Bertie Gregory’s Image
Bertie Gregory (UK) freeze-frames the moment fledgling emperor penguin chicks walk along the edge of an ice shelf.
Bertie spent two months with the penguin colony and saw most chicks using ice ramps to descend to sea level for food.
But this group missed the easy way down.
Keeping his drone at a safe distance, he watched as they took a 15-metre (49-foot) leap into the water.
Left to fend for themselves, emperor penguin chicks must find a way to make their first dip into the icy ocean to find food.
Scientists think the continued decline of sea ice in Antarctica may force more penguins to breed on ice shelves. This would make the behaviour shown in Bertie’s photograph more common in the future.