Bird on a Wire and Other Winning Photos

The Bird Photographer of the Year award has been announced. Canadian photographer Patricia Homonylo has won the top prize for her thought-provoking photograph titled When Worlds Collide.

The photo was taken in Toronto and won the prize over more than 23,000 other entries.

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

“More than a billion birds die every year in North America alone from collisions with windows,” says Homonylo.

“I am a conservation photojournalist working with the Fatal Light Awareness Program, which helps rescue survivors of car crashes in Toronto.

“Unfortunately, most of the birds we find are already dead.

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

Homonylo’s entry was also among the winners in the Conservation (single image) category.

The Young Bird Photographer of the Year 2024 award went to 14-year-old Spanish photographer Andrés Luis Domínguez Blanco for his creative photo of a nuthatch climbing out of an oak tree.

Photographers competed in eight different adult categories, including a Conservation Award, Portfolio Award and Video Award.

Below you will find a selection of the photographs that received a gold, silver or bronze rating, with descriptions from the photographers.

“This young Peregrine Falcon had been flying for over a week and his skills were improving day by day.

“While he was still getting food from his parents, he began to practice his hunting skills.

“He wasn’t good enough yet to catch live birds from the air, so he took baby steps by chasing a fluttering butterfly.

“I have been photographing peregrine falcons for years and this was the first time I saw young birds playing with butterflies.”

“Several weeks a year, black grouse gather at the leks on spring mornings to mate and display.

“The males come down, each claiming their own spot and spending a few hours soaking up each other’s attention. They attack each other and usually engage in mock fights.

Sometimes, however, the confrontations degenerate into real fights.

“The hot breath of a lone fighter steams in the cold air. I captured this while sitting in a small photo booth, enjoying the sounds and sights of this age-old play.”

“In the middle of winter I am amazed by the aerial ballet of the garden birds that come to visit my trees and benefit from the seeds I have planted for them.

“I tried to capture their flight and delicate trail unobtrusively using a flash and a camera in ‘rear curtain’ mode.

“It took hundreds of photos before I captured the perfect moment, capturing the fleeting magic of nature in winter.”

“Here we see a trio of Northern Gannets diving into the ocean on a sunny day in Shetland. .

“This species is Scotland’s largest seabird and they are remarkably adept in the water, capable of diving to depths of 22 metres.

“I took this photo whilst diving from a boat near Noss, home to the seventh largest colony of Northern Gannets in the UK.

“In the past, the population was estimated at around 25,000 birds, but unfortunately their numbers have declined severely due to the outbreak of bird flu.

“It is unclear when, or if, their population will be able to recover. Dead herring from a local herring fishery was used to attract the birds to the boat.”

“This photo shows a grey-headed grebe disappearing beneath the water’s surface to feed, diving into the depths using its enormous, paddle-like feet.

“I took the photo from a raised platform high above the swamp.

“With a little imagination, the combination of bird and ripples resembles the head of a hippopotamus.”

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

“We stopped because we had picked up some unusual sounds, but we didn’t know exactly what they were.

“Then we heard clapping and fluttering high above us.

“When we pointed the light on the vehicle at them, we saw these helmetshrikes standing close together against the backdrop of a night that was getting increasingly cold.”

Common Mergansers breed in the park, about a kilometre from Poland’s vibrant Vistula River.

“Every mother must move her offspring to the river as soon as possible due to the lack of food and safety in the park.

“They make the journey through a series of underground passages and across a six-lane highway.

“Every year a group of volunteers helps them cross this deadly road by stopping traffic.

“This image shows a mother Merganser crossing a minor road, having decided not to use the scary and dark underground passage below.”

“This poignant photo captures the harsh reality at one of Bali’s bird markets.

“The lovebirds sit in separate cages facing each other and appear to be saying goodbye to each other for the last time, not knowing if they will ever see each other again.

“Who knows what joy they had experienced together in their lush native rainforests and whether they will ever experience it again.

“Their silent connection transcends physical barriers and highlights the complex interplay between the desire for freedom and the urge to escape captivity for human pleasure.”

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

“There are many waders and other birds here, but also many visitors enjoying the beautiful scenery.

“In this case there was also a dog that did not notice the grey plover at first. However, the grey plover did notice the dog and flew away shortly after I took the photo.

“While I do not believe this incident caused significant stress to the bird, it is vital to recognise the potential impact of human activities and tourism on protected species and their habitats.”

“The Federsee is a well-known wintering area for numerous migratory birds.

“From November to March, bitterns are often guests in this lake.

“As soon as the lake freezes over, these rare birds retreat into trenches in the reeds.

“Surprisingly, this individual was very close to the boardwalk that runs through the nature reserve.

“From there I could follow the fishing activities closely and take countless photos.”