Flamingo Takeoff — Yucatan Celestún Lagoon
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A flock of American flamingos taking flight from the Celestún Lagoon in Mexico — the simultaneous launch of 200 birds creating a pink eruption above the still water, the running takeoff sequence visible in the near-ground birds.
Description
American flamingo takeoff photography requires a boat positioning that allows a flight-direction approach — the flamingos take off into the wind and will not alter their direction for an incorrectly positioned boat. The Celestún Biosphere Reserve in Yucatan hosts the largest flamingo colony in Mexico, and the daily flight between feeding and roosting areas provides regular takeoff opportunities. This image captures the first seconds of a mass takeoff — approximately 200 birds in simultaneous flight initiation, the nearest birds still in the running-on-water phase of their takeoff run with wingtips raised for the first wing strokes, the more distant birds already 2-3 metres above the water surface. The pink of the wings — deepest pink-orange on the flight feathers — contrasts with the still lagoon surface that reflects the pre-dawn sky. The black primary flight feathers are visible in the birds in full-wing position.
