With more than 125 years of publishing under its belt, Audubon magazine—and its predecessor, Bird-Lore—has received numerous accolades and industry awards over the years. Most notably, it has twice taken home top honors as a General Excellence winner in its category for the annual American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) awards—the equivalent of the Best Picture at the Oscars. Read on for an overview of the magazine's major awards and achievements, and when available, to read the recognized work.
Finalist—2026 Digital Photography, Feature, Portfolio—Society of Publication Designers
Story: The Search for One of North America’s Rarest Birds
Notable Recognition—Best American Science and Nature Writing: 2025
Story: Where the Not-So-Wild-Things Roam
Finalist—2024 Lifestyle Journalism—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Story: Business Is Blooming
Finalist—2023 General Excellence (Special Interest)—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Official Selection—Best American Science and Nature Writing: 2023
Story: The Bird and the Flame
Finalist—2023 Science in Society Journalism Awards, Commentary—National Association of Science Writers
Story: A Bird by Any Other Name / What's in a Bird Name?
Finalist—2022 General Excellence (Special Interest)—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Finalist—2022 Essays & Criticism—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Story: What Do We Do About John James Audubon?
Winner—2022 Excellence In Craft, Conservation Magazine Writing—Outdoor Writer’s Association of America
Story: Peregrine Falcon Finally Return to Nest at Their Most Famous U.S. Eyrie
Honorable Mention—2022 Outstanding Feature (Small Outlet)—Society of Environmental Journalists
Story: The Violent Cost of Conservation
Honorable Mention—2022 Outstanding Explanatory Reporting (Small Outlet)—Society of Environmental Journalists
Story: The Internet Has a Rat Poison Problem
Winner—2021 Outstanding Feature (Small Outlet)—Society of Environmental Journalists
Story: The Parrot King
Winner—2021 General Excellence (Special Interest) — American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Honorable Mention—2021 Outstanding Explanatory Reporting (Small Outlet)—Society of Environmental Journalism
Story: A New Plastic Wave Is Coming to Our Shores
Winner—2020 Personal Service Category—American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Feature package: Your Guide to Climate Action
Winner—2020 Science Reporting Category—National Association of Science Writers
Story: Cigarette Butts Are Everywhere. Is Banning Filters a Viable Solution?
Finalist—2020 General Excellence (Special Interest)—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Silver Medal Winner—2019 Photography: Custom Publishing, Brand, Corporate, Institutional, Educational: Cover—Society of Publication Designers
Issue: Winter 2019
Finalist—2019 Digital Platform: Original Digital Photography, Feature, Profile, Non-Celebrity—Society of Publication Designers
Story: The Secret Lives of Black Rails, and the Scientists Who Seek Them
Finalist—2019 General Excellence (Special Interest)—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Winner—2018 Photography: Custom Publishing, Brand, Corporate, Institutional, Educational—Society of Publication Designers
Story: Invasion of the Bird Snatchers
Finalist— 2017 Website—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Site: Audubon.org
Finalist—2017 Feature Writing—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Story: Can the Ivory-billed Woodpecker Be Found in Cuba?
Finalist—2016 Website—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Site: Audubon.org
Finalist—2015 Single-Topic Issue—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Issue: Birds and Climate Change
Official Section (3 works)—2015 American Illustration, Volume 33—American Illustration Awards
Finalist—2011 General Excellence (Special Interest)—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Finalist—2010 General Excellence—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Finalist—2007 General Excellence—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Find new and old issues of "Audubon" magazine.
Finalist—2002 Design—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Finalist—1999 Public Interest—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Story: The Ultimate Survivor
Finalist—1996 Essays & Criticism—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Story: A Red-Tail in the Heart
Finalist—1993 General Excellence—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Finalist—1990 Reporting—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Story: The Last Wetlands
Finalist—1984 Single-Topic Issue—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Issue: The Great Salt Lake
Finalist—1984 General Excellence—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Finalist—1982 Essays & Criticism—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Story: The Last of the Wild White Horses
Finalist—1982 General Excellence—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Finalist—1981 Essays & Criticism—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Story: The Gift of the Land
Winner—1981 General Excellence—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Finalist—1979 Single-Topic Issue—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Issue: The Energy Issue
Winner—1979 Visual Excellence—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Finalist—1978 Essays & Criticism—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Story: The New West
Winner—1977 Reporting Excellence—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Story: The Case of the Missing Timber
Finalist—1977 Visual Excellence—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Winner—Audubon 1976 Reporting Excellence—National Association of Magazine Editors (ASME)
Story: The Great Dismal Swamp
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With a new project about their search for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, the irreverent, road-tripping filmmakers behind “Listers” are going for more than laughs.
They can tell one another apart, so you’ve got a shot.
Widespread and awe-inspiring, these “sea hawks” are such skilled fishers that even Shakespeare took note.
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