BirdLife Australia Photography Awards announced the winning and shortlisted photos of its 2022 contest! With more than 5,600 images submitted by photographers from all over the world, the competition celebrated the life of birds and raised funds to support bird conservation programs.
Scroll down to see the best shots of 2022 in the categories “Bird Portrait”, “Special Theme (Australasian Robins)”, “Bird Behaviour”, “Birds in the Landscape”, “Birds in flight”, “Birds in backyards”, “Human Impact” and “Youth”.
More info: birdlifephotoaward.org.au | birdlife.org.au | Facebook
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#1
Birds In Flight: “My Pearl” By Lawrence Chan (Shortlist)
“I was lucky to capture this special moment. This Red Wattlebird was drinking and splashing water. It was the optical illusion that the brightest and largest bokeh superimposed the bird’s open mouth. I positioned myself about 15 meters away facing a darker background. This helped the camera to focus and track the bird. Although wattlebirds are very commonly found in the city parks, I have tried to capture a beautiful moment from a different perspective.”Red Wattlebird, Newport, Vic
Among the winners are “Leaning In” by Rebecca Harrison, “Feed Me Please” by Cheng Kang, “Hokey Pokey” by Danny Lee, “White-faced Storm Petrel” by John Harrison, “The sentinel” by Maria Coleman, “Over the Rainbow” by Nathan Watson, “Yellow” by Glenn Faithfull and “Morning Serenity” by Desmond Wang.
The competition is open to people of any nationality. However, photographers may only submit photos of Australian bird species and they must have been taken in Australia or its offshore territories.
#2
Special Theme: Australasian Robins: “Pink Robin” By Ravi Arora (Shortlist)
“I had this image in mind way before I actually took it, I always imagined how this pretty bird would look on a flower and what would catch the eye: the flower or this bird, and hands down it is always the bird. I knew this bird’s spot, and I knew that if I waited patiently nearby it would eventually come down. This took almost around 6 months for this to happen and I was lucky I had almost the perfect flower in place when God smiled upon me.”Pink Robin, Otways, Vic
#3
Bird Behaviour: “Hanging For Breakfast” By Joel Evans (Shortlist)
“Sometimes you come across a subject that is so focused on what they are doing, they don’t really care if you are close to them. This was the case with this little Double-barred Finch which was on a mission to get to as many seeds as it could. As I lay a few meters away, it started to pull down a large grass seed head, which I captured here, then it held it down with its little foot and started eating the seeds. It was a moment I was happy to witness and showed how many characters these little birds possess.”Double-Barred Finch, Manly, Brisbane, Qld
Bored Panda got in touch with Lucca Amorim, the coordinator for this year’s competition. He shared that the jury of Birdlife Australia Photography Awards 2022 was Michael Snedic, Gail Bisson, Raoul Slater, Lia Bocciaro, Chriss Purnell, Georgina Steytler, and Charles Davis. More information about the judges can be found here.
#4
Birds In Flight: “White-Faced Storm Petrel” By John Harrison (Winner)
“Storm petrels regularly exhibit this water-skiing behavior whilst searching for food on the water’s surface, but I have never seen such a perfectly timed photo of the moment of impact.” White-faced Storm Petrel, Near Eaglehawk Neck, Tas
#5
Birds In The Landscape: “Emu Mist” By Christian Spencer (Shortlist)
“While walking through the spectacular sand dunes in the Eyre Peninsula a thick mist descended turning the light into a sepia color. A small group of Emus emerged. I waited for them to pass behind the twisted and half-buried trees and managed to capture this unique photograph.”Emu, Coffin Bay, SA
According to Lucca, the main factor all judges were looking for in the photographs was something unique that stands out among other images, something outside of the box. “We were also looking for creative lighting techniques to showcase the photographer’s creativity and adaptability.”
#6
Birds In Flight: “Wedge-Tailed Eagle” By Michelle Gardner (Shortlist)
“I drive my husband nuts when traveling as he is forced to stop at EVERY Wedge-tailed Eagle spied on, usually for no reward. This one was on the roadside feasting on some roadkill. As we approached, I could see the bird was preparing to take off. I quickly got out of the car and got down low just in time to capture him taking flight. I cropped the photo closely to focus on the wings as I love the way their fingers curl up in flight.”Wedge-tailed Eagle, Hawker, SA
#7
Birds In Flight: “Morning Dance” By Lawrence Chan (Shortlist)
“Grey Fantails are common birds in our city parks. Through the light, actions, and back-lit wingspan, I have tried to express the beauty of this common bird. I was able to choose a darker background to highlight the wings and the beautiful dance. It was a great challenge for me to capture the fast movement.”Grey Fantail, Port Melbourne, Vic
“There were some main trends for each category. The most noticeable trend was for the human impact, backyard birds, and bird portrait categories. With the human impact category, lots of photographers submitted entries covering road collisions with birds and wildlife. In fact, 3 of the shortlisted entries for human impact were of road collisions with wildlife. With bird portraits, we had many entries of rainbow lorikeets, magpies and laughing kookaburras up close. Similarly, we also had these species re-occur in the backyard bird category.”
#8
Youth: “Salute To The Sun” By Finnian Bissell (Shortlist)
“I was almost late leaving for the airport because of this bird. I waited in the same spot for close to 40 minutes, watching for the sunbirds to land on this particularly tasty-looking Red Powderpuff Flower. Considering this was my last time leaving my grandma’s home of 50 years in Cairns, I was more than happy to wait. The Olive-Backed Sunbird has been one of my Grandma’s favorite birds, one that she will miss dearly when she moves to the Gold Coast. I felt the need to take these photos as a salute to Grandma’s home, as It felt like 50 years of memories were all disappearing so fast. Her home has been host to some crazy and wonderful flora and fauna over the years. From massive diamond pythons slithering through the roof to green tree frogs on the toilet, this place was like my own David Attenborough documentary. So many amazing things to see and hear about. That’s why this photo means a lot. Never once did I not see something that amazed me at my grandma’s house, even up until the last minute.”Olive-backed Sunbird, Edge Hill, Cairns, Qld
#9
Bird Behaviour: “Berries For Lunch” By Cheng Kang (Shortlist)
“In early Winter, the ripe berries attract flocks of Silvereyes. I managed to find this gymnast gracefully hanging from an outstretched branch while snacking food-in-mouth. What a beautiful combination of colours! Silvereyes are among my favourite birds, I was so glad to capture this scene showcasing the agility and liveliness of this marvellous bird.”Silvereye, Bendigo, Vic
What fascinated Lucca the most about the winning shots was the variety of skills from the photographers across a wide range of birds and habitats. “Whether it was freezing the shot with half of the lens underwater or making a beautiful long exposure, the competition had it all.”
#10
Bird Portrait: “Hokey Pokey” By Danny Lee (Winner)
“Shy Albatross are regular visitors to boats in Tasmania. They are often intrigued when I slip into the water with them, and they can get quite confident in approaching to see if my camera gear is edible or not. The conditions were perfect this day, and usually just having an Albatross so close is usually enough, but the ominous sky certainly added more drama to the shot. I never take for granted the opportunities I get to photograph these amazing sea birds, especially knowing how vulnerable Albatrosses are to some of today’s fishing practices. I love to try and show off as many of these Birds as possible by using the split shot technique. I choose to shoot with a small Canon compact camera. After a lot of years of practice and a lot of patience, I find its small size is often perfect for me, especially when the sea is calm.”Shy Albatross, Port Sorell, Bass Strait, Tas
#11
Youth: “Pair Of Bee-Eaters With Prey” By Finn Cupper (Shortlist)
“In November 2021, west of Mildura, this pair of Rainbow Bee-eaters both landed on their favorite perch with insects they had caught.”Rainbow Bee-eater, West of Mildura, Vic
#12
Birds In Flight: “Nankeen Kestrel Golden Hour Flight” By Martin Anderson (Shortlist)
“I got up extra early and left for the coast at 4:30 am to ensure I arrived before sunrise, as I was hoping to get some interesting shots in the golden hour. On arrival, I checked a few known perching spots in hope that one of the local raptors was utilizing one. This beautiful Nankeen Kestrel was perched on the jagged cliffs. As the sun came up it illuminated the bird and its perch but didn’t carry through to the cliffs behind the bird, creating a golden glow on the subject against the dark background. I watched and photographed the bird as it warmed in the first light, paying close attention to the bird’s behavior. When it showed signs it was about to take off I held down the shutter and captured the Kestrel dropping into a dive from its perch. Thankfully the bird was still illuminated by the golden light through the entire sequence.”Nankeen Kestrel, Long Reef Headlands, NSW
#13
Birds In The Landscape: “The Sentinel” By Maria Coleman (Winner)
“The birds were hunting in the water and moving through the fog and dead trees which created a very moody scene. It was a very cold and foggy morning and I lay down on the edge of the lake watching the birds move effortlessly through the water. I noticed this lonely Pelican high up in the tree keeping an eye on those that drifted past and it reminded me of a sentinel patrolling the wetland.”Australian Pelican and Pacific Black Ducks, Riverian, NSW
#14
Bird Portrait: “The Eyes Have” It By Michelle Gardner (Shortlist)
“I love it when the bird looks directly at you. The eyes of the female Black-necked Stork are in a class of their own! Spectacular eyes on a spectacular bird. The colors of the feathers on their head and neck are pretty cool too!”Black-necked Stork, Howard Springs, NT
#15
Youth: “Romeo & Juliet” By Ellis Cummins (Shortlist)
“I was able to take this shot when a flock of Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos decided to tear apart my neighbor’s sunflower garden. They would grab large chunks of the sunflower and then perch on the electric wire which luckily was level with the balcony I was watching them from. It was here I was able to catch a close-up shot of these 2 cockatoos seemingly sharing a piece of the flower.”Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Shellharbour, NSW
#16
Backyard Birds: “Good To Be Alive!” By Patrick Kavanagh (Shortlist)
“Our backyard birdbath attracts many species of woodland birds, but Thornbills rule the roost. And they seem to get so much more soaked than other birds. Their voluble chatter as they splash around may well have other meanings, but it sounds to me like a true expression of delight. No matter how many times I see them or how many photos I have of them when I hear their calls I just have to go and watch them.”Buff-rumped Thornbill, Strangways, Vic
#17
Bird Behaviour: “Hanging Around” By Shelley Pearson (Shortlist)
“Galahs are very playful birds and first thing in the mornings they fly around making lots of noise and generally being a little crazy. I captured this Galah messing about as it suspended from a small tree branch feeding. It was very low light and difficult to photograph, but the behavior was so funny and it was worth attempting an image. It happened very quickly, so I didn’t get ideal settings but managed this shot.”Galah, Coodanup Foreshore, Mandurah, WA
#18
Backyard Birds: “Daylight Robbery” By Warren Wilson (Shortlist)
“Each afternoon this Bowerbird watches in anticipation as I feed my dog in the backyard. It skulks around until it sees an opportunity to rush in and steals a kibble or two from the bowl before my elderly dog can respond to this classic case of daylight robbery.”Satin Bowerbird, Woollamia, NSW
#19
Backyard Birds: “Leaning In” By Rebecca Harrison (Winner)
“The Aussie in me calls Galahs ‘Pinks’; they are always a wonderful sight to see ambling along median strips nibbling on flowers, or screeching at each other over the best position on tree branches. This clever female Galah had worked out how to get to the tasty grass seeds by climbing up the side fence and leaning out as far as she could to grab them swaying in the breeze.”Galah, Coogee, WA
#20
Backyard Birds: “Rainy Day Blues” By Jane Mcmenamin (Shortlist)
“It was raining heavily and this Brush Turkey stood on our back fence with the rain dripping off it, looking miserable! Every now and then it would give a vigorous shake with feathers and water droplets going in all directions. The light was low and to keep the shutter speed up I had to work with a high ISO, causing noise which I reduced in post.”Australian Brush-turkey, Brisbane, Qld
#21
Special Theme: Australasian Robins: “Female Flame” By Reeni Martinez (Shortlist)
“I hope the viewer of this image enjoys the muted winter colors and the textures of the ominous spikes and prickles that this delicate, beautiful little bird finds safety in. The subtle bokeh and glistening morning dew add a contrast of softness to the image which brings a nice balance.”Flame Robin, Bicentenial Trail to Red Rock Gorge, Canberra, ACT
#22
Bird Portrait: “Spinifex Pigeon” By Josh Watson (Shortlist)
“Ormiston Gorge is situated in the ancient landscape of Tjoritja / West Macdonnell Ranges, which boasts spectacular rock formations, native fauna and flora. On the 8.5km walk around Ormiston Pound which meanders through the scenic gorge and large flat expanses I came across a few Spinifex Pigeons. Most were unwilling to hang around for a photo, but this one gave me enough time to crouch down and fire off a few shots. The distinctive plumage of the Spinifex Pigeon and the stunning crest makes it a perfect match for these arid landscapes. It easily blends in amongst the rocks and spinifex of central Australia. This particular shot appeals to me because the background colors perfectly reflect the colors of the Spinifex Pigeon.”Spinifex Pigeon, Alice Springs, NT
#23
Special Theme: Australasian Robins: “Yellow” By Glenn Faithfull (Winner)
“I actually took this photo mostly by chance. At the time I was hoping to photograph a catbird which had been waking me early each morning. As I waited for the catbird to fly down into the tree I was watching, this little robin just popped up onto a nearby branch. The resulting photo is a little under-exposed, and if given the chance I would have exchanged the teleconverter for a wider aperture. In the short moment the robin was on the branch I got in a few handheld shots, one of which is this entry here. I love this photo because the robin is showing off their stunning yellow while looking wistfully into the distance, seemingly not bothered by my camera clicks. I never got that catbird shot in case you were wondering.”Eastern Yellow Robin, Possum Creek, NSW
#24
Bird Behaviour: “Rehearsal” By Ian Wilson (Shortlist)
“Males sometimes spontaneously display away from the mound with their attention focused on an inanimate object like a stick in the ground, a small piece of vegetation, or in this image, the upturned end of the perch. The display is loud and energetic with the full range of vocalization and dance moves including the bird bouncing around the object of his attention while beating his wings in time with the ‘tuggerah-tuggerah’ call.” Superb Lyrebird, Dandenong Ranges National Park, Vic
#25
Bird Behaviour: “Stars And Stripes” By Jason Moore (Shortlist)
“The bright, gaudy combination of red, blue and white conjures up images of Uncle Sam’s top hat or “The Stars and Stripes”. I am really attracted to this photo – I love the interaction between the two birds, but I think my favorite feature is the flared tail feathers. We have so many beautiful parrots in Australia, but it’s hard to look past this species when it comes to beauty.”Crimson Rosella, Lamington National Park, Qld
#26
Bird Portrait: “Kookaburra” By Gd Smith (Shortlist)
“While setting up camp late afternoon on North Stradbroke Island, this Kookaburra emerged out of the darkness and landed on my car. As it seemed to be quite comfortable with being around people, it allowed me to get fairly close to take this portrait.”Laughing Kookaburra, North Stradbroke Island, Qld
#27
Human Impact: “You Had Me At Hello” By Suzanne Bray (Shortlist)
“This unplanned photo was taken while visiting a friend who volunteers with wildlife rescue. Four tiny babies were rescued after Mumma was attacked by a feral cat …. all four babies were found wet and shaking in nearby grass beside the road at Hay Point. “Spike” was the smallest of the four and needed assistance with feeding. Sadly, little Spike being already frail was attacked by his larger bossier brothers and did not survive to be released into the wild.”Radjah Shelduck, Mackay, Qld
#28
Special Theme: Australasian Robins: “Alight” By Alex France (Shortlist)
“This Eastern Yellow Robin watched me curiously for a brief second while I took this shot. It was perched on a delicate tongue of curled and flaking Angophora bark, seeming to defy gravity, its toes curled around one thin sheet and an out-stretched claw connecting it to the next, with just enough tension to provide magisterial posture control on this flimsiest of platforms.”Eastern Yellow Robin, One Mile, NSW
#29
Bird Portrait: “Superb Soloist” By Ian Wilson (Shortlist)
“When this fellow began to display on his mound, I slithered closer to a ‘window’ in the vegetation for a close encounter. I opened up the aperture to f/2.8 to create an intimate, eye-level view much like a visiting female would experience. He is shown giving a virtuoso performance less than 2 m from the camera.”Superb Lyrebird, Dandenong Ranges National Park, Vic
#30
Special Theme: Australasian Robins: “Pale Yellow” By Danny Mccreadie (Shortlist)
“I had spent some time in the rainforest at Crater Lakes National Park, North Queensland, trying to photograph this Pale Yellow Robin. The poor light inside the forest and the tendency of this small Robin to keep moving from tree to tree made it a challenging task. Eventually, I was rewarded with this image. The lichens on the branch add to the interest of the photograph and give a clue to its rainforest setting.”Pale-yellow Robin, Crater Lakes, Qld
#31
Bird Portrait: “Red-Necked Stint” By Shelley Pearson (Shortlist)
“The migratory birds begin to arrive in Mandurah, Western Australia from August, including the Red-necked Stints. This Red-necked Stint was slowly wandering around feeding, showing some remnants of breeding color and looking beautiful in first light with the pink sky reflecting back in the water. I was laying on the sand, waiting and patience is the key to getting a shot.”Red-necked Stint, Mandurah, WA
#32
Birds In The Landscape: “Cassowary Creek” By Patrick Tomkins (Shortlist)
“This beautiful female cassowary visits our property. She spends a lot of time in this creek, either bathing or feeding on fallen fruit, or simply using it as a thoroughfare to move through the rainforest.”Southern Cassowary, Kuranda, Qld
#33
Birds In Flight: “In The Limelight” By Cheng Kang (Shortlist)
“I was so surprised at the utter beauty of a Rainbow Bee-eater’s wings as it gracefully soars against the fading light, showcasing its amazing flight and plumage, like a star performing on center stage.”Rainbow Bee-eater, Hume region, Vic
#34
Bird Behaviour: “What’s Mine Is Yours” By Rebecca Harrison (Shortlist)
“When summer arrives, so does the unmistakable sound of the Fairy Terns. It’s amazing to watch these tiny birds dive into the water repeatedly and emerge with fish of all different kinds. I was lying on the beach watching this diving action when one suddenly flew in and paused long enough to pass a fish to its mate on the shoreline; will this sardine be the deal breaker in their courtship?”Fairy Tern, Woodman Point, WA
#35
Birds In The Landscape: “Morning Sauna” By Lawrence Chan (Shortlist)
