The 2022 Audubon Photography Awards: The Top 100

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.

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.

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.

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.

Category: Amateur

Location: Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Chincoteague, Virginia

Camera: Canon EOS R6 with a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens and Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R; 1/800 second at f/4; ISO 400

Behind the Shot: I drove three hours to Chincoteague Island for my first real venture into photographing shorebirds. I wanted to capture photos at sunrise, but it wasn’t until my last morning that I got the chance. I plopped down on the sand on my belly near some seafoam and ahead of a long line of Sanderlings probing for food down the shoreline. When the birds finally came near, I had a hard time keeping up with them. Sanderlings’ little legs seem to go a mile a minute, but this one took a short breather right at the edge of the seafoam. It was a beautiful and serene moment before the Sanderling sprinted into the sea foam and continued its search for food.

Category: Amateur

Location: Point No Point County Park, Kitsap County, Washington

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens and a Canon Extender EF 1.4x III; 1/1000 second at f/7.1; ISO 800

Behind the Shot: In early March, hundreds of Bonaparte’s Gulls gather in Puget Sound far out from shore, resting on the water’s surface and taking short foraging flights along it. Just before I took the photo, hundreds of the gulls took flight simultaneously, flying low over the water in the direction of my camera. I tracked this large group as the gulls approached. Just before reaching my location, the birds started to gradually gain altitude, rising and passing as a synchronized group.

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.

Category: Amateur

Location: Limekiln Canyon Park, Porter Ranch, California

Camera: Sony Alpha a6000 with a Sony E 55-210mm F/4.5-6.3 OSS lens; f 6.3; ISO 320

Behind the Shot: On every trip I had taken to Limekiln, I saw the most beautiful hummingbirds but only got awful shots of them. One day after work, when an Anna’s Hummingbird flew in from the shadows and paused in front of me, I decided that was the day. Still wearing my tie, I followed the bird up and down the dry creek bed. When I put my camera down, the hummingbird darted right back over and stopped two feet from my face. I snapped a few more shots before she flew off. It took hundreds of shots, eight ounces of sweat, and any respect the local hikers had for me, but I finally got this photo. It was worth it.

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.

Category: Professional

Location: Cornell Botanic Gardens, Ithaca, New York

Camera: Sony Alpha a9 with a Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens; 1/2500 second at f/6.3; ISO 2000

Behind the Shot: Every autumn, I go to a local park to photograph Blue Jays that visit a grove of oak trees, gathering acorns that they carry off and hide for winter food supply. I’ve documented this vital survival behavior many times but rarely have had the opportunity to portray it artistically—until one special morning. I focused on a low-flying jay and was panning with it when it flew behind a sumac tree, whose out-of-focus leaves formed a dream-like wash of color between the camera and the subject. I kept shooting, trusting the camera to maintain focus on the now partially obscured bird, but not quite knowing what I would get. Examining the sequence of images afterwards, I was thrilled by the abstract appearance. A distant American Robin completes the composition.

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.

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.

Category: Amateur

Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III with an Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f/4 IS PRO lens and a Marumi 77mm DHG Lens Protect Filter; 1/640 second at f/4.0; ISO 2000

Behind the Shot: My buddy Rob and I were driving some range roads just out of town when we spotted the Great Gray Owl. As we slowly approached, we noticed that she was calling ever so softly. I was about to record a video when we saw another Great Gray Owl down the fence line. I quickly adjusted my camera, thinking there was going to be a territorial dispute. I started shooting as the new owl flew toward the one closer to me. I got goosebumps when I saw it had a vole in its beak. The second owl hovered on the fence post, passed it to the first, and left. Seeing this moment was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. When I look at this image, I see a love story. We should all be so lucky to have someone in our life who loves and cares for us as much as these two care for each other.

Category: Amateur

Location: Rota, Northern Mariana Islands

Camera: Nikon D3200 with a Tamron 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 lens; 1/320 second at f/6.3; ISO 3200

Behind the Shot: Micronesia’s only member of the Corvid family, Åga—the Chamorro word for the Mariana Crow—are endemic to the island of Rota. Previously they were also found on Guam, but the Brown Tree Snake’s introduction in the 1950s resulted in their extirpation. Now only about 200 Åga exist in the limestone jungles of Rota, where they’re critically endangered and face an uncertain future. Among Åga, this bird is special: She’s part of a rear-and-release program to bolster the wild population. A rustling in the canopy turned my attention to the treetops; there, looking down through the canopy, the bird made eye contact, her gaze soft and inquisitive as she gave my Nikon a once-over. Hopefully she and her fellow release cohort will revitalize the Åga’s population.

Category: Amateur

Location: Seattle, Washington

Camera: Sony Alpha 7R II with a Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports lens; 1/200 second at f/6.3; ISO 3200

Behind the Shot: In December 2021, Seattle experienced an unusually long cold and snowy spell. I had two feeders wrapped in Christmas lights to provide thawed nectar, and two others that I brought in at night. The feeder that this bird defended is outside the window where I work from home. As it started to snow one day, I took a break to take some photos. Since it was so cold, this hummingbird wanted to stay near the feeder and was easy to capture. I was excited when I saw the perfect little snowflake on his head in this image. I love to see if people notice it at first glance and then experience their disbelief and awe that such beauty can be found at home.

Category: Amateur

Location: The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory, Key West, Florida

Camera: Canon EOS 90D with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens; 1/800 second at f/5.6; ISO 2500

Behind the Shot: Rhett, a male American Flamingo, was courting another flamingo in a pond. He shook his head back and forth, dipped his long neck, and displayed his fabulous colors. He followed me around the pond, shaking his head about three feet from the lens. I got the impression he enjoyed getting his photo taken (or seeing his reflection in the lens). Patience and luck are the true winners of this photo as he would not remain still. Flocks of American Flamingos used to be regular visitors to the Florida Keys. Today there are virtually none, and the few that are here have escaped from zoos. Rhett reminds Key West visitors of the beautiful birds we have displaced from paradise.

Category: Amateur

Location: Audubon Beidler Forest Center and Sanctuary, Harleyville, South Carolina

Camera: Nikon D5 with a NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lens and Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E; 1/2500 second at f/5.6; ISO 51,200

Behind the Shot: I was fortunate enough to locate and photograph an active Prothonotary Warbler pair feeding its chicks in the eerily still, quiet, and almost mystical Audubon Beidler Forest Sanctuary. The forest’s serenity was occasionally shattered by the hoots of a Barred Owl, but more frequently by the flash of the bright yellow bird coming to enter a cypress knee, where the hidden nest was barely visible from the boardwalk. It was exciting to see adults bringing insects to feed hungry chicks or carrying out fecal sacs. When one would enter with an insect, the chicks occasionally popped up with their mouths wide open. My fast shutter speed combined with the low light led me to do something I very rarely do—photograph the scene at a very high ISO using a tripod-mounted DSLR camera and a long telephoto lens.

Category: Youth

Location: Chesapeake Beach, Calvert County, Maryland

Camera: Sony NEX-7 with a Sony DT 55-300mm F/4.5-5.6 SAM lens; 1/125 second at f/5.6; ISO 1600

Behind the Shot: One evening in early winter, I noticed a Carolina Wren calling with agitation. Curious, I headed closer and found two birds: one hopping around and a second suspended upside down, its foot trapped in the fork of a twig. As I slowly approached the trapped wren, the first bird flew off into a nearby shrub. I carefully watched it for any signs of distress and noticed the beautiful backlight on the bird’s face from the setting sun. I quickly raised my camera to capture the unique perspective on a common species. Then I gently wrapped my hand around the bird’s folded wings, loosened its foot, and watched joyfully as the wren flew from my hand across the trail to rejoin its partner, unharmed.

Category: Amateur

Location: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland, Ohio

Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens; 1/2000 second; ISO 1000

Behind the Shot: My husband and I monitor fledging peregrines in Ohio, typically arriving as early in the morning as possible. But this pair nested on the bridge inside our Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, so we couldn’t get inside until the zoo opened. When we checked the nest and saw that the fledgling was already gone, we toured the zoo and found the juvenile perched on an artificial lily pad, part of a zoo display. She seemed eager to make another flight from this low position until a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers dive-bombed her, repeatedly pecking her with their bills, tapping her with their feet, and lifting the tufts of down from her crown. We ended up talking quite a bit about peregrines with zoo members and staff as the gnatcatchers continued to pelt her.

Category: Amateur

Location: Port Bolivar, Texas

Camera: Canon EOS-1D X Mark III with a Canon 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens and Canon Extender EF 1.4x III; 1/500 second at f/5.6; ISO 6400

Behind the Shot: I saw this Black Skimmer flying toward a group of terns and skimmers directly in front of me. I tracked the skimmer as it came in for a landing. It brought its wings together above his head a few inches before touching down. The position makes it seem like its wings have morphed into one larger wing over its head. You never know what you are going to get with wildlife photography, which keeps me coming back for more.

Category: Amateur

Location: La Jolla Cove, San Diego, California

Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens; 1/1250 second at f/8.0; ISO 400

Behind the Shot: While exploring the area around the walkway near La Jolla Cove, I spotted a colony of nesting Brandt’s Cormorants. Photographing here can be challenging because the colony is on the edge of a cliff. To get this shot, I stood on tiptoe and leaned over. The area is full of debris ranging from twigs and other nest-building material to shrubbery and copious bird droppings. Most of these birds were sitting on nests, but this one male was sitting by himself, spreading his wings and tilting his head back to display his bright blue gular pouch in hopes of attracting a female. Unfortunately for this bird, the only female he seemed to attract was this photographer.

Category: Amateur

Location: Fort De Soto Park, Tierra Verde, Florida

Camera: Nikon D500 with a NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR lens; 1/3200 second at f/5.6; ISO 720

Behind the Shot: I was at the north beach in Fort De Soto Park when I saw a group of terns diving for fish. They took one of two actions: If when diving they missed the fish, they flew higher and shook and shimmied to dry their feathers. If the tern successfully caught a fish, it flew higher and flipped the fish, caught it head-first, and swallowed it. I focused on where a tern splashed into the water, followed it as it rose from the water, and hoped the bird and fish would be aligned for a great image. I did this over and over, getting better at timing the activity with each dive. This image was the best of the series, the bird’s wing position and head perfectly angled.

Category: Amateur

Location: Mountain View, California

Camera: Canon EOS 90D with a Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC G2 lens; 1/320 second at f/9; ISO 800

Behind the Shot: One cloudy day in January, I decided to head to my local birding spot along the San Francisco Bay. I had been watching a group of American Avocets in the same place regularly, so I made sure to see what they were up to. The entire scene of nearly 100 birds was very black and white, a result of the weather and the birds’ winter plumage. But one of the birds stood out in full breeding plumage, its ruddy brown feathers hidden behind the other birds. It wasn't something I expected to see in January.

Category: Professional

Location: Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois

Camera: Canon EOS-1D X with a Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS USM lens and a Canon Extender 1.4x III; 1/800 second at f/5.6; ISO 800

Behind the Shot: I was shooting various waterbirds on the shore of Chicago’s Lincoln Park North Pond when this Mute Swan slowly swam towards me. It had been feeding in the pond by sticking its long neck underwater in the mud. The dark, gumbo-like mud stuck to its head, creating a pattern that looked similar to the fire-flames on old hot rods. When the bird glided by, it looked as me as though it was beautifully badass, seemingly unaware its elegance was, well, muddied.

Category: Professional

Location: Canadian Mount Seymour Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada

Camera: Nikon D500 with a NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR lens; 1/1250 second at f/7.1; ISO 900

Behind the Shot: Every winter I visit the local mountains surrounding Vancouver to see ravens during their courtship time. Some behaviors are quite beautiful to witness, especially knowing that they mate for life. They chase each other around in the air and on the ground, delicately preen each other’s feathers, and exchange gifts like small rocks, twigs, moss, and lichens. This pair took a break from chasing each other around the treetops and landed close to where I stood. I got on my stomach in the snow to photograph them. After walking around for a bit, they stopped to inspect each other’s beaks, picking off small pieces of dirt and snow. The best part, though, were the sounds they made, talking to each other in soft and subtle caws.

Category: Amateur

Location: Bolivar Flats Audubon Shorebird Sanctuary, Texas

Camera: Canon EOS-1D X Mark III with a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens and Canon Extender EF 1.4x III; 1/640 second at f/7.1; ISO 6400

Behind the Shot: My favorite method to take shorebird photos is to lie on the wet mudflats at Bolivar Flats on the Texas Gulf Coast using a ground pod to get eye level with the birds. They do not recognize you as a person and will get very close. This lone avocet was riding the waves while walking though the water. This photo gives the illusion that I was in the water, but I was actually lying on the shoreline of a sandbar. What I love about this shot is the water swirling around the avocet’s neck, which gives it a magical feel.

Category: Amateur

Location: Bow, Washington

Camera: Nikon D500 with a NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens; 1/1600 second at f/5.6; ISO 160

Behind the Shot: I saw an adult Bald Eagle and a juvenile fighting for food while I was driving. I quickly pulled over to watch and photograph the battle, which looked to be over a dead gull. The adult eagle snatched the meal from the young eagle and started flying toward me just as I got the shot.

Category: Amateur

Location: King County, Washington

Camera: Canon EOS R5 with a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens; 1/2500 at f/4; ISO 500

Behind the Shot: I was walking through an urban park one evening when I spotted a small group of Killdeer foraging for worms along the lakeshore. I