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Who can enter? Are there age restrictions?

The competition is open to people of any nationality based in Australia. If you are less than 18 years of age, you may enter ‘Youth’ category but are not restricted from entering the open categories.

Are there any restrictions on what bird species I can feature in my entry?

You may only submit photos of Australian bird species and subspecies as listed in the Working List of Australian Birds. We do not accept introduced, domestic or exotic bird species for our awards.

The 2026 Special Theme category is Australian Finches.

Photos entered in this category must contain one or more finch species.

Find a full list of eligible species (and their associated subspecies) for this category here.

Are there restrictions on where or when a photo has been taken?

There is no time limit on when a photograph has been taken but it must have been taken in Australia or its offshore territories of Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Heard Island, Macquarie Island or McDonald Island.

What are the requirements for photographing birds ethically?

Birds must be photographed in a way that does not threaten or cause harm and does not break any laws, and photos entered into the competition must abide by the BirdLife Photography Code of Ethics as listed in the competition’s rules. In particular, photos using call playback, photos of nesting birds at the nest with young or eggs or photos taken using live baits are not permitted. If a photo appears to have been taken in contravention of these requirements, in a way that may have caused some risk to the bird or may have been illegally taken, it may be disqualified without notice by the Organisers or Judges.

Are there limits on how many photos I can enter?

Six photos are required for each Portfolio entry and up to two portfolios can be entered.

For all other categories, you can enter up to six photos per category. The same photo can be entered into more than one category provided it meets the category definitions.

What are the categories?

There are seven categories and an additional ‘Youth’ and a ‘Portfolio’ category. Please refer here for category definitions.

What are the image submission requirements?

Entrants must adhere to the competition rules listed here.

Please note: DNG formats are NOT accepted for image authentication if requested during the judging process. Photographers who prefer to process their images in DNG format must retain the original unaltered RAW image file. Note: DNG images can be changed to JPEG prior to submitting.

Images which do not meet these requirements will be rejected at the time of submission. Entrants will need to review and resolve the issue by re-submitting their entry to meet these specifications, ensuring it is the correct file type, size and colour space.

If you need help resizing your photo to meet the requirements, there are apps available in Windows and Apple computers and free and paid software and online tools. We suggest you search online to find the method that suits your needs best.

Is there a cost to enter?

We charge a modest entry fee, which supports our bird conservation work and helps fund the prize pool and offset running costs.

A discount for Early Bird entries will apply from 8:00AM Tuesday 7 April until Saturday 25 April 2026.

Prices are per entry, are in AUD and include GST. The prices for the 2026 competition are as follows:

Open Categories

  • First 5 entries: $10 Early Bird / $12 regular

  • 6–12 entries: $7 Early Bird / $8 regular

  • 13+ entries: $6 Early Bird / $7 regular


Portfolio Category

Collection of 6 photos per portfolio

  • Early Bird: $35 (per portfolio)

  • Regular: $45


Youth Category

For entrants under the age of 18 only

  • First 5 entries: $4 each

  • 6–12 entries: $2.50 each

Are refunds available?

No, but images can be withdrawn or swapped before the competition closes.

Who is sponsoring the competition?

The 2025 BirdLife Australia Photography Awards are proudly sponsored by Nikon Australia and Lake Cowal Foundation.

What are the prizes?

Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, the winners of each category will receive $1,000 in prize money – while the winner of the Portfolio Prize will receive $2,000 in prize money.

The winner of the BirdLife Australia Photographer of the Year Award will receive a Nikon Z 8 camera valued at $7,449 RRP, courtesy of our Principal Sponsor Nikon Australia.

Are there any prohibitions on what equipment is used?

In line with the BirdLife Photography Code of Ethics, images taken with automatically triggered trail cameras, drones or using call playback are not allowed. Photos taken using mobile phones are permitted, but all images must be obtained ethically meaning that they must be obtained legally and in a way that minimises any harm to birds or their habitat.

Do I have to submit all my photos at the same time?

No, you may upload and change photos at your account on the official website up until the closing date and time as specified under the Rules section here. After your entries are ready, you may then submit and pay for them. You can submit individual entries or batches as many times as you like. You will be entitled to a discount once you submit more than 5 entries and a further discount after 12 entries. Any entries submitted at an earlier time and paid for will be counted when the discount is calculated.

Can I change the photos I’ve uploaded?

Yes, but only until the competition closes. Even submitted images can be changed.

How will winning entries be selected?

Entries will be assessed anonymously by a panel of judges with expertise in bird and nature photography. Standard photographic and nature photography criteria will be used by judges such as overall visual impact, aesthetic qualities including composition, originality and technical expertise. Your photos must not contain any identifying watermarks or other information that would allow you to be identified as the photographer.

What happens to copyright and usage rights on images I submit?

You must own copyright in any image submitted to the competition and you will retain that copyright. The competition rules automatically allow the Organisers and Sponsors to use any image submitted to the competition without payment.

Can I submit a photo that has been submitted to another competition or used in a publication or website?

 At the time the competition closes, a photo that has won any award in any national or international level competition open to the general public is eligible for entry in the competition, even if the award is yet to be made public. It should be noted however, that the judges are encouraged to take originality into account, and it will be at their discretion as to whether such images are excluded from further consideration for an award. An award means any win, second, third or other placement, commendation, shortlisting, honourable mention or similar.  Photos that are awarded on photo sharing website that are judged only by peer users of the site are acceptable and photos that have received an award in competitions that are restricted to particular entrants such as members of specific organisations, people holding specific qualifications and so on are also acceptable. Images that have appeared in books, magazines or websites are allowed provided they have not previously won a national or international award.

 

Where can I get more information or ask a question?

Should the website not contain the information you seek, please use the ‘Contact Us’ link at the bottom of each page.

 

Bush Stone-curlew by Howard Loosemore