Categories
Welcome to the Birdlife Australia Photography Awards!
The 2024 competition has now closed. Stay tuned for the shortlist announcement soon!
The special theme for this year’s competition is Land of the Parrots. Photos entered into this category must contain one or more parrot or lorikeet species, and you can find the full list of eligible species and more information on each category below.
Remember – the welfare of birds always comes first, and no winning shot should see birds losing out! All entries must adhere to the BirdLife Photography Code of Ethics.
2024 Sponsors and Prizes
The 2024 BirdLife Australia Photography Awards are proudly sponsored by Nikon Australia and Lake Cowal Foundation.
Thanks to their generous support, the winners of each category will receive $1,000 in prize money – while the very lucky winner of the Portfolio Prize will receive a Nikon Z 8 camera valued at $7,449 RRP, courtesy of our Principal Sponsor Nikon Australia.
Nikon Australia is an Australian leader in digital imaging and optics, and is the proud Principal Sponsor of the 2024 BirdLife Australia Photography Awards.
Lake Cowal Foundation (LCF) is a not-for-profit Environmental Trust, established to protect and enhance the nationally-significant wetlands of Lake Cowal in New South Wales. LCF is a proud sponsor of the 2024 BirdLife Australia Photography Awards Birds in the Landscape category.
Bird Portrait
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Photographs where the bird is the star of the show! Photos entered in this category should showcase the beauty and character of Australian birds.
Tip: unique and interesting compositions, poses, behaviours, expressions, lighting and tones will capture the attention of our judges and help your entry stand out from the crowd.
Win: $1,000 AUD
Birds in Flight
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Photographs of birds doing what they do best – flying! Photos entered in this category should depict one or more birds in flight, and can include multiple species. For this category, the sky is the limit.
Tip: our judges will be looking for distinctive, inspiring and dynamic compositions for this category.
Win: $1,000 AUD
Bird Behaviour
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Photographs capturing the natural behaviours of Australian birds. Photos entered in this category should show birds in action – such as feeding, courting, playing, fighting, preening or socialising – and can include multiple species.
Tip: our judges will be looking for unique and interesting compositions and behaviours for this category.
Win: $1,000 AUD
Backyard Birds
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Photographs of the birds in your backyard, wherever that may be! Photos entered in this category should speak to the connection between you, your home and your local birds. Photos can include birdbaths, fences, balconies and other backyard scenes.
Tip: creative composition and lighting with less cluttered backgrounds will attract the attention of our judges.
Win: $1,000 AUD
Human Impact
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Photographs that illustrate the impacts of humans on birds, either positive or negative. Photos entered in this category should be emotive, thought-provoking or tell a story about the relationship between humans and birds, and can be either confronting or uplifting.
Negative impacts could include climate change, floods, fires, drought, pollution or human disturbance.
Positive impacts could include bird conservation, recovery, rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
Tip: photos of captive or pet birds are permitted, but must be disclosed upon entry.
Win: $1,000 AUD
Birds in the Landscape
Sponsored by Lake Cowal Foundation
Photographs of birds in the context of their natural environment. Photos entered in this category must include at least one bird, which can be either a prominent or background feature in relation to its habitat.
Tip: our judges will be looking for photos that celebrate Australia’s diverse landscapes and the birds that inhabit them.
Win: $1,000 AUD
Youth
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Open to photographers under the age of 18 only. Multiple submissions will be judged as a combined set of entries.
Tip: a variety of categories will grab the attention of our judges, or try a portfolio style of entries.
Win: $1,000 AUD
Special Theme: Land of the Parrots
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
From raucous lorikeets to swarms of Budgerigars, shy rosellas and everything in between – Australia is truly the land of parrots! But while our parrots are some of our most iconic and beloved birds, they’re also among our most threatened. This category is a celebration of Australia’s charismatic and colourful lorikeet and parrot species.
Photos entered in this category must depict at least one parrot or lorikeet species. Please note that cockatoo species aren’t eligible for this year’s Special Theme – so please enter any photos of cockatoos in a different category.
Eligible species (and their associated subspecies) are:
Red-rumped Parrot
Bluebonnet
Mulga Parrot
Hooded Parrot
Golden-shouldered Parrot
Red-capped Parrot
Green Rosella
Crimson Rosella
Northern Rosella
Pale-headed Rosella
Eastern Rosella
Western Rosella
Australian Ringneck
Swift Parrot
Red-crowned Parakeet
Ground Parrot
Night Parrot
Bourke's Parrot
Blue-winged Parrot
Elegant Parrot
Rock Parrot
Orange-bellied Parrot
Turquoise Parrot
Scarlet-chested Parrot
Musk Lorikeet
Little Lorikeet
Purple-crowned Lorikeet
Varied Lorikeet
Coconut Lorikeet
Rainbow Lorikeet
Red-collared Lorikeet
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
Budgerigar
Double-eyed Fig-Parrot
Coxen's Fig-Parrot
Superb Parrot
Regent Parrot
Princess Parrot
King-Parrot
Red-winged Parrot
Eclectus Parrot
Red-cheeked Parrot
Win: $1,000 AUD
Portfolio Prize
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
A compilation of Australian bird photos, each connected in theme, location or subject matter. Together, they tell a compelling story.
For this category, photographers can submit up to two portfolios of six photos each, and will need to provide a statement explaining why they’ve chosen this series and what connects each photo.
