I am delighted that my image Silent Symbiosis has been selected as a Finalist in the VOGELWARTE.CH photography competition 2026, placing it among the 100 best images from almost 8,500 entries by 600 photographers from 23 countries. It will also be published in the competition catalogue, due to appear in November 2026.
The image shows a Wood Pigeon reaching for Ivy berries, using its wings not for flight, but for support and to maintain balance. The moment the bird stretched its wings far forward — as if embracing the berries — I was struck not only by the unusual posture and the beautiful plumage pattern it revealed. I also realised that it symbolises the vital relationship between two species:
Ivy is an important winter food source for Wood Pigeons, while the birds contribute to the plant’s reproduction by dispersing its seeds. What might look like an incidental encounter is therefore a small example of how closely different species can be connected — and how their survival can depend on one another. Both species are such familiar sights in our cities and parks, though the significance of this interdependence can easily go unnoticed.
The image was also previously selected as a Finalist in Czech Nature Photo 2025 and featured in the accompanying exhibition and catalogue.