This year's competition marks 10 years of outstanding bird photography. Many of the distinguished photographs portray striking bird species protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, one of Audubon’s founding conservation victories and one of the most important bird conservation laws, which has protected countless birds since 1918.
Here are 10 of the finest images from the competition.
White necked Jacobin by Mariam Kamal, 2019 Amateur winner
Dave and Dave’s Nature Park, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica
Greater Sage Grouse Fight by Elizabeth Boehm, Professional winner
Pinedale, Wyoming
Bald Eagle by Kevin Ebi, Professional honourable mention
San Juan Island National Historical Park, Friday Harbor, Washington
'The fight began when the bald eagle attempted to steal the rabbit away from the young fox, known as a kit. When the bald eagle grabbed the rabbit, it inadvertently also caught the fox, lifting both more than 20 feet into the air. The fox swung back and forth trying to take the rabbit back. The bald eagle released the fox and flew off with the rabbit. The whole struggle lasted 8 seconds. While bald eagles and foxes occasionally hunt rabbits, it is a relatively rare occurrence. Up to 97 percent of an eagle's diet consists of fish and birds; red foxes more commonly eat berries, insects and small mammals, like the vole.' — Kevin Ebi
Bobolink by Garrett Sheets, Youth honourable mention
Dunn Ranch Prairie, Lincoln Township, Missouri
Black-browed Albatross by Ly Dang, 2019 Fisher Prize winner
Saunders Island, Falkland Islands
Purple Gallinule on a fire flag by Joseph Przybyla, Plants For Birds honourable mention
Circle B Bar Reserve, Lakeland, Florida
Red winged Blackbird by Kathrin Swoboda, Amateur Grand Prize winner
Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, Virginia
Hooded Oriole on a California fan palm by Michael Schulte, Plants For Birds winner
San Diego, California
Horned Puffin by Sebastian Velasquez, Youth winner
Alaska SeaLife Center (accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums©), Seward, Alaska
Great Blue Heron by Melissa Rowell, Amateur honourable mention
Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, Florida
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From Queen bees to Queen Camilla, how one woman built a multi-million pound beauty empire out of bee venomDeborah Mitchell's skincare range has generated quite a buzz among celebrities including HRH and Victoria Beckham.
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Levison Wood: Trekking the Nile, near-death experiences and why nothing beats a cup of tea and a piece of toastThe adventurer, explorer, writer and film-maker Levison Wood joins James Fisher on the Country Life Podcast.
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Is there enough beauty and hope left in the natural world to counter the current state of global despair?Trees are dying, our food is covered in chemicals and we are stuck in a deteriorating international security situation.
