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Winners of Audubon Photography Awards in 2021

Winners of Audubon Photography Awards in 2021

The National Audubon Society Has Announced The Winning Photos And Videos Of The 2021 Audubon Photography Awards.

The Audubon Photography Awards draw attention to endangered species by showcasing the beauty of birds. The National Audubon Society is a non-profit conservation organization founded in 1905.

This organization works to protect birds and their habitat through various programs in cooperation with other partners, such as nature centers.

The Audubon Photo Contest, one of North America’s leading bird photography competitions, had eight awards in five categories and, for the first time, awarded winners a Female Bird Award and a Film Award.

The organization says the female bird category was introduced to draw attention to female birds, often overlooked and neglected in bird photography and conservation.

A new category of films has also been introduced to shed light on the unique and fascinating ways birds behave and interact with their environment.

Grand prize

  • Photographer: Carolina Fraser

Audubon photography contest 2021

Carolina Frazier won the grand prize for her photograph of a large running cuckoo at Los Novios Ranch in South Texas. The winning image was taken on a hot summer day just before sunset.

The photographer captured the bird under the sun’s golden light while playing in the dirt. This bird species have adapted to live in dry areas and can run a considerable distance at a speed of 20 miles per hour. If water is unavailable, the running cuckoo obtains the moisture it needs from lizards, rodents, and other prey.

Professional award winner

  • Photographer: Steve Jetmore

Audubon photography contest 2021

I was looking for eagles and snowy owls in rural Michigan on a cold winter day. While exploring the side roads, I noticed a tall Sargepe sitting on top of a pine tree. When I reached for the camera, the bird flew away, and only its tail fell into the picture. I saw a male northern cardinal flying from plant to plant, feeding on seeds. Its red feathers were reflected in the sparkling white snow and ice crystals. I took the first picture when he flew. By the second frame, this stunning songbird had moved away.

Amateur award winner

  • Photographer: Robin O’Leary

Audubon photography contest 2021

For three years, I watched and photographed a pair of sand terns nesting near my house, observing and photographing them from my kayak. I grabbed my camera and paddled out to check on the dolphins this year on a windy spring day. The wind made my photography process challenging. There was no solid ground to anchor, and I was jumping up and down, which sometimes caused me to miss interesting bird scenes completely. To compensate, I increased the shutter speed and ISO. Finally, two terns came out of the egg. Capturing this scene in those conditions is a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Youth Award Winner

  • Photographer: Arav Karigtam I looked for mallards and other ducks along the Atlantic coast on a cold February day. I lay flat near the water’s edge. Suddenly, a bunch of purple caterpillars landed right next to me. The birds ate, talked, screeched, chased each other, and occasionally flapped as the waves washed ashore. As the weather worsened, the Dallas came forward and settled among the rocks. I placed my camera on a rock and focused on one of the Arctic visitors, the purple color of its feathers highlighted by the morning sun.

Award-winning plants for birds

  • Photographer: Shirley Donald

Audubon photography contest 2021

On an early July morning, I removed the camouflage tarp from my boat, which was hidden in the marsh grass along the edge of a small lake, and climbed into the boat. As I paddled through the water lilies, I saw male red-winged blackbirds picking dragonflies out of the air to feed their chicks. The women took a different approach. They were jumping from one lily to another and pulling insects out of the yellow and white flowers. I fixed my camera by placing it on my bag that was on the floor and took a picture.

Female bird prize

  • Photographer: Elizabeth Yicheng Shen

Audubon photography contest 2021

I was waiting for Fernando, the Chilean flamingo, to wake up from his afternoon nap. Since 2010, people have reported this lone flamingo in the park, So I went out to photograph him.

An excellent blue heron hunting and some seagulls resting caught my attention. A northern heron had come out to hunt. I quickly adjusted my camera settings to capture his owlish face. These unexpected encounters make me always carry my camera with me in nature.

Fisherman’s Award

  • Photographer: Patrick Coughlin

Audubon photography contest 2021

Hummingbird photography is an almost perfect combination of challenge and reward. In the spring, hummingbirds drink the nectar of the reserve’s Madeira purple flowers. As I looked through the photos I took on a spring day, an image of a female Anna’s flycatcher immediately caught my eye. Although most of the bird’s body was covered by the blossoms, I made eye contact through the petals.

Honorable professional photo

  • Photographer: Steve Jetmore

Audubon photography contest 2021

When a friend spotted a female red-tailed hawk, I was hiking on a snowy, dark winter afternoon with my new camera and lens combination. He flew out of sight, But we saw him again nearby, jumping on the leaves and trying to find his prey underneath. When an eastern chipmunk escaped from the debris a few minutes later, the falcon quickly grabbed it and carried it to a tree. It was incredible to see this connection between predator and prey, A relationship that I don’t usually get the chance to share in a wildlife photo.

Honorable amateur photo

  • Photographer: Tom Ingram

Audubon photography contest 2021

I had heard of a pair of peregrine falcons nesting near a cliffside walkway in La Jolla, So I set out on a spring day, hoping to photograph them. As I walked, I heard the cry of birds of prey circling in the sky. I stopped along the path and saw a bird that had kidnapped an oak woodpecker, usually found in the surrounding palm trees. The hunter landed on a ledge full of feathers from past kills and began plucking the woodpecker’s feathers. While the falcon prepared its meal, the plucked feathers of the woodpecker fluttered on the edge of the cliff.

Photo of the young bird to be celebrated

  • Photographer: Josiah Lanstein

Audubon photography contest 2021

I was photographing a green-winged khotka when a local Canada goose got into a fight with another goose about to land in the area. The goose was determined to keep a corner of the wetlands for himself. I positioned myself at the water’s edge and looked for signs of his next attack. I was happy that several green-winged cats also entered my photography scene; Because the calmness of the newcomers was in stark contrast to the dramatic behavior of the angry goose.

Plants for honorable birds

  • Photographer: Karen Boyer

Audubon photography contest 2021

Anna’s hummingbirds are year-round residents of Western Washington. In spring, females collect nesting materials. One of my favorite subjects is Anna because they collect cattail hair.

Since I have a little mobility problem, I do the photography near the house. Getting the right light is always tricky. The timing of the hummingbird visit to my patio was only guesswork. I have noticed that this hummingbird delicately pulls grain fibers out of the cat’s tail.

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We hope you enjoyed watching this part of the shutter. What did you think of the winning images? Which category photo did you like the most?