The 2025 Audubon Images Awards: Winners

Grand Prize: Felipe Esteban Toledo Alarcón 

Contest: Chile and Colombia
Species: Ringed Kingfisher
Image Location: Valdivia, Los Ríos, Chile 
Camera: Sony Alpha 7 IV with a Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens at 600mm; 1/3200 second at f/6.3; ISO 2500

Behind the Shot: While trying to {photograph} frogs’ mating rituals at a lagoon in Parque Saval, my pal and I seen a pair of Ringed Kingfishers looking fish, fully submerging themselves within the water. No one can ignore such a scene. While the feminine was far-off, the male dove unsuccessfully time and time once more—and with every attempt, he moved nearer to us. Even although the solar was not within the excellent place, I arrange my digicam in burst mode with a excessive shutter velocity, reasonable ISO, and “zone” focus. I used to be prepared. After the chook made six dives, I bought the picture that I’d been chasing: a kingfisher explosively rising out of the water, displaying its magnificence, class, and energy. 

Bird Lore:  The largest of the six kingfisher species within the Americas, the Ringed Kingfisher ranges from Texas to southern South America. In tropical areas, the place 4 or 5 species might happen collectively, the birds keep away from competitors by chasing completely different prey from completely different heights. The smallest might sit simply inches above the water looking for tiny fish or bugs. The Ringed Kingfisher perches as much as 30 ft above the floor, looking forward to medium-size fish after which plunging in headfirst with a mighty splash.

Judge’s Take (Natalia Ekelund): This masterful picture depicts an explosion of precision, power, and sweetness. The composition, the right focus in full movement, and the play of the sunshine convey the depth of the second. The {photograph} is notable not just for its impeccable method but additionally for the emotional connection it achieves with the viewer.

Grand Prize: Liron Gertsman

Contest: United States and Canada  
Species: Magnificent Frigatebird
Image Location: Teacapán, Sinaloa, Mexico
Camera: Canon EOS R5 with a Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art (for Canon EF lenses) and Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R; 1/2500 second at f/16; ISO 160

Behind the Shot: Frigatebirds are a standard sight in lots of coastal cities in Mexico. As a kleptoparasitic species, they might look to steal a meal from different seabirds—or from native fishermen. I photographed these birds as they handed a shocking halo within the sky. These rings of sunshine kind when thousands and thousands of tiny ice crystals within the ambiance refract daylight, typically when there are high-altitude cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. I utilized a small aperture to make sure each the birds and sky can be sharp and to get a “starburst” impact on the solar in the midst of the body. 

Bird Lore:  It looks as if evolution’s merciless sensible joke, however frigatebirds are true seabirds that should keep away from touchdown on the ocean. An person that lands on the floor might battle to take off once more, and if its feathers develop into soaked, it might drown. So frigatebirds fly over the ocean for days or perhaps weeks at a time looking for meals. They are nicely outfitted for the duty: A frigatebird’s feathers altogether weigh twice as a lot as its skeleton.  

Judge’s Take (Daniel Dietrich): This picture instantly stood out on this 12 months’s competitors. The layers are deep, the silhouettes outstanding, and the whimsical, mystical feeling of the picture is excellent. Planning, timing and ability mixed to make this a very extraordinary second captured in time.

Birds in Landscapes: Joe Subolefsky

Contest: United States and Canada
Species: Northern Gannet 
Image Location: Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 
Camera: Canon EOS R5 with a Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM lens at 15mm; 20 seconds; ISO 6400 

Behind the Shot: I needed to {photograph} Northern Gannets towards the Milky Way, so I studied the moon phases and deliberate a visit. Forecasters predicted rain and fog for all three nights I used to be in Newfoundland, so my probabilities have been restricted. I hiked to the colony and waited for clear skies. I used solely the rotating mild from the close by lighthouse, which washed over the colony each 30 seconds. Then, for a mere 20 minutes, many of the clouds parted, bringing the celebs and Milky Way to life. 

Bird Lore:  Almost all true seabirds nest in colonies, not remoted pairs. One purpose is clear: There’s an unlimited ocean on the market, with infinite areas for foraging, whereas websites for these birds to nest are few. The Northern Gannet ranges all through the North Atlantic and past, however solely nests in about three dozen locations. These gannetries, on steep, rocky islands or generally coastal cliffs, might run to tens of 1000’s of pairs.  

Judge’s Take (Emily Tallo): This panorama picture stood out to us instantly as a result of it was one of many solely entries taken at night time. The lengthy publicity allowed the photographer to seize the glint of the roosting birds, the night time sky, and the reflection of the Milky Way within the water concurrently.  The feeling of this picture is otherworldly—it evokes a way of marvel and reference to the universe.

Birds in Landscapes, Colombia: Shamir Shah 

Contest: Chile and Colombia
Species: Blue-headed Parrot 
Image Location: Santiago de Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia 
Camera: Nikon D750 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens at 120mm; 1/60 second at f/4; ISO 250 

Behind the Shot: On today, I used to be documenting timber above a motorcycle path alongside a busy street and climbed a pedestrian bridge to get a distinct angle. That’s once I noticed these Blue-headed Parrots peeking out from a hole. This picture tells an attention-grabbing story: Down under, individuals in automobiles and buses are going about their each day enterprise; above, the parrots observe the people, who, of their rush to progress, miss out on every kind of expressions of life. 

Bird Lore: Among the extra widespread and customary parrot species in northern South America, pairs or flocks of Blue-headed Parrots fly with deep, fast wingbeats and shrill cries at treetop stage. They appear extra adaptable than many different parrots and may even thrive round metropolis edges, so long as every pair can discover a tree cavity giant sufficient to carry their nest.

Judge’s Take (Natalia Ekelund): This picture confronts us with a distinction between nature and urbanization whereas providing a strong reminder of the resilience of metropolis wildlife. The vertical composition reinforces the visible impression. The captured second conveys a narrative that’s refined and profound. 

Birds in Landscapes, Chile: Caro Aravena Costa

Contest: Chile and Colombia
Species: Chilean Flamingo 
Image Location: Puerto Natales, Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, Chile 
Camera: Sony Alpha 7 IV with a Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens; 1/1000 second at f/16; ISO 64 

Behind the Shot: Despite only a few daytime hours, the daylight in Patagonia is beautiful in winter. After arriving in Puerto Natales, my group walked alongside the waterfront because the solar started to set and noticed these backlit flamingos. I bought my digicam, and we walked rigorously to the snow- and ice-covered shore. In subfreezing chill, I lay down on the chilly floor to take photographs. The heat daylight, which enveloped every part, created a magical ambiance. 

Bird Lore:  Many consider flamingos as tropical birds, however three South American species dwell in chilly climates. All will be discovered on the Altiplano, the plateau between the best ridges of the southern Andes, the place they use their odd payments to filter tiny crustaceans, bugs, and diatoms from shallow, salty lakes. The most widespread of the three, the Chilean Flamingo, additionally lives at sea stage, all the way in which to the frigid, excessive south of the continent.  

Judge’s Take (Natalia Ekelund): This serene and poetic scene transports us to the center of the Chilean wetlands. The gentle mild, the reflection within the water, and the harmonious association of the birds create a magical ambiance. This picture invitations you to cease, take a deep breath, and ponder the silent great thing about nature.

Birds Without Borders: Jacobo Giraldo Trejos

Contest: Chile and Colombia
Species: Royal Tern 
Image Location: San Andrés Island, San Andrés and Providencia, Colombia 
Camera: Canon EOS R50 with a Sigma 150-600mm f/5.6-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens at 562mm; 1/3200 second at f/8; ISO 800 

Behind the Shot: Capturing this picture required persistence, consideration to element, and, above all, enduring the solar’s intense warmth. The grownup Royal Tern flew tirelessly, in search of fish to feed its younger, which patiently waited on a railing. Many individuals suppose that dedication and affection for our younger is unique to people, however nature, as common, proves us incorrect. I really feel a deep respect for these birds’ efforts: Photographing this second was a privilege price each second—and each drop of sweat. 

Bird Lore:  While most songbirds are impartial inside weeks of leaving the nest, Royal Terns have an extended adolescence. Their dad and mom might feed them for as much as eight months, even because the household migrates collectively, some going all the way in which from the japanese United States to South America’s Pacific coast. So a younger Royal Tern begging for meals in winter may need hatched close by—or it may need flown from a thousand miles to the north.  

Judge’s Take (Natalia Ekelund): This scene, filled with motion and tenderness, displays the essence of the birds’ habits. The second of the meals being delivered in mid-flight, with the grownup’s wings open and the terns’ gazes intertwined, creates a strong visible narrative. The picture’s sharpness, gentle background, and completely managed mild add to the visible impact.

Birds Without Borders: Yoshiki Nakamura

Contest: United States and Canada
Species: Snow Goose 
Image Location: Mount Vernon, Washington, United States 
Camera: Nikon D850 with a Nikon AFS 600mm f/4e lens and a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-17E-II; 1/15 second at f/25; ISO 64 

Behind the Shot: Every winter, tens of 1000’s of Snow Geese migrate from Siberia to Washington’s Skagit Valley, the place they keep from October to April. Massive flocks—some numbering greater than 10,000 birds—take off collectively in breathtaking, synchronized movement. When hazard nears, the primary few birds flap their wings, sending a cascading sign that triggers a collective launch. Although they transfer as one, every chook follows its personal rhythm and path, making a mesmerizing combination of order and chaos. To specific this ephemeral choreography, I used a sluggish shutter velocity. The result’s what I name a “melting flight”: a mix of movement, kind, and intuition. What I discover most stunning is how this chaos has coherence. There aren’t any collisions, no instructions—only a shared sense of motion.

Bird Lore:  Migrating lengthy distances between Arctic nesting grounds and temperate wintering grounds, Snow Geese are creatures of behavior. A feminine able to breed for the primary time often returns to a spot close to the place she hatched, adopted by a male she had met to the south; they mate for all times and can return to the identical spot each summer season. Stopover and wintering websites are additionally constant, with younger birds studying routes from their dad and mom and big flocks returning to the identical areas 12 months after 12 months.  

Judge’s Take (Daniel Dietrich): One will get pulled so deeply into this magnificent picture. The blurred wings of the lifting flock dominate upon first look. It takes little time to then get misplaced in figuring out the lots of of particular person geese rising from the chaos. Your eyes journey nonstop all through the picture as they search rationalization.  

Conservation: Luis Alberto Peña

Contest: Chile and Colombia
Species: Savanna Hawk  
Image Location: Cúcuta, Norte de Santander, Colombia
Camera: Nikon Coolpix P900 with fastened 24-2000mm f/2.8-6.5 lens at 152mm; 1/500 second at f/5.6; ISO 200 

Behind the Shot: I used to be photographing birds in a rural space once I got here throughout this fireplace, which began as a managed burn to clear rice crop residues however bought out of hand. For many individuals who develop rice on this space, fires are a needed apply for subsistence. However, these burns also can hurt air high quality and habitat, particularly in the event that they aren’t managed. As I watched the flames, I seen a Savanna Hawk. Attentive and affected person, this chook by no means strayed from the dense smoke and warmth; in reality, it returned repeatedly hoping to hunt disoriented animals fleeing the flames. I, however, finally needed to retreat. Before I left, I captured this visible testimony to one of many many ways in which wildlife survives and adapts within the face of utmost environmental situations.  

Bird Lore: Almost any change in habitat will probably be dangerous for some birds and useful for others. In the American tropics, forest chopping has decreased the populations of many species, however some open-country species have thrived and expanded their ranges. The well-named Savanna Hawk is one beneficiary, spreading into newly cleared pasture and farm nation. This lanky raptor is often solitary, however dozens might collect at grass fires, pursuing rodents, snakes, and different creatures escaping the flames.  

Judge’s Take (Natalia Ekelund): This hanging picture displays the truth of environmental challenges by capturing the specter of hearth that wildlife face and welcoming a mirrored image on the urgency of conserving our ecosystems. A visually highly effective and emotionally shifting work. 

Conservation: Jean Hall

Contest: United States and Canada
Species: Burrowing Owl 
Image Location: Marco Island, Florida, United States 
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 105mm; 1/1600 second at f/5.6; ISO 1600 

Behind the Shot: As a volunteer with the Audubon of the Western Everglades’ Owl Watch program, I’ve spent hours and hours photographing Burrowing Owls. Initially, I used to be solely thinking about magnificence and habits photographs. Over time, I spotted I wanted to take a journalistic method to reveal the vulnerability of this imperiled species. I took this picture close to a building website. This defiant man determined to make use of an enormous lumber pile as his roost for days. I returned a number of instances as a result of I by no means knew if or the place he may come out. Burrowing Owl habitat is nearly gone, particularly on Marco Island, however the birds’ toughness is tough to defeat. 

Bird Lore: The Burrowing Owl requires giant tracts of open floor, ideally with areas of naked soil, for its underground nesting burrows. Such landscapes have been as soon as frequent in North America—each within the West (the place prairie canine colonies offered an abundance of holes) and in Florida (the place the owls typically dig their very own). But the unfold of agriculture and extermination of prairie canines have sharply decreased the owl’s western populations. In Florida, remaining areas of open floor are being eaten up by housing developments.  

Judge’s Take (Lucas Bustamante): We people proceed to increase into wild locations, typically aggressively displacing native wildlife. This picture shocked me instantly as a result of it exhibits that. This lumber pile was once a forest—now processed as timber—and but the Burrowing Owl nonetheless finds habitat in such an unnatural place. It’s only one extra instance of how we are able to do higher. Great storytelling from the photographer. 

Plants for Birds: Barbara Swanson

Contest: United States and Canada
Species: Brandt’s Cormorant 
Image Location: La Jolla, California, United States
Camera: Nikon Z8 with a Nikon NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S lens; 1/4000 second at f/7.1; ISO 4000 

Behind the Shot: I visited La Jolla’s cliffs thrice in January, when cormorants have been constructing nests, and with every go to my photographs improved. The birds fly in low over the ocean, then swiftly acquire altitude, making it laborious to foretell the place every chook will settle. From the second I noticed this chook flying in from a long way on my third go to, I had solely six seconds to focus and snap this picture because it ready to land. I used to be in the suitable place, and my digicam’s “bird focus” setting helped me maintain the cormorant sharp within the body. The chook carried not solely the standard seagrass but additionally a strand of purple grape algae, which glowed like translucent jewels.

Bird Lore: We won’t consider seabirds as being reliant on vegetation, however most of the cormorants use plant materials to construct substantial nests on rocky ledges. Along the Pacific Coast, Brandt’s Cormorants acquire building materials from the shallows and adjoining land, together with false eelgrass, goldfield asters, sedges, grasses, seaweeds, and algae, plus feathers and random particles. The male does many of the gathering, however each dad and mom prepare the nest.  

Judge’s Take (Marlene Pantin): With its head erect, blue eyes straight targeted on some level exterior the body, and wings open huge as if heralding its arrival, the Brandt’s Cormorant seems to be on an pressing mission to ship the seaweed to a specific location by a sure time. The photographer captures the colourful colours of the weeds and higher components of the chook towards the darker background, which reinforces and amplifies the depth of the composition and makes this an distinctive picture.

Plants for Birds, Colombia: Cristian Valencia

Contest: Chile and Colombia
Species: Purple-backed Thornbill  
Image Location: Villamaría, Caldas, Colombia  
Camera: Sony Alpha 7 II with a Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary lens at 324mm; 1/1000 second at f/6.3; ISO 2500 

Behind the Shot: I used to be blessed to work as a chook information on the Hotel Termales del Ruiz, close to Los Nevados National Natural Park. The space is residence to a sub-páramo ecosystem, a cool forest wealthy in biodiversity. I needed to {photograph} the Purple-backed Thornbill, so I approached flowers they pollinate. One day, I instantly noticed this specimen up shut; I simply needed to wait patiently to seize its colourful magnificence because it fed. I wish to share such photographs to boost consciousness: When we minimize down a forest, we additionally threat shedding species like this one. 

Bird Lore:  In the American tropics, many hummingbird species can coexist as a result of they differ in invoice shapes and feeding behaviors that advanced with native vegetation. For instance, very long-billed species hover at lengthy, tubular flowers, whereas curve-billed ones might specialize on curved blooms. The Purple-backed Thornbill, with the shortest invoice of any hummingbird, typically clings to clusters of small flowers like these Gaiadendron punctatum whereas it probes every one individually, generally reaching the nectar by inserting its invoice by means of slits within the base of the flower tube. It additionally eats tiny bugs, catching them in midair or gleaning them from flowers. 

Judge’s Take (Natalia Ekelund): This picture exemplifies the connection between native wildlife, highlighting the significance of flowers as an important useful resource for hummingbirds. The shade and sharpness of the frozen motion present not solely technical mastery but additionally a deep remark of ecological interplay. It is a residing picture that educates and marvels. 

Youth: Camilo Sanabria Grajales

Contest: Chile and Colombia
Species: Blackburnian Warbler
Image Location: Santiago de Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 with a Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens at 468mm; 1/640 second at f/6.3; ISO 800 

Behind the Shot: On our approach to this 12 months’s Colombia Birdfair, my dad and I pulled over for lunch on the Neblinas restaurant. Slightly warbler crept up as I walked alongside the character path within the high-altitude chilly. Suddenly, the chook caught a moth and shook it vigorously. Astonished as I used to be, I captured the exact instantaneous of this predator-and-prey interplay intimately because the moth’s scales floated midair, launched by every flick of the chook’s beak. To me, this picture reveals the very important relationship between migratory birds and ecosystems that help them. 

Bird Lore:  The Blackburnian Warbler inhabits two very completely different worlds. It breeds in japanese Canada and the northeastern United States, largely in spruce or hemlock forest. But for the remainder of the 12 months, it’s a typical chook of the Andes, thriving in cloud forest and subtropical forest at larger elevations. In most higher Andean forests, the Blackburnian is the most typical migrant warbler, typically becoming a member of combined flocks with tanagers and different residents.  

Judge’s Take (Natalia Ekelund): This {photograph} shows delicacy and a focus to element. The sharp focus and pure composition mirror a really promising inventive look. It’s thrilling to see younger individuals become involved in conservation by means of artwork. An admirable piece of labor that bodes nicely for a vivid future in wildlife pictures.

Youth: Parham Pourahmad

Contest: United States and Canada
Species: Long-eared Owl 
Image Location: Fremont, California, United States
Camera: Nikon D3500 with a Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens at 600mm; 1/1000 second at f/6.3; ISO 1800 

Behind the Shot: When I heard of a uncommon Long-eared Owl sighting at Coyote Hills Regional Park, I went to test it out. When I arrived earlier than dawn, I noticed the owl in search of rodents within the park’s grasslands and marshes. It hunted on and off for the following hour, giving me ample time to take photographs. The solar rose, shining stunning colours all around the marsh. When the owl flew by, I framed it with its habitat to reveal the connection between the owl and its residence. I appreciated the nice and cozy lighting and the way the owl stood out regardless of showing small within the body. 

Bird Lore:  Long-eared and Short-eared Owls are named for the size of feather tufts on their heads (not linked to their precise ears). The Long-eared is typically thought-about a forest chook as a result of it roosts in timber, whereas the Short-eared roosts on the bottom in marshes and fields. But each species forage in open habitats, coursing backwards and forwards, low over the bottom, listening for rodents. 

Judge’s Take (Emily Tallo): This {photograph} options the fantastic thing about the Long-eared Owl in flight—not a standard sight. The layered background exhibits the numerous colours of the grass, vegetation, mist, and treeline at completely different ranges of depth. To me it’s the excellent instance of how the “golden hour” can create beautiful photos—the wealthy golden hues of the owl and the background complement one another magically. A really serene scene from a talented younger photographer! 

Coastal Birds, Chile: Francisco Castro Escobar

Contest: Chile and Colombia
Species: American Oystercatcher
Image Location: Antofagasta, Antofagasta Province, Chile 
Camera: Sony Alpha 7 IV with a Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens at 600mm; 1/640 second at f/8; ISO 500 

Behind the Shot:  I get pleasure from birding each weekend within the coastal space of my metropolis. Urban sprawl has affected shorebird habitat, besides, in summer season it is not uncommon to see some species strolling amongst rocky outcrops or the shore. On this event, an American Oystercatcher chick and its mom got here towards me. I hid, patiently ready for them to get nearer, till I used to be capable of seize this stunning second of the mom feeding a mollusk to her chick. The tenderness of a picture like this helps increase consciousness concerning the significance of defending these “coastal warriors,” as I name these birds, who battle to outlive daily. 

Bird Lore: Oystercatchers are distinctive shorebirds, recognized by their giant, colourful payments and specialised feeding habits. They deal with oysters, clams, mussels, and comparable creatures, utilizing quite a lot of strategies to extract mollusks from their shells. It takes time for infants to study these strategies: While most shorebirds can discover their very own meals nearly as quickly as they hatch, oystercatcher dad and mom proceed to feed their offspring for weeks whereas kids step by step study to forage on their very own. 

Judge’s Take (Natalia Ekelund): This picture affords a strong narrative: an grownup feeding his younger in a pure and difficult surroundings. The closeness, sharpness, and heat of the second evoke tenderness but additionally consciousness of the vulnerability of shorebirds. It is a hanging testimony of parental habits achieved with nice technical ability and sensitivity. 

Female Bird Prize: Sean Pursley

Contest: United States and Canada
Species: Chipping Sparrow 
Image Location:  Bogus Basin, Idaho, United States 
Camera: Sony Alpha 1 with a Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens at 840mm and a  Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter; 1/1000 second at f/9; ISO 1250 

Behind the Shot: I made a decision to move to cooler temperatures within the mountains, about an hour’s drive from Boise. I arrived because the early morning mild began to hit the aspect of the mountain. I made my means on the path because the filtered mild shone by means of the cover. It was completely magical: I might hear chook sounds throughout, really feel the cool air, and scent the pines. I then noticed two Chipping Sparrows flitting across the bushes. One, carrying nesting materials, flew onto a wonderfully lit department. She posed for about 15 seconds. The items the universe provides us are so particular.  

Bird Lore:  Among our most widespread native songbirds, Chipping Sparrows will be present in summer season from coast to coast and from central Alaska to Central America. As anticipated in such a variety, they nest in quite a lot of habitats. In the japanese states they are often quite common in suburbs and metropolis parks; farther west, they’re typically summer season residents of mountain woodlands. Pairs stick shut collectively whereas selecting a nest website and beginning to construct, however the feminine handles precise building.  

Judge’s Take (Martha Harbison): We found that Chipping Sparrows are a favourite amongst the judges, and we liked that the photographer hung out to seize such a ravishing picture of an underrated chook. It additionally felt applicable that the picture mapped the evolution of the Galbatross Project’s understanding of feminine chook ID. When looking for to enhance feminine chook ID expertise, it’s best to start out with species the place men and women look completely different. The Chipping Sparrow was one of many very first species the place we used behavioral cues for a intercourse identification. If you see a Chipping Sparrow holding nesting materials, it’s nearly actually a feminine.

Video: Tianze Ling

Contest: United States and Canada
Species: Burrowing Owl
Image Location:  Hollywood, Florida, United States  
Camera: Sony Alpha 7 IV with a Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G lens at 20mm; 1/60 second at f/4; ISO auto  

Behind the Shot: The subject lights allowed me to movie this owl pair after darkish on the Brian Piccolo Sports Park & Velodrome. I used my wide-angle lens to get this clip of the male feeding a gecko to the feminine as youngsters mess around them. While these owls won’t be too bothered by our presence, automobiles, out of doors cats, and unleashed canines are all lethal threats, and plenty of who use this area are usually not conscious of those risks. I hope my work can inform those who we’re fortunate to have these tiny, adaptable birds round us. We should be respectful round them. 

Bird Lore:  Cowboys within the Old West typically referred to Burrowing Owls as “Howdy owls,” as a result of these long-legged gnomes appeared to nod in greeting to passersby. Burrowing Owls can develop into very tame the place individuals don’t threaten them, and at some websites in Florida they dwell proper alongside golf programs and housing.  

Judge’s Take (Mick Thompson): The scene on this video is each intimate and provoking, exhibiting how birds can thrive alongside human exercise when given area and respect. Filmed at a low angle to provide the owls’ perspective, it’s a beautiful reminder that coexistence between birds and folks isn’t solely attainable but additionally mutually enriching.

Video: Héctor Morales

Contest: Chile and  Colombia
Species: Collared Aracari 
Image Location: Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador 
Camera: Nikon Z8 with a Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens at 500mm; 1/500 second at f/6.3; ISO 1400 

Behind the Shot: I initially thought this Collared Aracari was in search of fruit when it landed. Then it started to tug younger out of what seemed to be a tanager nest. My spouse, cousin, and I watched in silence as, one after the other, the chicks have been devoured. We didn’t intervene as a result of we understood the Aracari’s opportunism was nature’s purest kind. It was not evil; it was uncooked survival. What I noticed that day modified me, filling me with an awe, sorrow, and discomfort that solely the reality can provoke. Nature doesn’t all the time appear like a postcard: Sometimes it’s unpredictable and brutal. But in that brutality, there’s magnificence.  

Bird Lore:  Aracaris are medium-size toucans often seen in small teams, hopping by means of branches or flying from tree to tree in single file, making harsh or squeaky calls as they go. The Collared Aracari feeds totally on small fruits. However, it’s no vegan: It commonly raids the nests of smaller birds.

Judge’s Take (Martín del Río López): This video is sort of hanging for exhibiting nature because it actually is. It’s generally troublesome to look at the sort of content material, but it surely’s necessary for individuals to know all the habits of birds. It’s not good to “humanize” animals. 

Want a chook’s eye view of the place all of the profitable photographs and movies have been taken? See our map of the winners under. And in case you’re like us, and you’ll’t get sufficient of those standout avian photos and tales, try the runner-up photos at this hyperlink.  Stay tuned for our judges’ Top 100 photographs from the awards—approaching September 24.