Stunning Photo Shows Bird's Hidden Eyelid in Action

Peter Hudson's photograph of a secretary bird closing its third eyelid while catching a locust won the ecology and environmental science category in the 2024 Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition. The image highlights the bird's nictitating membrane, which protects its eyes during feeding. The competition, in collaboration with the Royal Photographic Society, celebrates images revealing hidden scientific phenomena. The overall winner was Angela Albi's aerial photo of sharks hunting in the Maldives.