23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Mabamba´s Hidden Giant

Taken in the early morning light of the swamp near Entebbe - this shoebill stands motionless on one leg in the shallow marsh. Its imposing, shoe-shaped bill grasps a stalk of aquatic vegetation, droplets of water sliding off as it surveys its swampy domain. The stillness and solitude of the moment reveal the prehistoric elegance of one of Africa´s rarest birds, deep in the papyrus-covered floodplain.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2024
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Entebbe, Uganda
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Copyright: © Christina Schwenck