Bird on a Wire and Other Winning Photos

The Bird Photographer of the Year awards have been announced, and Canadian photographer Patricia Homonylo has won the top prize for her thought-provoking image titled “When Worlds Collide.”

This photo was taken in Toronto and beat out over 23,000 entries to win the award.

The photo shows more than 4,000 birds dead from hitting windows and other reflective surfaces in the city.

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

“I am a conservation photojournalist and have worked with the Deadly Light Awareness Program, where we rescue survivors of window crashes in Toronto.

“Sadly, most of the birds we found were dead.

“We collect them and at the end of the year we create this impressive display to commemorate the lives lost and raise public awareness.”

Homonylo’s work was also among the winning entries selected in the Conservation (Single Image) category.

The Young Bird Photographer of the Year 2024 award was awarded to 14-year-old Spanish photographer Andrés Luis Dominguez Blanco for his creative shot of a sparrow climbing down an oak tree.

Photographers competed in eight different categories in the adult competition, including the Conservation Award, the Photo Portfolio Award and the Video Award.

Here are some of the photos that were awarded gold, silver or bronze, along with descriptions from the photographers.

“This young Peregrine Falcon has been flying for over a week and his skills are improving.

“While still receiving food from his parents, he began to hone his hunting skills.

“The boy was not yet good enough to catch birds in the air, so he practiced step by step by chasing a fluttering butterfly.

“I have been photographing falcons for many years, and this is the first time I have seen a baby bird playing with a butterfly.”

“For several weeks each year, the Black Grouse gather at [the] leks on spring mornings to flirt and show off.

“The males fly down, each occupying a territory and spending several hours sizing each other up, charging at each other, mostly engaging in mock battles.

“However, sometimes the encounters escalate into real fights.

“The hot breath of a lone warrior steaming in the cold air, a photo I took while sitting inside a small photo hideout, immersed in the sounds and sights of this ancient play.”

“In the middle of winter, I am amazed to witness the aerial ballet of garden birds visiting my plants and taking advantage of the seeds I sow for them.

“I hid myself discreetly and tried to capture their flight and subtle tracks using a flash and the camera in ‘back curtain’ mode.

“I had to take hundreds of photos before I captured the perfect moment, capturing the fleeting magical beauty of nature in winter.”

“Here we see three northern boobies diving into the sea on a sunny day in Shetland.

“These seabirds are Scotland’s largest seabirds and they are extremely adept in the water, capable of diving to depths of up to 22 metres.

“I took this photo while snorkelling from a boat near Noss, home to the seventh largest colony of northern boobies in the UK.

“Previously, the bird population was estimated at around 25,000, although their numbers have declined significantly due to outbreaks of avian influenza.

“It is not yet clear when or if their populations will recover. Dead herring from a local herring fishery have been used to attract the birds to boats.”

“This photo captures a silver-headed grebe lurking underwater to feed, propelling itself into the depths with its giant paddle-like feet.

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

“Just imagine for a moment, the combination of bird and ripple looks like the head of a hippopotamus.”

“We were hunting and returning to camp in Sabi Sands, South Africa, on a gloomy March evening.

“We stopped because we heard some strange sounds, although we weren’t sure what they were.

“Then we heard chattering and flapping wings above.

“When illuminated by the car’s headlights, we saw these helmeted sparrows huddled together in the gradually cooling night.”

“The ducklings breed in this park about a kilometer from the Vistula River, the lifeblood of Poland.

“Each mother had to move her cubs to the riverbank as quickly as possible due to lack of food and safety in the park.

“They made the journey through a series of underground tunnels and on a six-lane highway.

“Every year, a group of volunteers helps them get through this dangerous road by blocking traffic.

“This photo shows a mother duck crossing a smaller path because she decided not to go through the dark and scary underground passage below.”

“This touching image captures the harsh reality of one of Bali’s bird markets.

“The lovebirds faced each other in separate cages, seemingly saying their final goodbyes, not knowing whether they would ever see each other again.

“Who knows what joys they would have experienced together in their lush rainforests and whether they would ever experience it again.

“Their silent connection transcends physical barriers, highlighting the complex interplay between the human desire for freedom and the urge to escape confinement in search of pleasure.”

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

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

“In this case there was also a dog that initially ignored the grey plover. However, the grey plover noticed the dog and flew away shortly after I took the photo.

“While I do not believe this incident has had a major impact on the birds, it is important to acknowledge the potential impact of human activity and tourism on protected species and their habitats.”

“Lake Federsee is a famous wintering ground for many migratory birds.

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

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

“What is surprising is that this individual was so close to the footpath leading through the nature reserve.

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