The 2016 Audubon Photography Awards Winners

[Omaha Steve]

https://www.audubon.org/magazine/may-june-2016/the-2016-audubon-photography-awards-winners?utm_source=engagement&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2016-04-23_photoawardswinners[/url]

The seventh annual contest came down to the wire—a true photo finish.

Quick Stats:

Participants: More than 1,700

Images entered: Nearly 7,000

Categories: Amateur, Professional, Fine Art, Youth

Entrants from: 50 states, 6 provinces, District of Columbia

Judges

Kenn Kaufman: Bird-guide author, Audubon field editor

Melissa Groo: Professional photographer and 2015 Grand Prize winner

Steve Freligh: Co-publisher of Nature's Best Photography

Kevin Fisher: Audubon creative director

Sabine Meyer: Audubon photography director

Judging criteria: Technical quality, originality, artistic merit



Grand Prize Winner Bonnie Block

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Species: Bald Eagle, Great Blue Heron

Location: Seabeck, WA

Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a Canon 500mm f/4 IS II USM lens; 1/1600 second at f/6.3; ISO 800, manual mode

Snap Judgement: Seabeck is a small town on the edge of the Hood Canal, in western Washington. In early summer Great Blue Herons and Bald Eagles converge here to feast on fish that get trapped in the exposed oysterbeds at low tide. While both species catch their own fish, the eagles are especially fond of harassing the herons for their catch. They charge at the herons, which at times release their prey with a loud squawk, dropping the fish back into the water. Though they’re not always successful, the eagles seem to take pleasure in trying to steal a meal.

Bird Lore: The majestic Bald Eagle and America’s largest heron are both top-level predators, and they often pursue the same prey. Where concentrations of fish bring them together, clashes may erupt. In a direct standoff, the herons will usually yield to the eagles, but not without a noisy protest.

The rest of the winners at link. OS

[msongs]

1. it's all bird pictures! the voting is rigged I tell you, rigged nt

[Land of Enchantment]

2. WOWSERS!

Thank you, Omaha Steve!!!!

This is 'our' Cooper's Hawk. He is gorgeous but I wish he would quit dining on our turtledove.

[Omaha Steve]

3. Very pretty

Glad to know more DUers than I thought enjoy birds,

OS

[Bigmack]

4. I witnessed a bald eagle kill a great blue heron....

Eagles will take damn near anything if it's not aware of the eagle.
The eagle blind-sided the heron in about 6" of water. BIG puff of feathers. I think the heron was dead from the initial hit, and then the eagle landed on him to make sure.

Ate him, too.

[Lisa0825]

5. Stunning pictures at the link!!!

The hummingbird is my favorite!