The 2025 BirdLife Australia photography awards – in pictures
Stare down – Youth category, runner up
‘In the heart of the outback, an intense gaze met my lens – an emu, unwavering and unafraid. Its piercing orange eyes locked on to me, a silent challenge in the midday heat.’
Photograph: Aaryan Dhakal
Preening one’s feathers – Bird portrait winner and BirdLife photographer of the year
‘I liked the low-key effect of the dark background against the black of the brush turkey’s feathers, where the bird is partially hidden as the turkey goes about grooming those feathers. I think the red makes a statement … It’s not often I have witnessed a brush turkey preening its tail feathers.’
Photograph: Angela Farnsworth
Food delivery – Portfolio winner
‘A parent tern returning to its chicks with freshly caught fish: a poignant moment that celebrates the dedication and rhythm of avian parenting. Australian fairy terns are facing continuous threats from decreasing population numbers. Each year there are reports of decreasing nesting colonies.’
Photograph: Donald Chin
Red-footed booby – Portfolio, runner up
‘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
Photograph: Claire Greenwell
Blush among the fronds – Birds in landscape, runner up
‘I located this pink robin and after taking a series of portrait shots, I thought I would attempt to take a wide angle view to change the perspective.
Photograph: Franciscus Scheelings
Kite with turtle – Diurnal raptors, runner up
‘I was at Fogg Dam wetlands and it was getting quite late when I noticed a whistling kite take off with something in its claws. It was only when I looked at the photo afterwards that I realised it was a turtle.’
Photograph: Georgina Steytle
Angel in the air – Birds in flight, runner up
‘Amongst the terns, little tern chicks have the fastest growth rate. Thanks to the succession of precision sorties delivered by their dedicated parents, these tiny fluff balls reach adult size in just 20 days. This aerial delivery system is a sight to behold. On this windy day, many parents were returning empty.'
Photograph: Sithi Sitharthan
earthling
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