These 54 Bird Pictures Were The Best At The 2025 And 2026 Audubon Photography Awards

To learn more about the competition, Bored Panda reached out to Megan Moriarty, the Communications Manager at the National Audubon Society, who connected us with Sabine Meyer, Photography Director at the National Audubon Society. She kindly shared her insights and perspective on the contest.

When asked about the motivation behind starting the Photography Awards and how they relate to the mission of the National Audubon Society, Sabine shared with us that: “The Audubon Photography Awards are more than just a collection of breathtaking photos: over the years, it has matured into a platform to share the love of birds with our members. This has helped us grow and cultivate a community of conservation photographers, from budding teens to amateurs to professionals. With the addition last year of Conservation and Birds Without Borders prizes, the awards have also become a critical tool to advance Audubon's conservation mission and initiatives.”

With thousands of submissions received each year (and participation continuing to grow), the competition brings together “talented photographers and videographers across the hemisphere,” Sabine noted. She described the growing response as particularly inspiring. As she explained, 2026 marks the second year judges have awarded prizes to residents of Chile and Colombia, alongside photographers from the United States and Canada, as part of their mission: “Our work follows birds across the hemisphere, and so do our photo and video awards!”

To better understand the significance of Chile and Colombia being included as eligible countries for the Audubon Photography Awards Competition, Sabine redirected us to statements from two Audubon members: Javiera Ferreyra (Chile Country Director) and Camilo Cardozo (Colombia Country Director). They stated that the expansion helps “encourage more diverse perspectives, enriching the visual narrative of bird conservation.”

The awards also highlight the importance of migratory birds and the habitats they depend on. This is particularly relevant for Chile and Colombia, two countries with incredible bird diversity and important habitats for migratory species. Colombia is home to almost 20 percent of the world’s avian species, while hundreds of thousands of migratory shorebirds pass through Chile each year.

Together, the growing reach of the Audubon Photography Awards reflects how photography can connect people and places across the Western Hemisphere, celebrate the remarkable diversity of birdlife, and inspire deeper appreciation for the species and habitats that need protection.