Chook on a wire and different profitable pictures

The Chook 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 assert the prize.

The {photograph} reveals greater than 4,000 birds that died colliding with home windows and different reflective surfaces within the metropolis.

“Annually multiple billion birds die in North America alone attributable to 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, a lot of the birds we discover are already lifeless.

“They’re collected and on the finish of the yr we create this impactful show to honour the lives misplaced and improve public consciousness.”

Homonylo’s entry was additionally among the many winners chosen for the Conservation (Single Picture) class.

The Younger Chook 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 collection of the images that have been awarded a gold, silver or bronze, with descriptions by the photographers.

“This Peregrine Falcon fledgling had been flying for over every week and his expertise had improved by the day.

“Whereas he nonetheless took meals from mother and father, he had began to practise his searching expertise.

“He was not adequate to catch stay 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.”

“For a number of weeks annually, 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, partaking in largely mock battles.

“Typically, nevertheless, 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 cover, revelling within the sounds and sights of this historic play.”

“Within the lifeless of winter, I marvel on the aerial ballet of the backyard birds that come to go to my bushes and to reap the benefits of the seeds that I put out for them.

“Discreetly hidden, I attempted to immortalise their flight and its delicate path utilizing a flash and digital camera in ‘rear curtain’ mode.

“A whole lot of photographs have been required earlier than I captured the right second, which portrayed the fleeting magic of nature in winter.”

“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 residence to the UK’s seventh largest colony of northern gannets.

“Previously 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 better. Useless herring from an area herring fishery have been used to draw the birds to the boat.”

“This {photograph} reveals a hoary-headed grebe because it disappears under the floor of the water to feed, pushing into the depths with its large paddle-like ft.

“I took the picture from a raised platform excessive above the wetland.

“With somewhat little bit of creativeness, the mix of hen and ripples seem like the pinnacle of a hippo.”

“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 uncertain what they have been.

“Then we heard chattering and fluttering excessive above us.

“When illuminated with the lamp on the automobile, we noticed these helmetshrikes huddling collectively in opposition to an evening that was beginning to flip colder.”

“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 doable attributable to 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 visitors.

“This picture reveals a mom goosander crossing a smaller street as a result of she determined to not use the scary and darkish underground passage under it.”

“This poignant picture captures the cruel actuality in one in all Bali’s hen markets.

“The pair of lovebirds face one another in separate cages, showing to say their last farewells, not realizing if they are going to see one another once more.

“Who is aware of what joys they might have skilled collectively of their lush native rainforests and whether or not they are going to ever expertise that once more.

“Their silent connection transcends bodily limitations, emphasising the complicated interplay between craving for freedom and the urge to flee from captivity for human pleasure.”

“I took this photograph on a gorgeous seaside on the Baltic Sea.

“There are a variety of waders and different birds right here, but additionally many guests who benefit from the lovely panorama.

“On this case there was additionally a canine who initially didn’t discover the gray plover. The gray plover, nevertheless, did discover the canine and flew away shortly after I took the photograph.

“Whereas I don’t imagine this incident enormously pressured the hen, it’s essential to acknowledge the potential affect of human exercise and tourism on protected species and their habitats.”

“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 pictures.”