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
-
Highlands, islands, bridges and walls: A geography tour of the UK with the Country Life Quiz of the DayDo you know your rivers? Do you know your walls? Do you know where puffins like to hang out? You will soon...
-
A gorgeous country estate that comes with a lifestyle business, a 17th-century ice house and some of the best fishing rights in BritainDolhaidd Mansion and its 25 idyllic acres are on the market for the first time since the end of the last century. Penny Churchill takes a look.
-
How the full moons got their names, including tomorrow's rare Harvest supermoonWith a new full moon on the horizon, John Lewis-Stempel reflects on her many guises.
-
James Robinson: A fifth-generation farmer on the ups and downs of 'the most glorious job in the world'Life can be beautiful for farmers, and often is — but it can also be hard and bleak. James Robinson joined the Country Life Podcast to talk about the extraordinary ups and downs of the job he loves, and how Nature helps out when things get tough.
-
The roads less travelled: The shapeshifting glories of Britain’s sea pathsRoger Morgan-Grenville celebrates the joys of wandering along the evanescent byways revealed by our tides.
-
They will never go out of stileHistoric and idiosyncratic, friend to lovers and an enemy of ageing canines, every stile has a tale to tell, says Harry Pearson.
-
Don't blame it on the sunshine, don't blame it on the moonlight, don't blame it on the good times, blame it on the batsBats and newts are an easy target, but can they actually be blamed for not building enough houses?
-
'A phenomenon that has shaped Britain’s landscapes and wildlife for millennia': A five minute guide to mast yearsThe ground is already littered with acorns and beech nuts, notes Florence Allen, thanks to a phenomenon called mast years, or mast seeding.
-
The curious world of the penny bun mushroomBlessed with a vastly superior taste, penny buns are the champions of champignons and the perfect accompaniment to maggots
-
White-tailed eagles: From 'the greatest wildlife crime imaginable' to Nature's most wonderful comeback storyDave Sexton and Alice Boyd join the Country Life Podcast.
