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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The Hollywood garden designers who turned their hand to a magical corner of SomersetCaisson House's fifteen abandoned locks were part of the draw for Amanda and Phil Honey, who have created this astonishing garden in the grounds of the former headquarters of the Somersetshire Coal Canal Company just outside Bath. Caroline Donald discovers more; photography by Jason Ingram.
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The majestic New Forest estate formerly owned by a billionaire adventurer — famous for driving 'the world's fastest kettle' — has come up for saleGreat estates in the unspoilt setting of the New Forest are always a welcome sight on the market, and Newton Park is a wonderful example with a sad story to tell. Anna White tells more.
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Peregrine falcons went to the edge of extinction in the 1960s — today, there are more of them than at any time since the Middle AgesIn the latest instalment of Mark Cocker's 'Winging it' column, he looks at the peregrine, a bird of prey with astonishing speed and super strength.
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I lichen the look of you: A rare lichen-covered fingerpost that's been frozen in time and donated to the Natural History MuseumA fingerpost, covered in 12 different species of lichen, has been donated to the Natural History Museum by Exmoor National Park — but they had some trouble getting it there.
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Marcus Janssen: The man behind Schöffel on Chelsea Lifejackets, bagging a 'MacNab' and recognising the best of the British countrysideMarcus Janssen of Schöffel joins the Country Life podcast.
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Beyond Stonehenge: The ancient moorland megaliths and grand stone rings that you can enjoy without the tourist hordesWith their potent blend of wild looks and mystery, Britain’s ancient sites have an enduring magnetism — and there are far more of them than you might imagine.
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Chatsworth's winning £4 million Lottery ticket means it can restore beloved water featureThe Chatsworth House Trust will use the money from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to restore their Cascade — beloved by Alan Titchmarsh.
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Hope from the ashes: This new generation of ash trees is more resistant to diebackWhen ash dieback first arrived in Britain, in 2012, an emergency COBRA meeting was formed. The disease has since spread rampantly across the countryside, but there is still hope.
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Listen up puffins, peregrines and seal pups — Big Brother is watching youThe Wildlife Trusts have installed more than 25 video cameras around the country that live stream activity from barn owl nests to popular puffin sites.
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The golden eagle: One of the Great British public's favourite birds of prey — but devilishly tricky to identifyWe are often so keen to encounter this animal that ambition overrides the accuracy of our observations, writes Mark Cocker.
