The Fowl Photographer of the 12 months award has been introduced, with Canadian photographer Patricia Homonylo scooping the highest prize for her thought-provoking picture titled When Worlds Collide.
The image was taken in Toronto and beat greater than 23,000 entries to say the prize.
The {photograph} exhibits greater than 4,000 birds that died colliding with home windows and different reflective surfaces within the metropolis.
“Annually a couple of billion birds die in North America alone as a consequence of collisions with home windows,” says Homonylo.
“I’m a conservation photojournalist and have been working with the Deadly Gentle Consciousness Program, the place we save window-collision survivors in Toronto.
“Sadly, many of the birds we discover are already useless.
“They’re collected and on the finish of the 12 months we create this impactful show to honour the lives misplaced and enhance public consciousness.”
Homonylo’s entry was additionally among the many winners chosen for the Conservation (Single Picture) class.
The Younger Fowl Photographer of the 12 months 2024 was awarded to 14-year-old Spanish photographer Andrés Luis Domínguez Blanco for his inventive angle on a nuthatch scrambling down an oak tree.
Photographers competed in a eight of various classes within the grownup competitors, together with a Conservation Award, Portfolio Award, and Video Award.
Here’s a choice of the photographs that have been awarded a gold, silver or bronze, with descriptions by the photographers.
Playful Fledgling, Southern California, United States by Jack Zhi
“This Peregrine Falcon fledgling had been flying for over every week and his abilities had improved by the day.
“Whereas he nonetheless took meals from dad and mom, he had began to practise his searching abilities.
“He was not adequate to catch dwell birds within the air but, so he took child steps by chasing a fluttering butterfly.
“I’ve been photographing peregrines for years, and this was the primary time I’ve seen fledglings play with butterflies.”
Black Grouse, Kuusamo, Finland by Markus Varesvuo
“For a number of weeks every year, Black Grouse collect at [the] leks on spring mornings for courtship and show.
“The males come down, every claiming their patch, and spend a few hours sizing one another up, charging at one another, participating in largely mock battles.
“Generally, nonetheless, the encounters escalate to actual fights.
“The heated breath of a solitary fighter is steaming within the chilly air, which I captured whereas sitting inside a small images disguise, revelling within the sounds and sights of this historical play.”
Heavenly Elegant Flight, France by Nicolas Groffal
“Within the useless of winter, I marvel on the aerial ballet of the backyard birds that come to go to my bushes and to benefit from the seeds that I put out for them.
“Discreetly hidden, I attempted to immortalise their flight and its delicate path utilizing a flash and digicam in ‘rear curtain’ mode.
“Lots of of photographs have been required earlier than I captured the right second, which portrayed the fleeting magic of nature in winter.”
Immersion, Shetland, UK by Kat Zhou
“Right here we see a trio of northern gannets diving into the ocean on a sunny day in Shetland. .
“The species is Scotland’s largest seabird, and they’re remarkably adept within the water, with the flexibility to dive to depths so far as 22 metres.
“I took this photograph whereas scuba diving from a ship close to Noss, which is dwelling to the UK’s seventh largest colony of northern gannets.
“Prior to now the inhabitants has been estimated at round 25,000 birds, although their numbers have been sadly severely diminished by the avian flu outbreak.
“It’s unclear when, or if, their inhabitants will have the ability to get well. Lifeless herring from an area herring fishery have been used to draw the birds to the boat.”
Hippo Impression, Sydney, Australia by David Stowe
“This {photograph} exhibits a hoary-headed grebe because it disappears under the floor of the water to feed, pushing into the depths with its enormous paddle-like toes.
“I took the picture from a raised platform excessive above the wetland.
“With slightly little bit of creativeness, the mix of chicken and ripples seem like the pinnacle of a hippo.”
Helmetsrikes Making ready to Sleep, Sabi Sands Nature Reserve, South Africa by Gary Collyer
“We have been on a safari, and returning to camp in Sabi Sands, South Africa, on a darkish March night.
“We stopped, having picked up some uncommon sounds, though not sure what they have been.
“Then we heard chattering and fluttering excessive above us.
“When illuminated with the lamp on the car, we noticed these helmetshrikes huddling collectively towards an evening that was beginning to flip colder.”
Treacherous Journey, Warsaw, Poland by Grzegorz Długosz
“Goosanders breed within the park about one kilometre from Poland’s life-giving River Vistula.
“Every mom has to maneuver her brood to the river as shortly as attainable as a consequence of lack of meals and security within the park.
“They make the journey via a collection of underground passages and over a six-lane freeway.
“Annually a bunch of volunteers assist them cross this lethal street by stopping the site visitors.
“This picture exhibits a mom goosander crossing a smaller street as a result of she determined to not use the scary and darkish underground passage under it.”
Inmates, Bali, Indonesia by Cheng Kang
“This poignant picture captures the cruel actuality in certainly one of Bali’s chicken markets.
“The pair of lovebirds face one another in separate cages, showing to say their ultimate farewells, not figuring out if they’ll see one another once more.
“Who is aware of what joys they’d have skilled collectively of their lush native rainforests and whether or not they’ll ever expertise that once more.
“Their silent connection transcends bodily boundaries, emphasising the advanced interplay between craving for freedom and the urge to flee from captivity for human pleasure.”
Human and Nature (and canine), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany by Emil Wagner
“I took this photograph on a phenomenal seaside on the Baltic Sea.
“There are a selection of waders and different birds right here, but additionally many guests who benefit from the stunning panorama.
“On this case there was additionally a canine who initially didn’t discover the gray plover. The gray plover, nonetheless, did discover the canine and flew away shortly after I took the photograph.
“Whereas I don’t consider this incident enormously burdened the chicken, it’s essential to acknowledge the potential influence of human exercise and tourism on protected species and their habitats.”
Turbulent Fish Hunt, Lake Federsee, Dangerous Buchau, Germany by Julian Mendla
“Lake Federsee is a well-known wintering space for quite a few migratory birds.
“From November to March, Eurasian bitterns are frequent guests to this lake.
“As quickly because the lake freezes over, these uncommon birds retreat to trenches via the reeds.
“Surprisingly, this particular person was very near the boardwalk that leads via the character reserve.
“From there, I may simply watch its fishing marketing campaign and take quite a few photographs.”