Thirst by Charlotte Scavarda
WINNER: BACKYARD BIRDS
During the Dry Season in the East Kimberley, birds will gather around any source of water as it becomes scarce. I was living near the Bungle Bungle National Park, and lorikeets and rosellas were often seen around taps or sprinkler systems in the early morning. One day I found this Northern Rosella drinking tiny droplets from a leaking tap. As they positioned themselves on the tap, I captured this moment – the rosella appears to be turning on the tap to retrieve water. Although it’s just an impression, I like the ingeniosity of this scene, and the connection it creates between the bird and our use of water.
(Nikon D5600 with Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD at 380mm, 1/640 sec, f/6.3, ISO 400)
Northern Rosella, East Kimberley, WA
@charlottenaturephotos
Curious pose by Heather Thorning
WINNER: BIRD PORTRAIT
I spent almost a week driving out to this location every morning well before sunrise. There was lots of birdlife, but for me it was a joy to see a small flock of these Cockatiels come to this quiet spot to feed on grass seeds. I spooked this one, not realising it was in the grass below. It flew up to this knotty tree trunk. I walked backwards as I was too close to get a clear shot. Luckily the bird didn’t fly off but looked very curious as to what I was doing. I didn’t get many photos but I'm happy with this pose.
(Canon R5 with Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM + teleconverter 1.4x III, 1/3200 sec, f/7.1, ISO 10000)
Cockatiel, Derby, WA
Instagram: @heather_thorning
Facebook: Heather Thorning Photography
Welcome Swallow feeding young by Richard Arculus
WINNER: BIRD BEHAVIOUR
With the speed and manoeuvrability in flight, swallows are a photographic challenge. I knew that Welcome Swallows were feeding their young at the Jerrabomberra Wetlands in Canberra and had tried with a Canon R5 and RF100-500 lens to photograph the bird's activities – but my reaction time and tracking abilities were not up to the task. So I used an 800mm prime with the R5, cable release, tripod and gimbal and tried again on another day. On this occasion, I could watch the whole scene and not just what was shown in the viewfinder, and could release the shutter as the parent swallow approached the post. This photo is one of the successful captures.
(Canon R5 with Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM , 1/5000 sec, f/11, ISO 1600)
Welcome Swallows, Jerrabomberra Wetlands, ACT
Early morning fishing by Sharon Jones
WINNER: BIRDS IN FLIGHT
A Pied Heron skims the surface of a dwindling waterhole fishing on the wing (although unsuccessfully on this occasion). I only observed this behaviour for a couple of weeks at the end of Darwin’s dry season as the waterhole started to dry up, concentrating fish and attracting large numbers of waterbirds, but was not sufficiently shallow in its centre for the birds to stand. This morning there was one small patch of golden light reflecting the rising sun, which the birds appeared to studiously avoid! However, watching and waiting patience finally paid off as this bird entered the golden zone.
(Canon R5 with Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM, 1/3200 sec, f/2.8, ISO 400)
Pied Heron, Knuckey Lagoon, NT
Instagram: @sharonjones_wildlifephoto
Facebook: Sharon Jones Wildlife Photography
Spoonbill on a Foggy Morning by Kelly Asmus Albornoz
WINNER: BIRDS IN THE LANDSCAPE
I was up earlier than everyone else in our camp, just as the sun started getting ready to peek over the horizon. It was quiet and a little chilly due to the thick fog blanketing the lake and once the sun came up above the horizon, the fog started to glow.
(Canon R5 with Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 47mm, 1/125 sec, f/4, ISO 100)
Royal Spoonbill, Lake Broadwater, QLD
Instagram: @albatross_photography_design
Facebook: Albatross Photography and Design
The nibbler by Maria Coleman
WINNER: SPECIAL THEME (LAND OF THE PARROTS)
The Ground Parrot loves feeding on fresh grass seeds and watching it feed was very interesting. The bird would grab and pull down the stem of the grass with its foot, then nibble the seeds in a row like people eating a cob of corn. I spent a time observing this behaviour and as the sun was getting low on the horizon it positioned itself in a clear position, enabling the capture of this image. Then it walked off and climbed into some native ferns before disappearing.
(Canon 1DX Mark III with Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + teleconverter 1.4x III at 700mm, 1/1250 sec, f/6.3, ISO 3200)
Eastern Ground Parrot, Shoalhaven, NSW
Instagram: @meadowbellphotography
Facebook: Meadow Bell Photography
One man's trash… by Jennifer Noble
WINNER: HUMAN IMPACT
I have been photographing this male Western Bowerbird for a long time now, having built his bower close to our shack in the Goldfields of WA. He is endlessly fascinating and I am so lucky to observe his many behaviours and to listen to his perfect mimicry of other birds. Unfortunately, a mining company has moved in very close to us, and there is constant blasting and the invasive noise of huge machinery devouring the earth. However, he goes about his business trying to attract a female. I never want to see the day when his bower has only man-made rubbish decorating it and the sounds that he mimics are those of the very machinery destroying his natural habitat.
(Nikon D500 with AF-S Nikkor 80-400mm f.4.5-5.6G ED VR at 270mm, 1/1250 sec, f/7.1, ISO 1250)
Western Bowerbird, Northern Goldfields, WA
Instagram: @theshack.photography
Facebook: The Shack Photography
Canopy dance by Matthew Wu
WINNER: YOUTH
Aged 15
After waiting in the rainforest to capture the Paradise Riflebirds displaying, a female hopped on the branch and I was able to capture the male displaying to her. I really liked the behaviour captured in this shot and I was quite happy to get this photo after the many hours I spent waiting.
(Nikon D7100 with AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR at 500mm, 1/640 sec, f/5.6, ISO 8063)
Paradise Riflebirds, Mt Glorious, QLD
@mwu_photos
The ’Jabirus’ of Corroboree by Nathan Watson
WINNER: PORTFOLIO
Corroboree Billabong is a pristine freshwater ecosystem within the Mary River wetlands of the Northern Territory. With native lotus and nymphaea water lilies flowering across the expansive floodplain, it is teeming with birdlife. Standing head and shoulders above them all are the Black-necked Storks, more commonly called ‘Jabirus’. Spending five days with a local guide on the billabong, I observed many wonderful moments of these majestic but sometimes gawky birds. My goal was to take a series of images that captures the character and elegance of the Jabirus of Australia’s Top End.
Black-necked Stork, Corroboree Billabong, NT
Instagram: @nathan_watson_photography
Facebook: Nathan Watson Photography
Finalists
Please note: these entries are best viewed on a desktop.
Backyard Birds
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Photographs of backyard bird species from around Australia.
Bird Behaviour
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Photographs capturing the natural behaviours of Australian birds, such as feeding, courting, playing, fighting, preening and socialising.
Birds in the Landscape
Sponsored by Lake Cowal Foundation
Photographs of birds in the context of their natural environment.
Special Theme: Land of the Parrots
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Australia is truly the land of parrots! This category is a celebration of Australia’s charismatic and colourful lorikeet and parrot species.
Human Impact
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Photographs that illustrate the impacts of humans on birds, either positive or negative.
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.
Eastern Indian Ocean seabirds by Claire Greenwell
Photographer statement: Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, located in the tropical eastern Indian Ocean, are a bird lover’s paradise. These remote oceanic islands are of international conservation significance and important breeding sites for 14 breeding seabird species – four boobies, three frigatebirds, three noddies, two tropicbirds, and one tern and shearwater species. Two species, the Christmas Island Frigatebird and Abbott’s Booby, and a further two subspecies, the Great Frigatebird and White-tailed Tropicbird (known locally as the Golden Bosunbird) breed nowhere else on the planet. This series of images showcases the tropicbirds and noddies of Australia’s Indian Ocean Territory.
Heron v dragonfly by David Stowe
Photographer statement: On a recent visit to Broome Bird Observatory, I was keen to photograph Striated Herons catching mudskippers. Whilst patiently lying in the mud waiting as the light started to fade, I was amazed to see them shift their focus from the ground to the sky and leap into the air to repeatedly catch passing dragonflies! A behaviour I had never seen and certainly wasn’t expecting. Their adaptability, flexibility and skill was amazing to watch. Like most photographers I wished for more/better light, however it is a session I will never forget. A rare privilege to be accepted into their world and capture incredible behaviour.
Special thanks
A huge thank you to those who made the 2024 BirdLife Australia Photography Awards competition possible, especially:
Judges:
Diana Andersen
Josh Galicki
Craig Greer
Jason Moore
Peter O’Brien
Shelley Pearson
Angela Robertson-Buchanan
Michael Snedic
Melissa Zappelli
Competition Coordinator:
Graham Cam