David Pattyn / Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) stretching its wings. The Netherlands. June 2014

Ingo Arndt / Red squirrel leaping {Sciurus vulgaris} Germany

Ralf Kistowski/ BIA / Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) parent spreading wings near fledgling, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Alain Ghignone/ BIA / Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) stretching, Aosta Valley, Italy

Andy Rouse / Mute swan (Cygnus olor) stretching in morning light, UK, February.

Danny Green / Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) wing stretching with sand eels in beak, Flannan Isles, Scotland, UK, July

Michael Milicia/ BIA / Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) stretching, Massachusetts

Matthias Breiter / Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) stretching, Hudson Bay, Manitoba, Canada

Markus Varesvuo / Male Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) flying, Jalasjarvi, Finland, April.

Donald M. Jones / Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) drake stretching wings, central Montana

Juergen Freund / Tolga Bat Hospital volunteer handing Little red flying fox (Pteropus scapulatus) baby as it flaps her wings, Tolga Bat Hospital, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia. May 2015. Second Place in t...

Bence Mate / Two Great egrets (Ardea alba) standing opposite each other with Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) in between. Lake Csaj, Pusztaszer, Hungary, January. Winner of the Portfolio category of the Terre Sauvage Na...