BirdsCaribbean Global Big Day 2026 Photography Awards – BirdsCaribbean

Global Big Day (GBD) 2026 was an absolute whirlwind of chicken celebration, energetic island group spirit, and expertise behind the lens! We are extremely grateful to everybody who despatched of their fantastic photographs and helped doc the area’s unbelievable birds and energetic group spirit.

Now, the second you’ve all been ready for, after a little bit of delay for preparations for the BirdsCaribbean 25th International Conference: we’re thrilled to disclose the winners of the GBD 2026 Photo Contest! These spectacular photographs seize the essence of our area’s birds and remind us of the unimaginable issues we are able to obtain once we unite to help citizen science applications.

If you haven’t caught up on the complete Global Big Day 2026 breakdown but, click on right here to dive into the principle highlights, overview last crew standings, and meet this 12 months’s final birding champions!

This huge regional effort merely wouldn’t occur with out the infectious enthusiasm of our birding group, the tireless hustle of our crew coordinators, and the important generosity of our supporters. Your contributions help Caribbean conservationists of their mission to check and monitor birds and encourage group motion for the long-term safety of birds and their habitats.

 

The Main Stage: Best Bird Photo Winners 2026

An enormous spherical of applause goes out to this 12 months’s First Place Best Bird Photo champion, Peter Rivera, representing Puerto Rico!

Here is what one in every of our judges needed to say about this successful shot:

“Gorgeous capture of this special endemic duck, beautifully showing the bird’s enormous wings and rich chocolate-to-cinnamon brown plumage. I also love the tiny drop of water on the bird’s beak.”

West Indian Whistling Duck, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Peter Rivera)

Taking residence Second Place Best Bird Photo is an unimaginable body of Caribbean and American Flamingos by Zak Ali. “A unique perspective, with the lines created by the incoming waves drawing your eye into the photo and toward the beauty of the flamingos living in this incredible landscape.”

Securing Third Place Best Bird Photo is a shocking seize of a Gray Kingbird with its chicks by Jerome Foster. “A powerful image that vividly shows how well birds have adapted to humankind’s impact on the planet.” “Seeing birds like this too is important—right here, in the middle of manmade structures—a reminder to always be mindful of and act with the understanding that we share our spaces with them.” 

With so many distinctive submissions hitting our inbox, the choice course of was extremely robust, and our judges felt a number of extra entries deserved time within the highlight. Enjoy these standout Honorable Mentions:

Josh Bajnath, proprietor of Bajnath’s Estate Hummingbird Sanctuary, Team Leader of The Piping Pawis and writer of Hummingbirds of Trinidad and Tobago, captured this beautiful picture of a Tufted Coquette—which was featured in eBird’s official wrap up of GBD 2026!

Best Landscape Photo

Behind each nice chicken is a crucial habitat. These hanging photographs flip the highlight on the important ecosystems just like the forests, wetlands, and coastal shores the place our birds feed, relaxation, and lift the subsequent technology. They spotlight each the artistry of our photographers and the pressing must preserve these wild areas.

Claiming First Place for Best Landscape Photo is New Providence, The Bahamas, captured by Lowell Coleby! You can view extra of his beautiful photographs here.

“This image tells an important and sobering story about the relentless pace of development across the Caribbean. The small Gray Kingbird perched on a red mangrove branch is perfectly framed against a backdrop of active construction, with dredged material being loaded into a dump truck in the distance. The composition is outstanding, and the photograph succeeds as powerful visual storytelling—capturing both the resilience of wildlife and the growing pressures facing coastal habitats throughout our region.” 

Second Place Best Landscape Photo: Artemisa, Cuba. (Photo by Jose Alberto)

Third Place Best Landscape Photo: Valle de Lajas. (Photo by Eric Torres)

We additionally need to give a large shoutout to the remainder of our gifted panorama contributors. Your dedication to framing the uncooked magnificence of those habitats is deeply appreciated!

Best Behind-the-Scenes (BTS) Moments

While GBD is essentially in regards to the birds, half the enjoyable is the fantastically chaotic human journey occurring simply out of body. We love that our birders gave us a sneak peek into the hilarious, exhausting, and uplifting realities of a 24-hour birding blitz.

Climbing to the highest of the leaderboard for our First Place Behind The Scenes (BTS) class is Nils Navarro from the Cuban Birding Team with “Birding by Bike!”

“Cuba is facing very difficult conditions right now, with severe shortages of fuel and electricity. Yet, as usual, the Cuban teams absolutely crushed it on Global Big Day—birding joyfully from their backyards and traveling by bicycle, on foot, and by motorbike to find birds. This photo beautifully captures the resilience, passion, and optimism of our Cuban colleagues, who always find a way to contribute and make a difference despite the challenges.”

Our Second Place Behind the Scenes honor goes to Dr. Leandra Dass for capturing her younger, enthusiastic birder son doing what he loves–birdwatching, in Moruga (central-south coast of Trinidad).

“This capture is feels like a delightful moment where everything came together just right—Xavier framed in the heart foliage is technically a pretty shot—but it also captures the love and joy that we feel when birding. A beautifully charming photo!”

The Third Place Behind the Scenes award goes to Davian Amore of Simon’s TCI Royal Terns. We suspect the native birds are operating a really efficient distraction technique.

“A wonderfully humorous photo of five birders in tiny South Caicos, each looking in a completely different direction through binoculars or a camera. You just know they had a fantastic day in the field. The TCI Royal Terns turned out in force this year to celebrate birds and honor the legacy of beloved team leader, Simon Busuttil, whose passion for birds and conservation continues to inspire the team.” 

Special congratulations once more to the TCI Royal Terns for putting fifth on this planet on eBird’s official depend of nations with a rise in Global Big Day eBirders from 2025!

Honorable mentions:

Youngest GBD-er 2026

We like to see when younger individuals join with the unimaginable chicken communities of their residence international locations and we hope to see extra younger naturalists taking part in subsequent 12 months’s GBD! 

Golden Hour

Silhouettes are a lovely strategy to play with gentle and add drama to your photographs.

You’ve obtained the incorrect man!

Members of the President’s Perch crew in England mentioned they had been scanning the skies and tree tops for birds however despatched us this  picture of an lovable Water Vole. We requested our eBird guru if this counts as a furry, flightless waterfowl. He nonetheless has not replied.

Ready for my shut up

Seabird analysis ❎ Vogue photoshoot ✅

Best hair type

This Tufted Coquette secured the crown for ‘Best Hair’ with the sort of gravity-defying quantity that almost all salon merchandise can solely promise.

Best Team Selfie

Are subject selfies a vital GBD custom? Absolutely! We love seeing your smiling, sun-baked faces. To view these snapshots in excessive decision, simply click on on the primary picture and scroll by our group gallery.