Spectacular Winning Images of The 2022 BirdLife Australia Photography Awards

A shy albatross, a skydiving kestrel and a curious galah are among the shortlisted and winning photos in this year’s bird photography prize, chosen from more than 5,600 images. Funds raised by the competition support bird conservation programs.

What’s Mine is Yours – Bird behaviour finalist

Two fairy terns share a sardine. Photograph: Rebecca Harrison

More: BirdLife Australia Photography Awards, BirdLife Australia h/t: guardian

Hokey Pokey – Bird portrait winner

A shy albatross paddles in the ocean. Photograph: Danny Lee

Nip Nip – Highly commended in the Peter Slater memorial prize for a monochrome photo

Up close and personal with a southern boobook, Australia’s smallest owl. Photograph: Austin Ridley-Jarvis

Golden Hour Flight – Birds in flight finalist

A nankeen kestrel dives through the air. Photograph: Martin Anderson

Morning Serenity – Youth winner

An Australasian wood duck breaks through the morning mist as it lands on the water. Photograph: Desmond Wang

Feed Me Please – Bird behaviour winner

A Eurasian coot asks for some food from an obliging little pied cormorant. Photograph: Cheng Kang

Leaning In – Backyard birds winner

A galah reaches for a grassy snack. Photograph: Rebecca Harrison

The sentinel – Birds in the landscape winner

Above the mist a pelican keeps watch over the water. Photograph: Maria Coleman

White-faced Storm Petrel – Birds in flight winner

Storm petrels sometimes ski across the water in search of food on the surface. Photograph: John Harrison

Hiding Wren – Peter Slater memorial prize winner

A superb fairy-wren flits into frame as the light reflects in rain drops. Photograph: Mitchell Roberts

In the footsteps of Pretender – Portfolio winner

A superb lyrebird displays its tail feathers in one image from the winning portfolio. Photograph: Elmar Akmetov

Stars and Stripes – Bird behaviour finalist

Two crimson rosellas face off. Photograph: Jason Moore

My Pearl – Birds in flight finalist

A red wattlebird splashes through a spray of water to get a drink. Photograph: Lawrence Chan