Lynx Edicions, publisher of the Handbook of the Birds of the World and the Internet Bird Collection, together with the sponsors Avistar and Swarovski Optik, announced the winners of the Second Edition of the HBW World Bird Photo Contest on May 5, 2014.
This contest is widely regarded as one of the most important bird photography competition at world level. It aims to encourage and disseminate knowledge about birds, while at the same time inspiring creativity in the art of photography. To these ends, its focus is on photography that is ethical, grounded in the utmost respect for the conservation of birds and their habitats, and without unnecessary digital manipulation.
The jury was very impressed with the quality, variety and creativity of all entries. In total, they have selected 3 winning photos, 10 honourable mentions and 5 special prizes (including a special price for video clips for the first time). Download the Press Release for more information.
Take a look at the stunning photographs!
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First Prize © Nikos Fokas Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus) Athens, Greece |
Fast-moving swift capturing floating insects An incredibly fast-moving swift captured diving to the surface of the water, bill wide open to capture floating insects. |
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Second Prize © Laetitia Guichard Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) Brittany, France |
The Breton pelican A Dalmatian Pelican photographed on a lake. |
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Third Prize © Bence Mate Great White Egret (Egretta alba) and Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) Kiskunság National Park, Hungary |
Triumph of mind Although the Grey Heron is stronger than the Great White Egret, the latter has learned that Grey Herons are defenceless when they have a fish in their beak. With their fast reflexes the Great White Egrets snatch the food from them. The Grey Herons have absolutely no chance in this struggle. |
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Honorable Mention © Marco Urso Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) Lake Nakuru, Kenya |
Walking among Flamingos Interaction between species. Somehow the flamingos accept the hippo as part of the landscape. |
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Honorable Mention © Muhammad Asif Sherazi River Tern (Sterna aurantia) Sialkot, Pakistan |
River Tern with prey in shadow on its wing |
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Honorable Mention © Bjørn Fuldseth Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) Vikanlandet, stjørdal, Norway |
Hunting Goshawk A Goshawk hunting down a Mew Gull. At first he struggled a bit in the sea, before he managed to drag the gull to a piece of floating ice. After a while, the hawk flew away with his gull, passing within a few meters of the photographer. |
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Honorable Mention © Roger Powell Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) Varanger Fjord, Finmark, Norway |
Ruff lekking Ruff in full display and levitating to attract passing females. |
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Honorable Mention © João Marcos Rosa Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) Serra das Araras, Mato Grosso State, Brazil |
Armadillo for lunch A Harpy Eagle carries a freshly-killed yellow armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus L.). |
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Honorable Mention © Phiphat Suwanmon Blue-eared Kingfisher (Alcedo meninting) Satun,Thailand |
Catching Fish A male Blue-eared Kingfisher catching a fish. |
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Honorable Mention © Gábor Michl Collared Nightjar (Caprimulgus enarratus) Andasibe-Mantadia N.P., Madagascar |
Roosting nightjar pair A roosting Collared Nightjar pair on the rainforest floor in the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, Madagascar. |
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Honorable Mention © Oscar Diez White-tailed Sea-eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) Kutno, Poland |
Hunting Hooded Crows A young White-tailed Sea-eagle lands on a Hooded Crow which came too close to its food - and gives it the fright of its life. |
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Honorable Mention © Kostya Pazyuk Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) Abandoned farm, Ukraine |
Band In winter, these groups patrol the neighborhood fields and overgrown weeds. |
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Honorable Mention © Igor Shilokhvost Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) Kangasala, Finland |
Attacking Osprey A diving Osprey moves very fast. It was difficult and challenging to get a picture the instant before it took a fish. |
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Best Endangered Bird Photo © Sávio Freire Bruno Brazilian Merganser (Mergus octosetaceus) Serra da Canastra National Park, Minas Gerais State, Brazil |
Mother's Love A female Brazilian merganser shelters her ducklings in the São Francisco River, Brazil. |
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Best Digiscoped Photo © Bret Whitney Rufous-crested Coquette (Lophornis delattrei) San Martín, "Wakanki Lodge" near Moyobamba, Peru |
Rufous-crested Coquette An adult male of the nominate subspecies with its crest erected. |
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Best Vox Populi Photo © Antoine Gobat Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) La Tène, Switzerland |
Love is in the air Courtship dance of two Great Crested Grebes. |
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Best Compact Camera Photo © Nicelio Silva Yellow-olive Flycatcher (Tolmomyias sulphurescens) Cuiabá, Mato Grosso State, Brazil |
Life goes on A young Yellow-olive Flycatcher becomes prey. |
The prizes of the Second Edition were:
- 1st Prize: A full set of HBW + a complete Swarovski Optik digiscoping kit (total value: 6,800 €)
- 2nd Prize: The 17-Volume Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) Series
- 3rd Prize: 8 HBW or HMW volumes
- Honourable Mention: each winner will receive 1 HBW or HMW volume
- Special Prize: each winner will receive 4 HBW or HMW volumes
The Special Prizes categories were:
- Best Compact Camera Photo
- Best Digiscoped Photo
- Best Endangered Bird Photo
- Best Vox Populi Photo
- Best Video Clip
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