Compassion, Loyalty, Friendship
Sometimes when photographing wildlife you do a lot of waiting around and people will say how amazing our patience is, but while waiting for something gives me the opportunity to study behavior in nature and sometimes these observations move me to tears...this was one such case. These two Least Sandpipers landed near me in the mudflat and it soon became clear that one was not well and in some sort of distress. The healthy one stayed by it's friend's side for a very long time keeping it company until it passed away. Such an act of compassion and loyalty was certainly an eye opener and was very poignant. I do not know what the relationship was between them whether friend, parent, progeny...it was certainly clear that there was great empathy displayed by a tiny Sandpiper....
Compassion, Loyalty, Friendship
Sometimes when photographing wildlife you do a lot of waiting around and people will say how amazing our patience is, but while waiting for something gives me the opportunity to study behavior in nature and sometimes these observations move me to tears...this was one such case. These two Least Sandpipers landed near me in the mudflat and it soon became clear that one was not well and in some sort of distress. The healthy one stayed by it's friend's side for a very long time keeping it company until it passed away. Such an act of compassion and loyalty was certainly an eye opener and was very poignant. I do not know what the relationship was between them whether friend, parent, progeny...it was certainly clear that there was great empathy displayed by a tiny Sandpiper....