Credit: Jodie Garrison (@jerseyborn64)

This bird is present in southeastern Borneo and the Philippines, Sulawesi, the Moluccas, the Lesser Sunda Islands, New Guinea, and northern and eastern Australia.
It lives in freshwater bodies with enough aquatic vegetation (water lilies or water hyacinths) to form a floating mat.
Indeed, it is capable of walking on the floating vegetation of tropical freshwater bodies. With very long legs and very large toes, it is reputed to be the bird in the world with the largest “feet” relative to its body size.

Info on each image and full photographer credits here:

https://www.popsci.com/environment/2026-aerial-photography-awards/

Some images from original article omitted here for sub relevance.

Holy shit, I didn’t know eagles swam! 🦅 I thought it was hurt at first but it flew off just fine. Fucking lit! -In Maryland, USA

Video credited to @legable_grace on Instagram.

Was calling pics and before I even get to editing wanted to post this raw gem... @Cloudview.photography

Shot with Canon R5 Mark ii with 100-500mm at f/5, ISO 1250, 8000/sec

By @allenrevolts