The 2022 Audubon Photography

The 2022 Audubon Photography Awards:
1. American Woodcock by Hector Cordero

An American Woodcock at eye level faces the camera, its brown patterned feathers clear while the ground it walks on is slightly out of focus. One green plant shoot emerges from the ground in the left of the frame.
Category: Professional Location: New York, New York Camera: Canon EOS R5 with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens; 1/1600 second at f/5.6; ISO 4000
Behind the Shot: I was monitoring the migration of American Woodcocks, one of the most frequent collision victims in New York City, when I found this bird. I spent hours photographing him as he looked for food between bushes and leaves. I decided to lie down on the ground and wait for the bird to come out into the open. Just minutes before dusk, he turned to face me and started walking. I rushed to get the correct parameters, focus, and composition. At that moment, my efforts paid off. I hope my photo will be useful for raising awareness about collisions and solutions to prevent them, such as installing bird-friendly glass.

2. Black Phoebe by Raechel Lee

A Black Phoebe sits in the lower right corner of the photo, its back to the camera. Its head is turned in profile and the bird gazes to the left. A small fly perches on top of its head.
Category: Amateur Location: Los Gatos, California Camera: Sony Alpha 7R IV with a Sony 200-600mm F/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens; 1/1000 second at f/7.1; ISO 1250
Behind the Shot: On a summer morning, I noticed this browner-than-usual Black Phoebe perched near a lake’s edge. Looking at it through the viewfinder revealed more distinctive colors and textures in its plumage: some rusty fringing near its nape and upper back and fluffy side feathers that—though by no means unorderly—seemed resolute in maintaining their own disposition. It was only upon reviewing the photos that I saw a surprise visitor who had snuck in to pose with this little flycatcher.

3. Black-and-white Warbler by Christy Frank

In a dark and dense woodland habitat, a Black-and-white Warbler stops in a patch of sunlight along a moss-covered branch. It looks as if it’s in a spotlight, the light illuminating its starkly contrasting face.
Category: Professional Location: Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Oak Harbor, Ohio Camera: Nikon D850 with Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 ED VR lens; 1/1250 second at f/5.6; ISO 2000
Behind the Shot: While many people race through the Lake Erie area to find the more colorful migrant birds, I’ve found that simply sitting in one location quietly will help me blend into the habitat. In September, I watched as a Black-and-white Warbler appeared and feasted on insects along a branch. I hoped the bird would move into a patch of sunlight illuminated in this lush habitat. When it did, I lifted my camera to capture this beautifully patterned bird that seemed to glow on its own little branched stage. I relish observing behavior and spending time with birds that many overlook. Moments like this bring such joy, and I feel so connected to the natural world.

4. Great Gray Owl by Benjamin Olson

A Great Gray Owl sits on the branch of an 80-foot-tall red pine. The bark, branches, and needles, as well as those of all the surrounding trees, are covered in the frost, making the large owl pop against the stand of trees.
Category: Professional Location: Near Bemidji, Minnesota Camera: Nikon D850 with a NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens; 1/1000 second at f/5.6; ISO 800
Behind the Shot: In winter 2019, just before COVID-19 hit, I had one of the most remarkable weeks of my 16-year photography career. I was notified of a place where at least five Great Gray Owls were wintering, and I had to go see them for myself. On that first morning, I arrived just before sunrise to see everything covered in hoarfrost, which remained on the trees all day. Immediately after this owl hunted in front of me, it headed to this stand of red pines. I didn't go more than five minutes without an owl in sight throughout the day, which is one I still dream of.

5. Tree Swallow by Sarah Devlin

A Tree Swallow in flight holds a pine needle in its bill. Slightly off the ground, the bird’s wings are pointing down, its tail slightly slanted. The bottom of the image is a blurred green, the grass coming into focus closer to the bird.
Category: Professional Location: Harwich, Massachusetts Camera: Nikon D500 with a Sigma 150-600mm F/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens; 1/2500 second at f/6.3; ISO 320
Behind the Shot: I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of photographing swallows. Their speed and agility make them an excellent subject for mastering the technique to capture birds in flight. On this sunny spring day, while out photographing birds at a local park, I noticed a Tree Swallow collecting pine needles and delivering them to a nest box nearby. I lay down on the ground, dug my elbows in, and waited to capture that magical moment.

6. Village Weaver by Maria Khvan

A Village Weaver with a yellow body and black head sits inside of the beginnings of a nest. Green grass folds around the bird, its red eye peeking through two grasses. Behind it are circular finished nests made of grasses hanging from a tree branch.
Category: Amateur Location: Maasai Mara, Narok, Kenya Camera: Sony Alpha a9 II with a Sony FE 600mm F/4 GM OSS lens and a monopod; 1/8000 second at f/4; ISO 1250
Behind the Shot: The first thing I noticed when I arrived at my campsite at Maasai Mara National Park was a loud chirping coming from a large acacia tree. When I walked toward the tree, I saw a colony of Village Weaver birds working hard on their intricately woven nests. The males gathered grasses and small tree leaves around the campsite and used them as building material. I spend my afternoon taking action photos. This was one of my favorites because the bird is sitting inside the nest, but you can still see its eye peeking out.

7. Ruby-throated Hummingbird by Corey Raffel

A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird, visible in close-up from her neck and head only, feeds from a purplish-blue sage flower, her bill deep inside the bloom. Tiny bits of pollen from the flower are sprinkled on the bird’s head, and the anthers of the flower are in contact with the bird.
Category: Amateur Location: Carborro, North Carolina Camera: Nikon D850 with a NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens; 1/800 second at f/5.6; ISO 400
Behind the Shot: While trying to take photos of Eastern Bluebirds (a lifer for me), I noticed a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird (also a lifer for me) feeding on sage. When I later looked at the photos I took, I was surprised to see yellow on the bird's head. A closer look revealed it to be pollen. An even closer look showed that the plant's anthers were perfectly positioned to deposit pollen on the bird's head as the bird reached deeply into the flower to get to the nectar. I further noticed how the flower's stigma was touching the back of the hummingbird's head, perfectly positioned to receive pollen when the hummingbird backed out of the bloom. I could not help but be astounded at this wonderful example of coevolution of plant and bird. Both species benefit from the arrangement.

8. Northern Flicker by Jeffrey Kauffman

A Northern Flicker is in midair having just come out of its nest hole. Its yellow wings appear bent as they fan out and above it. Behind the bird is its mate perched on the trunk of a tree, its beak pointed toward the cavity.
Category: Amateur Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania Camera: Sony Alpha 7R IV with a Sony FE 600mm F/4 GM OSS lens; 1/4000 second at f/4; ISO 6400
Behind the Shot: This was my second year photographing Northern Flickers as they raised their chicks. The most challenging part was trying to get both mom and dad in the same frame during feeding—they shoot out of their nest cavity like rockets. After a few days, I caught on to their routines. I intentionally kept the camera in silent shutter mode to use the rolling shutter, giving an effect on the fast-moving wings of being a little curved. I really like the effect and continue to use when I can. When the Northern Flickers show up in the spring, they become the main talking point in our home for the next few months.