Birds on wires and other award photos

The Bird Photographer of the Year awards have been announced, with Canadian photographer Patricia Homonillo taking top honors for her thought-provoking image When Worlds Collide.

This photo was taken in Toronto and won the award from over 23,000 entries.

This photo shows more than 4,000 birds that have died after crashing into city windows and other reflective surfaces.

“In North America alone, more than a billion birds die each year from collisions with windows,” Homonillo said.

“I am a conservation photojournalist and have been involved with the Fatal Light Awareness Program in Toronto, rescuing window crash survivors.

“Unfortunately, most of the birds we found were already dead.

“They are collected and we create this impressive exhibition at the end of the year to honor the lives lost and raise public awareness.”

Homonillo’s work was also one of the award-winning entries selected in the Conservation (Single Image) category.

The Young Bird Photographer of the Year 2024 award goes to 14-year-old Spanish photographer Andrés Luis Dominguez Blanco for his creative angled photo of a woodpecker climbing under an oak tree.

Photographers competed in eight categories at the adult competition, including conservation, portfolio and video awards.

Here are some of the gold, silver and bronze award-winning photos, along with captions from the photographers.

“This falcon chick has been flying for over a week and its flying skills are improving by the day.

“He still received food from his parents, but he began to practice his hunting skills.

“Because he was not yet skilled enough to catch a live bird in the air, he moved little by little, chasing after a butterfly fluttering its wings.

“I’ve been photographing falcons for years, but this was the first time I’ve seen a chick playing with a butterfly.”

“For a few weeks each year, black grouse gather at the (lech) for spring morning courtship and display.

“The males come down to claim their territory, and they spend hours ogling, lunging and mostly engaging in mock fights.

“But sometimes these encounters escalate into actual fights.

“The hot breath of a lone warrior steams through the cold air. I captured it while sitting in my small photo studio, enjoying the sounds and sights of this ancient play.”

“In the middle of winter, I often admire the sight of birds dancing in the air in my garden. They come to my trees to eat the seeds I have sown.

“I tried to capture their flight and their delicate trajectories forever, using flash and the ‘rear curtain’ mode of my camera.

“It took hundreds of photos before I captured the perfect moment, one that captured the fleeting magic of winter’s nature.”

“Here we see a flock of three Northern Petrels diving into the sea on a sunny day in Shetland.

“This species is the largest seabird in Scotland and is incredibly adept at diving, able to dive to depths of up to 22 metres.

“I took this photo while scuba diving from a boat near North, home to the seventh largest population of Northern Petrels in the UK.

“In the past, the bird population was estimated at around 25,000, but unfortunately, the bird flu outbreak has significantly reduced that number.

“It is unclear when or if their population will recover. Dead herring from local herring fisheries were used to attract the birds to boats.”

“This photo shows a white-headed diving duck disappearing beneath the water’s surface in search of food, diving deep with its large, oar-shaped feet.

“I took the photo from a high platform above the wetlands.

“With a little imagination, the combination of the bird and the waves can resemble the head of a hippopotamus.”

“We were on safari and we were returning to our camp in Sabi Sands, South Africa, on a dark evening in March.

“We stopped and heard some unusual sounds, but we couldn’t be sure what they were.

“Then we heard a murmur and a fluttering sound from high above.

“With the headlights on the car shining, we could see a group of helmeted crows gathered together on the increasingly cold night.”

“The guise of a guise breeds in a park about 1 km from the Vistula River, the lifeline of Poland.

“With no food and no safety in the park, each parent bird must move its chicks to the river as quickly as possible.

“They travel through underground passages and across six-lane highways.

“Every year, volunteers stop traffic to help people cross this dangerous road.

“This photo shows the mother gosander crossing a small path instead of going down the scary, dark underground passage below.”

“This heartbreaking photo captures the harsh reality of one of Bali’s new markets.

“A pair of lovebirds face each other in separate cages, seemingly saying their final goodbye, but gripped by fear that they might never meet again.

“Who knows what joy they must have experienced together in the lush native rainforest, and whether they will ever feel it again?

“Their quiet connection transcends physical barriers, highlighting the complex interplay between the longing for freedom and the drive to break free from captivity for human pleasure.”

“I took this photo on a beautiful beach in the Baltic Sea.

“There are many species of wading birds and other birds here, but there are also many visitors who come to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

“In this case, the dog didn’t notice the gray plover at first. However, the gray plover noticed the dog and flew away right after I took the photo.

“While we do not believe this incident caused significant stress to the bird, it is important to acknowledge the potential impacts that human activity and tourism can have on protected species and their habitats.”

“Feather Lake is a popular winter habitat for numerous migratory birds.

“From November to March, Eurasian mallards frequent this lake.

“As soon as the lake freezes over, these rare birds hide in the reed ditches.

“Surprisingly, this entity was found very close to a trail that runs through a nature reserve.

“From there I could easily observe their fishing campaign and take numerous photos.”

All photos courtesy of Bird Photographer of the Year., external