was captured by German photographer Klaus Nigge who was trailing the flock from a chartered plane in Yucatan, Mexico.
For Mr Nigge, 55, from Dortmund, the romantic image set his heart aflutter after he had made several trips to photograph the flamingos in just one year.

Stunning: This is the incredible moment a flock of flamingos proved love really is in the air by gathering in the shape of a heart

Close-up: These pictures of flamingos were captured by photographer Klaus Nigge in Yucatan, Mexico. They may look like they're in love but these two flamingos are actually fighting

Talented: During his expeditions, Mr Nigge aimed to capture the different stages of the bird's annual life from mating season to the day flamingo chicks flew the nest

During his expeditions, Mr Nigge aimed to capture the different stages of the bird’s annual life from mating season to the day flamingo chicks flew the nest.
He said he had always focused on photographing big birds and for him flamingos were amongst the most beautiful.

Amazing: Mr Nigge said he has always focused on photographing big birds and for him flamingos were amongst the most beautiful

Mr Nigge said: 'The one thing I love about flamingos is they are incredibly pretty.
'They are very elegant birds, when they fly they start running in shallow water and then crane their necks before taking flight - it’s like a jet taking off.

Dedicated: In order to capture flamingos as they flocked in their tens of thousands, Mr Nigge chartered a plane to fly over the Yucatan. This image shows a flamingo running to take off from shallow backwaters

Colourful: Mr Nigge said he enjoys taking pictures of flamingos because they are 'incredibly pretty'

'Taking pictures of flamingos is incredibly easy as a photographer, particularly in the Yucatan as the birds aren’t shy at all.'
In order to capture flamingos as they flocked in their tens of thousands, Mr Nigge chartered a plane to fly over the Yucatan.
But he never anticipated capturing the birds in the shape of a heart and remarkably the stunning shot went unnoticed by Mr Nigge until almost a year later.
He said: 'Flamingos always move in a flock, they do everything in unison, if they feel the flock is moving in a certain direction they join the movement.

Sweet: A flamingo is pictured right with her newborn chick while, left, one of the birds stands proudly

Pretty: This image shows the flock of Caribbean flamingos from the sky

Room for another: One of the flamingos comes into land


Impressive: Mr Nigge said there's no better way to see flamingos in unison than from the air

'And there’s no better way to see the flamingos in unison than from the air.
'But I didn’t realise the flamingos were in the shape of a heart at first.
'When you’re taking photos of them from a plane, you do not think much about composition, it’s so bumpy and you’re moving by so fast you just try to take as many images as possible.
'I tried to get the compositions, but I was mostly trying to get the whole flock in the same frame, I didn’t even notice they were in a heart shape.
'If I’d have known what shape the flamingos had created, I would have asked the pilot to go round one more time so I could get a few more shots of it.
'To have something in the shape of a heart is very special.'

source: dailymail

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YOU try standing on one leg! Clumsy flamingo takes an undignified tumble as he wades through pool

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

In his element: The flamingo strolls along in the pool before dipping his head under the water and taking a tumble


Flamingos are famed for their ability to stand on one leg for hours at a time.

But for one clumsy bird his balance escaped him and he was left in an undignified heap after taking a tumble as he went for a quick paddle.

Strolling through the shallow pool in his enclosure at Moscow Zoo, the flamingo goes to dip his head under the water to cool off.


Oh the shame: The pink bird had dipped his head into the water to cool off before tripping over


But, with his head well and truly submerged, he loses his footing and plunges head over feet into the water.

As he desperately splashes about, the confused bird begins to do somersaults with his legs wildly flailing in all directions.

After flipping over several times and almost sinking, the flamingo eventually manages to regain his composure and casually swims away as if nothing has happened.


Stylish: The flamingo ends up with his legs pointing in the air after losing his balance while wading at Moscow Zoo


The hilarious moment was captured by bemused photographer Tatiana Adamenko.

She said: 'I was just taking some shots of the flamingo taking a dip when he just fell over.

'They are usually very graceful birds but this one was panicking and creating a lot of noise.

'He was very joyful one minute and the next he was turning somersaults in water trying to get back on his feet.

'Everyone at the zoo found it very funny, but the flamingo didn't. Luckily the water was not deep.'


Nobody saw that did they? The bird eventually regained his composure before swimming serenely away


Ms Adamenko, from Podolsk, near Moscow, has been taking pictures of wildlife for three years after qualifying as a vet.

She added: 'Flamingos are very unusual birds. They are distinctive not only with their beauty but also their unusual behaviour - that's why I love watching them.

'I know that Kazakh people believe that the first person to see a flamingo in spring will be happy. So I'm hoping to be the first this spring.'


source: dailymail

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A pair of Caribbean flamingos extend their heads and necks in a heart shape

A pair of Caribbean flamingos extend their heads and necks in a heart shape as flamingos perform courtship dances at the Saitama Children's Zoo in Higashimatsuyama, Saitama prefecture, north of Tokyo on February 13, 2011, one day before St. Valentine's Day.



A pair of Caribbean flamingos extend their heads and necks in a heart shape as flamingos perform courtship dances at the Saitama Children's Zoo in Higashimatsuyama, Saitama prefecture, north of Tokyo on February 13, 2011, one day before St. Valentine's Day.



A pair of Caribbean flamingos extend their heads and necks in a heart shape as flamingos perform courtship dances at the Saitama Children's Zoo in Higashimatsuyama, Saitama prefecture, north of Tokyo on February 13, 2011, one day before St. Valentine's Day.


source: Daylife
photo: Gettyimages

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American Flamingo grooms itself in it's enclosure at the Los Angeles Zoo

An American Flamingo grooms itself in it's enclosure at the Los Angeles Zoo on Saturday Feb. .5,2011. Forecasters at the National Weather Service predict Southern California highs in the upper 60s and low 70s today, then warmer on Sunday.


source: daylife
photo: AP photo

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Bird's eye view: Nature's way of imitating art as flamingos create remarkable image

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Art imitating life: A colony of Caribbean flamingos spontaneously arrange themselves into the shape of one giant flamingo in Yucatan, Mexico


Now here's a clear case of life imitating art.

This remarkable image shows a colony of Caribbean flamingos spontaneously arranging themselves into the shape of one giant flamingo.


Magical: Photographer Bobby Haas captured his remarkable image from a helicopter


Photographer Bobby Haas had been taking hundreds of pictures of the birds from a helicopter in Yucatan, Mexico.

But just as the helicopter turned to leave, Mr Haas looked over his shoulder one last time.

It was then that he noticed the flamingos had formed an incredible shape.
He said: 'I was just leaving when I noticed that the flock was moving into a shape resembling a flamingo.

'I told the pilot to whip around but go in slowly, since if you startle the flock they will splinter.

'I guess this was a case of a real bird's eye view.'

The moment was so fleeting, he only managed to capture the one picture, before the birds started to scamper.

It was not until he developed the images a few months later that he realised how magical the image truly was.

He said: 'It's the holy grail in photography when you capture an image you've never seen before and may never see again.

'The reaction to this photo has been remarkable.'


source: dailymail

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In the pink: The tiny flamingo snuggling up under his mother's wing

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Cute: The unnamed Chilean flamingo chick was born a month ago at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle and has been snapped sheltering for cover under its mother's wing


With the winter nights drawing in, most people could be forgiven for wanting to snuggle under the duvet.

But this shy newborn has a hiding place all of its own - tucked cosily inside its mother's feathers.

The adorable baby Chilean flamingo can barely be seen sheltering inside the warm pink nest, only peeking out in time for dinner.


Snuggle: The tiny chick looks cosy tucked up in his mother's feathers


The fluffy chick chirped at its doting mother, who ducked her head gracefully to deliver crop milk - a dark red secretion similar to mammals' milk - to her offspring.

The chick is one of two babies born at Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, US, at the beginning of October, with three other eggs waiting to hatch.

The pair, who have not yet been named, are now practicing walking and balancing on one leg just like their parents.



Birds of a feather: While the flamingo chick finds his feet in the spotlight this owl proves to be an old hand by giving a cheeky wink for the camera on a farm in Worcestershire

source :dailymail

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