2025 shortlisted entries
BirdLife Australia and BirdLife Photography are thrilled to announce the finalists of this year’s BirdLife Australia Photography Awards!
This year’s competition saw thousands of entries from some of Australia’s best bird photographers – and after much deliberation, our judges have decided the shortlist for each category. Congratulations to this year’s finalists, and stay tuned for the winners announcement in late November.
To view the photos in full size, just click on an image. You can scroll through using the arrows or your keyboard’s left and right keys, or if you’re on mobile, simply swipe left or right. To get back to the shortlist page and view another category, click the X in the top right corner. Happy viewing!
Photo descriptions are only visible on desktop. To read full descriptions for each category, select ‘Categories’ in the page header.
Bird Behaviour
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Photographs capturing the natural behaviours of Australian birds.
Birds in the Landscape
Sponsored by Lake Cowal Foundation
Photographs of birds in the context of their natural environment.
Backyard Birds
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Photographs of the birds in your backyard, wherever that may be!
Human Impact
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Photographs that illustrate the impacts of humans on birds, either positive or negative. Content warning: please be advised that photos in this category depict sensitive content, including images of dead and injured birds. Viewer discretion is advised.
Special Theme: Diurnal Raptors Birds of prey of the day
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
This category is a celebration of Australia's extraordinary diurnal birds of prey.
Youth
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Photos taken by young photographers under the age of 18.
Portfolio
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Pink Cockatoos by Keith Lightbody
Pink cockatoos are one of my favourite birds and they are regular visitors at the remote Eyre Bird Observatory and weather station. The beauty and playful nature of each bird is evident whether feeding, checking the wind, doing chin ups on the historic telegraph wires, coming in for a drink or even having the occasional squabble over perch position while a brown falcon is bathing below in their drinking water!
The fight for survival – Australian Fairy Tern by Donald Chin
The Australian Fairy Terns are facing continuous threats from decreasing population numbers. Each year, there are reports of decreasing nesting colonies. This series captures an intimate and dynamic narrative of coastal tern life.The series begins with a parent tern returning to its chicks with freshly caught fish, a poignant moment that celebrates the dedication and rhythm of avian parenting. In a close interaction, the chicks exhibit early survival instincts: competition, hunger and urgency, a reminder of the fragility and fierceness of life in the wild. A dramatic territorial defence unfolds mid-air between the terns; the frame freezes split second drama comprising both aggression and courage, as these birds defend their young and territories. Another danger looms, with wings raised and stances alert, the terns face an imminent threat from a predator. This tension is palpable, echoing the constant vigilance required in the wild. In the aftermath, parents return to check and shield the chicks, depicting protection, relief and resilience in a post-conflict situation. The series ends with a shared glance and a gesture that encapsulate the unspoken bond between generations and the silent gratitude written in nature's language.
Dotterel Life at Herdsman Lake by Chinh Nguyen
Over the past three years, I’ve photographed Black-fronted Dotterels to highlight the beauty and resilience of a species often overlooked in our urban wetlands. Herdsman Lake offers a rare opportunity to observe these delicate shorebirds up close as they forage along the water’s edge and raise their young among the reeds. Through this series of photos, I set out to capture not only the understated elegance of shorebirds, but also the quiet determination woven into their daily lives. The intent of this portfolio is to inspire a deeper appreciation for these small feathered wonders that thrive quietly in our shared environments—reminding us that even the most unassuming creatures have stories worth noteing.
Australian Seabirds by Claire Greenwell
Australia’s islands are sanctuaries for an extraordinary array of seabirds, many of which support rare, endemic, or globally significant populations. Seabirds play vital roles in marine ecosystems; as top predators, they help regulate fish and invertebrate populations; as nutrient vectors, they transfer nutrients from sea to land via guano; and as indicators of ocean health, their presence or decline signalling changes in the wider marine environment. This portfolio of images showcases a range of tropical species in a range of contexts - on land, at sea, courting potential mates, preening and collecting nesting material in preparation for breeding.
Special thanks
A huge thank you to those who made the 2025 BirdLife Australia Photography Awards competition possible, especially:
Judges:
Angela Robertson-Buchanan
Peter O’Brien
Gary King
Melissa Zappelli
Competition Coordinator:
Graham Cam
and our event sponsors:
Thank you for your support!