Prix séquence filmée 2022 at the Festival International de Photographie Animalière et de Nature de Montier en Der

Winter is at its worst, and the accumulated snow in Quebec's forests is making it hard for animals to find food. A trembling aspen is once again under attack by the pileated woodpecker. I've already photographed it here in late autumn, and the various insects and larvae it contains make it attractive once again. With temperatures fluctuating between -20°C and -30°C, I regularly lie in wait near the trunk to photograph and film this beautiful bird. On this particular day, having already accumulated a fair number of still images over the previous few days, I decided to film it at a rate of 120 frames per second, so as to be able to slow down the chip ejection sequence in the editing process and highlight the power of the bird's beaks as it reaches its meal. A very regular visitor at this time of year, I start filming as soon as he arrives. The deep snow forces him to descend quite low to reach his target zone. To keep an eye on his surroundings, he climbs back up a few seconds later. This comical scene has been going on for several days. A loud squawk and the bird loops. It's so fast that I find it hard to understand what's really going on. As I was absorbed in following him, it wasn't until the 2nd or 3rd jump that I noticed a long-tailed weasel clinging to his throat. I'm witnessing a rare scene of natural predation. I try not to miss this nerve-wracking sequence, which I'll probably never see again. The uneven terrain and young shoots in the undergrowth don't make my task any easier. Seconds later, the woodpecker succumbs to an external haemorrhage and the exhausted weasel watches over its prey before leading it into galleries beneath the snow. Survival means taking risks, and nature, sometimes hostile, reminds us of this at every turn...

Nikon Z9 + Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 400mm F2.8G ED VR Video mode setting 4K - 120 fps AF 3D animal eye detection