Collects Collection (#3)

Great Tit (Parus major) adult, collecting horse hair for nesting material, perched on barbed wire, Suffolk, England, April

Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel) four adults, collecting mud for nesting material, Ormiston Gorge, West MacDonnell N.P. West MacDonnell Range, Red Centre, Northern Territory, Australia, September

Common Noddy (Anous stolidus) adult, panting, standing with shells and dead coral collected for nest, Michaelmas Cay, Michaelmas and Upolu Cays N.P

Rubbish collected from waste disposal and recycling from beach, Dorset, England, April

Sheep farming, shepherd using sterile single use pin on Texel ram nose to extract blood for Scrapie genotype testing, England, May

Man collecting seaweed from beach for fertilizer, loading cart pulled by mule, Zapata Peninsula, Matanzas Province, Cuba, March

Seabird rescue, contaminated Common Guillemot (Uria aalge) being collected by RSPCA officer and loaded into van, washed ashore after contamination from polyisobutene oil additive at sea

Fossils with fossil hammer, Osmington Mills, Dorset, England, August

Wood Hedgehog (Hydnum repandum) fruiting bodies, collected for sale, Dordogne, France, November

Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus) adult, with insects in beak, perched at entrance of nestbox fixed to tree trunk, Whitewell, Lancashire, England, July

Dartford Warbler (Sylvia undata) adult female, with nest material in beak, perched on broom, Extremadura, Spain, April

Yellow-legged Mining Bee (Andrena flavipes) adult, feeding on Goat Willow (Salix caprea) flower, Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve, Avon Valley, New Forest N.P. Hampshire, England, March

Ant (Leptothorax acervorum) adult worker, carrying piece of dry grass to nest, Powys, Wales, July

Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) adult male, in breeding colours, having milt removed to fertilize eggs to be taken to hatchery for restocking project

Horse, heavy horse, adult, used for forestry work, collecting logs in woodland, Staffordshire, England, May

Rook (Corvus frugilegus) adult, in flight, with nesting material in beak, Oxfordshire, England, March

Long-tailed Broadbill (Psarisomus dalhousiae cyanicauda) adult, with nesting material in beak, perched on branch, Kaeng Krachan N.P. Thailand, May

Harvester Ant (Messor bouvieri) spoil heap of seed husks and other rubbish outside nest entrance, Chaine des Alpilles, Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence, France, June

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"Collecting: A Fascinating Tapestry of Treasures" From the Pearly King's vibrant collection of buttons to the ancient Druids' gathering of mistletoe, humans have always been drawn to collecting. Mlle. Lyska Kostio cherishes her assortment of dolls, each one a unique character with its own story to tell. In nature's realm, an Atlantic Puffin proudly displays its prized catch - sandeels and seaweed clutched tightly in its beak. On rocky shores, this charismatic bird showcases its exceptional hunting skills while adding to its nourishing collection. Venturing into rural landscapes, we find a woman from Auvergne diligently collecting walnuts; her hands stained brown from countless hours spent harvesting these nutritious gems. Meanwhile, an English Rural Postman meticulously gathers letters and parcels as he traverses picturesque villages on his daily rounds. Sports enthusiasts witness the artistry of collection on different playing fields. Jean Bouilhou skillfully collects lineouts in rugby matches, showcasing his agility and strategic prowess. Nathan Sharpe, Matthew Burke, Reuben Thorne, Danny Grewcock - all renowned athletes who excel at collecting balls during intense moments on the field. And then there is Martin Johnson - a legend whose ability to collect balls has become synonymous with leadership and determination. Whether it be tangible objects or intangible achievements that are collected throughout life's journey, this innate human desire for accumulation reflects our yearning for meaning and connection. Each item gathered holds significance - a fragment of history or personal memory that adds depth to our existence. So let us celebrate collectors in all their forms - those who amass trinkets or knowledge alike - for they weave together the tapestry of human experience through their passion for preserving fragments that would otherwise fade away into obscurity.