14 November 2020 | New Scientist | 29Treetop herons
Photographer Dmitrii Viliunov,
Drone Photo Awards
TAKEN 30 metres up in the air, this
shot of a great white heron and
grey heron in their respective nests
also provides a bird’s-eye view of
Russia’s expansive forests, which
cover almost half of the country.
Dmitrii Viliunov took the photo
near the city of Smolensk using
a drone, which offered a unique
perspective of this woodland
landscape and a rare look into this
aspect of the lives of these birds.
Viliunov says he was surprised
at how “absolutely calm” and
unafraid the herons were of the
drone, only giving it an occasional
glance as they fed their chicks.
Herons are found in aquatic and
wetland environments like rivers
and lakes, but sometimes venture
to mountains and even deserts
in search of food. Despite often
living near water, herons never
nest in reeds or swamps, instead
choosing trees. Sometimes,
several herons make nests in the
same tree, which often leads to
fights between close neighbours.
This image, titled “Where
Herons Live”, won Viliunov first
prize in the wildlife category of
the 2020 Drone Photo Awards,
a global aerial photography and
video competition, and part of the
Siena International Photo Awards.
The picture, along with the
Drone Awards’ other winning
shots, will be showcased at the
Above Us Only Sky exhibition at
the Museum of Natural History
of the Accademia dei Fisiocritici in
Siena, Italy, until 29 November. ❚
Gege Li