Stefan Christmann / Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) preparing to jump over crack in sea ice. Atka Bay, Antarctica. August.

Joris van Alphen / Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus) preparing to land at her nest, clasping a songbird. Viewed from below. Groningen, the Netherlands. July.

Andrew Parkinson / 2020VISION / Marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) adult female preparing to land in reedbeds, backlit, Norfolk, UK, April

Andrew Parkinson / Puffin (Fratercula arctica) in flight, preparing to land on cliff top, with beak full of Sand eels (Ammodytes tobianus) Shetland Islands, Scotland, UK, July (non-ex)

Paul Hobson / Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) in flight, and preparing to land, South Yorkshire, England, UK. March.

Gerrit Vyn / Adult male Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) in winter plumage preparing to land. Three females are following. Ocean County, New Jersey, USA, January.

Terry Whittaker / Man preparing to be lowered down cliff to collect seabird eggs from Skoruvikurbjarg cliffs, Langanes Peninsula, Iceland. May 2018.

Marie Read / Tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata), adult in breeding plumage flying in preparing to land, St. Paul, Pribilof Islands, Alaska, USA, July.

Stefan Christmann / Camerman Lindsay McCrae preparing to film on ice shelf overlooking Southern Ocean during summer , for BBC Dynasties Penguin programme. Atka Bay, Antarctica. October 2017.. Atka Bay, Antarctica. Februa...

Wild Wonders of Europe / Widstrand / Joep van de Vlasakker preparing the hay in the lorry used to transport European bison / Wisent (Bison bonasus) from the Avesta Visentpark in Sweden to the Armenis area in the Southern Carpathians, Rom...

Mark Hamblin / Siskin (Carduelis spinus) male in flight preparing to land, Scotland, UK, May.

Graham Eaton / Guillemot (Uria aalgae) preparing to land on sea. Cardigan Bay, Wales, UK. June.