Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

19th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Carefree Whisper

This is a new born Snowy plover just a few hours old whispering to its mumma. With less than 31,000 left in the world, the Snowy Plover population is near threatened and rapidly declining. So coming across a Snowy Plover nest is a rarity in itself. And unlike most other birds that are born helpless and stay in their nest for extended time requiring constant care and feeding, Snowy Plovers are ‘Precocial’ meaning they move around within just a few hours of hatching. Within a day the chicks are running around and parents lead them to a safer area.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.2021
Date Uploaded: 11.2021
Photo Location: Tierra Verde, Florida, United States of America
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Copyright: © Priyanka Arora