The 2022 Audubon Pictures Awards: Prime 12 Movies

Capturing a single, revealing second with {a photograph} is all the time a problem—particularly when birds and nature are concerned. Capturing compelling video of fowl habits will be a completely completely different however equally tall job, one wherein the videographer should be able to report and in a position to keep educated on their typically unpredictable topic for an prolonged interval. However when every part goes excellent, the result’s an elongated glimpse into the fascinating lives of birds. 

For the second 12 months now, the Audubon Pictures Awards video class has opened up a complete new world to each entrants and our readers. And as soon as once more, our judges have been confronted with onerous determination as they reviewed gorgeous clip after gorgeous clip. The successful video was taken by Audubon Pictures Awards veteran Liron Gertsman, who additionally has a second video on this listing right here. His footage and 11 others have been simply too spectacular for us to not share with readers in an prolonged gallery. From a hovering Bald Eagle effortlessly ripping a big department from a tree to an American Robin ice-fishing for minnows, these engrossing movies placed on full show the fascinating and various behaviors of birds. 

After you’ve loved these clips, when you’re impressed to select up a digital camera and pursue avian topics of your personal, our images part has every part you want to get began, together with ideas and how-to’s and Audubon’s moral pointers for wildlife images. And when you’re actually feeling motivated, remember that our 2023 Audubon Pictures Awards at the moment are open for entry! 

1.) Wilson’s Snipe by Eileen de la Cruz 

Location: Juanita Bay Park, Kirkland, WA 
Digital camera: Fujifilm XT3 with a Fujifilm XF 100-400mm;  f8.0; ISO 1600
Story Behind the Shot: I used to be at Juanita Bay Park, one in every of my favourite patches situated on the shores of Lake Washington. It was a cloudy, cool February morning, and I walked down the boardwalk to the place I’d seen some Wilson’s Snipes a few weeks earlier than. I lastly noticed this snipe resting on the muddy shore (their plumage works to camouflage them very properly), and arrange my digital camera and tripod on the boardwalk. For a number of minutes the fowl merely rested, however then it acquired up and began strolling. To my shock the snipe was coming up and down. I had not identified Wilson’s Snipes walked this fashion! I needed to stifle my laughter—it was such a comical and endearing sight. I alternated between taking brief movies and pictures whereas the fowl moved about, coated by the encircling vegetation. I used to be in a position to take this longer video when it got here out into the open. The dancing fowl then disappeared into the rushes, proper after I ended filming. 

2.) American Robin by Brooke Roegge 

Location: St. Paul, MN
Digital camera: Nikon D7500

 with a 

Nikon 200-500mm, at 500mm; 29.97 frames per second at f/10; ISO 500
Story Behind the Shot: In Minnesota in late winter and early spring, teams of minnows collect on the ice openings across the edges of marshes and ponds, maybe hoping for bugs, and robins take benefit. I had heard of this phenomenon and, when the time was proper, had plans to go to some spots the place this habits had been beforehand noticed. This 12 months I used to be in luck—a sighting was shared at a park very near my home, so I dropped every part to get there and watch it. Within the few days I spent observing these robins, they gorged themselves on minnows, typically consuming 3 or 4 in a row earlier than flying off to digest in a close-by tree, solely to return about half-hour later and gorge once more. I seen the water churning on the edges of the ice the place the minnows gathered, which can have helped the robins discover them. I additionally noticed that the robins would drop the minnows into the snow to both stun or kill them earlier than consuming them. On the primary day there have been a handful of robins collaborating—possibly 8 or so—however by the third day the opening within the ice had grown bigger and so had the flock of not less than 25 robins.

3.) Willow Ptarmigan by Marilyn Grubb

Location: Municipal District of Greenview, Alberta, Canada
Digital camera: Canon EOS R5 with a Sigma 150-600mm shot at 600mm; video at f11; ISO 2000
Story Behind the Shot: Early in December a good friend who had by no means seen a Willow Ptarmigan joined me on a quest by a snowstorm to seek out the elusive white birds. Fortunately, I had seen two Willow Ptarmigans lately on an earlier journey, so we headed to the place I had noticed the pair  and pulled over to the facet of the abandoned mountain street to look, unsuccessfully, for tracks within the contemporary snow. It was lunchtime, so we each pulled out our meals and commenced consuming within the automobile. All of the sudden my good friend motioned that she was seeing motion over on her facet of the street, behind the snowpiled ditch. I exited the automobile and quietly went behind it, utilizing the white car as a blind. Lo and behold, there was a single Willow Ptarmigan munching away by itself lunch as we’d been having fun with ours! Not desirous to disturb the fowl’s habits, I made a decision to handhold the digital camera to get a wee little bit of video. I wasn’t disenchanted as he continued pecking off the willow buds, working his method in direction of me. 

4.) Prothonotary Warbler by Benjamin Clock  

Location: Francis Beidler Forest, SC 
Digital camera: Sony A7R II with a Canon 500mm f4 and a Canon 1.4x teleconverter; 1/60 sec at f4; ISO 100
Story Behind the Shot: At Audubon’s Francis Beidler Forest Sanctuary, I used to be strolling alongside the boardwalk by the flooded forest and seen a feminine Prothonotary Warbler making occasional visits to a cavity. It was very early within the nesting season and Prothonotary Warblers had arrived again within the space just some days earlier than. Males have been singing vigorously throughout the forest. I used to be in a position to set my tripod close by and stay very nonetheless because the fowl approached. Filming from the sting of the boardwalk from a place partially obscured by the trunk of an adjoining tree, I used to be in a position to view the fowl on the nest with out disturbance. Generally timing works out completely to have the ability to witness stunning moments like this fowl making ready a cavity for nesting.

5.) Northern Flicker by Paul Lisker 

Location:  Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 
Digital camera: Fujifilm X–T3 with a Fujifilm XF 100–400mm F/4.5–5.6 R LM OIS WR; 400mm (609mm equal); 1/120 sec at f/5; ISO 400

Story Behind the Shot: Throughout an early morning stroll on a frigid winter day, I noticed flashes of yellow amid an in any other case drab thicket. As I approached, I noticed the curious sight of two Northern Glints participating in a dance, every jerking its head facet to facet whereas going through one another. I cautiously stepped nearer, taking care to not disturb them. I shouldn’t have apprehensive a lot—some individuals walked close by, however the birds remained. The pair appeared entranced, hyper-focused on their hypnotic dance. The male, with its recognizabe black mustache, adopted the feminine tirelessly at any time when she moved to a separate department. They perched near me, offering a transparent view of their stunning plumage, from the barring on their backs to the spots on their bellies. All of the sudden, they flitted away in amorous pursuit into the chilly winter day, abandoning solely the reminiscence of their crimson napes forming an ideal pair of hearts.

6.) Nice Blue Heron by Nicolas Bamberski 

Location: Alameda, CA 
Digital camera: Panasonic Lumix G9 with a Lumix Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm at ~300mm; 1/125 sec at f/8; ISO auto
Story Behind the Shot: The Nice Blue Heron is a year-round resident of California and a frequent sight alongside our shores. The cypress tree within the video, within the fenced-off wetland of the previous Navy base at Alameda Level, has served as a secluded nesting website for herons for a few years. The tree is now lifeless and won’t stand for much longer. As a photographer, I had been capturing city wildlife on the island of Alameda for a few years, together with at this website. This winter I meant to seize a video of the herons’ charming nest-building exercise in the very best mild circumstances, which proved to be at dawn on a chilly Friday morning, when the sunshine rose behind me and illuminated each the tree and downtown San Francisco, miles throughout the bay but seeming so shut. The fence defending this wetland is a couple of hundred toes away from the tree, and I arrange my tripod far sufficient from that fence to compose the shot above it. Having to make use of an extended focal size introduced some good compression within the picture and actually highlighted the distinction, but compatibility, between nature and civilization. I really feel the composition itself exhibits the advantages of dedicating some city habitat to wildlife. I used to be anticipating extra nest constructing like in earlier weeks, with herons bringing branches and twigs again, however as a substitute I used to be greeted with this magical mating scene! 

7.) Crested Caracara and Northern Mockingbird by Maria Chu 

Location: Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Administration Space, Clewiston, FL 
Digital camera: Canon xa50 with an inner lens at 580mm and Canon TL-U58 Tele-Converter Lens (1.5x); 1/350 sec at f/6)
Story Behind the Shot: My husband and I went on a visit to the cattle ranch space of Hendry Nation, Florida, and our aim was to report and observe the Crested Caracara. We had a number of alternatives throughout my one-week journey, however this was our fortunate day. The wind was difficult at 20 mph, however the comfortable morning mild helped with the video. It was a few hours after dawn, and I seen three caracaras sitting on fence poles. As I noticed them from a distance, immediately I seen that this Northern Mockingbird stored annoying one of many caracaras, flying in circles across the raptor. The caracara tried to defend itself, however the mockingbird was fast and agile, in a position to evade any assaults from the slower caracara. The mockingbird was persistently “mocking” the big fowl till it was so aggravated that it flew away, with the mockingbird chasing proper after. In actual fact, one after the other, the fowl would peck and circle round every caracara till they have been aggravated and flew away. Apparently, the caracaras have been too near the mockingbird’s nest. I used to be amazed by this persistent little mockingbird and the way the caracara couldn’t do something to cease it.   

8.) Pileated Woodpecker by Michael Fogleman 

 Location: Harris Lake County Park, New Hill, NC 
Digital camera: Canon R5 with a Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM and a Canon Extender RF 2x (shot at 500 x 2 = 1000mm); 1/60s at f/14; ISO Auto
Story Behind the Shot: I first got here throughout this Pileated Woodpecker nest in March 2021 when the adults have been nonetheless excavating the cavity. After that, I checked the tree weekly to watch its progress. It wasn’t till Could 22 that I first noticed any of the nestlings—and by that time they have been nearly totally grown! First I noticed one quietly poking its head out. Then two! After which the third! Two females and one male. I arrange my tripod and commenced taking pictures and movies. They begged for meals—calling in excellent unison—when the feminine grownup got here into view. She flew to the tree and commenced feeding them. She fed the male first, exhibiting an obvious desire by withholding meals from an aggressive feminine sibling who tried to chop in. She lastly gave what little was left to one of many females, however the third nestling acquired no meals on this specific go to. I additionally noticed the male feeding them quickly after. A pair days later, the juveniles had left the nest. This was the one time I noticed all three of the nestlings poking their heads out. Within the coming weeks, I got here throughout all the household of 5 foraging within the woods close by. This was the spotlight of my birding in 2021. As this was at a public park, you’ll be able to hear laughter within the background. I discover this to be particularly fascinating as a result of it highlights how oblivious we will be to the wonders of nature.
 

9.) Osprey by Brian Kushner 

Location: Heislerville Wildlife Administration Space, Heislerville, NJ 
Digital camera: Nikon Z6 with a Nikon 800mm F/5.6; 1/1600  F/8; ISO Auto
Story Behind the Shot: I’ve been photographing this Osprey nest for 10 years. At one level, it housed a 16-year-old banded Osprey, one of many oldest banded Ospreys in New Jersey. There’s a new pair that took over the nest in 2020 after the previous didn’t return within the spring. I observe this nest from late March by the breeding season and chick rearing till the birds depart within the fall. 

10.) Carolina Chickadee by Amy Boggan 

Location: Hayesville, NC
Digital camera: Nikon Coolpix P900; 1/25 sec at f/6.3; ISO 280
Story Behind the Shot: On my first white Christmas in my mountaintop residence in western North Carolina, I wandered round my property taking bird-in-snow images and pictures of the surroundings. It was bitterly chilly, however every part was so stunning. The birds have been very lively, so I stayed out a bit longer simply exterior of the home. As I stood going through north, the morning mild streamed in over my proper shoulder. Whereas I used to be photographing a cooperative Purple Finch, this Carolina Chickadee drew my consideration because it was doing one thing I’d by no means seen: consuming snow. Fluffy to remain heat within the chilly, it was lovable because it periodically acquired snow throughout its face and shook it off whereas monitoring the sky above with a couple of dee dee dees. The chickadee didn’t appear to thoughts being on digital camera, and I used to be elated to seize the second in good mild from a brief distance. It was a pleasant reminder {that a} “yard fowl” can nonetheless be fascinating, and I’m glad I lingered within the chilly!

11.) Sharp-tailed Grouse by Liron Gertsman 

Location: Thompson–Nicola, British Columbia, Canada
Digital camera: Canon EOS R5 with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM at 400mm and a Canon EF to RF mount adapter; 1/250 at f/5.6; ISO 400
Story Behind the Shot: One of the unbelievable issues I’ve ever had the prospect to expertise in nature is a Sharp-tailed Grouse lek, a website the place males collect to carry out courtship shows for visiting females. Sharp-tailed Grouse sometimes arrive at their lek earlier than dawn, and can dance and show by a lot of the morning. These birds are notoriously flighty and delicate to disturbance, so to look at them respectfully, I scouted out the placement the afternoon prior, and arrange a conceal exterior the perimeter of the lek after sundown. Waking up at 3 a.m., I hiked for 45 minutes by the darkish to achieve my conceal. As the primary signal of daybreak mild began appearing on the horizon, the present started, with grouse dancing and producing otherworldly sounds. Every male on the lek has his personal small territory, and fights recurrently get away between neighborhooing birds, as captured on this video. On the middle of the lek are the best high quality territories, the place males are most definitely to mate with a feminine. As such, fights within the middle of the lek are notably widespread. These Sharp-tailed Grouse belong to the “Columbian” subspecies, a inhabitants that has disappeared from 90 p.c of its former vary throughout western North America, and is listed as a inhabitants of particular concern in Canada and a number of other U.S. states.

12.) Bald Eagle by Barbara Carlson 

Location: Kings River, Piedra, CA 
Digital camera: Nikon D850 with a Sigma 150-600 mm shot at 600 mm; 1/400 sec at f9; ISO 400
Story Behind the Shot: I watched this Bald Eagle flying backwards and forwards throughout the river all morning gathering sticks for its nest. I used to be parked on the facet of the street, digital camera prepared, awaiting the fowl’s subsequent return from over the hill when a lot to my shock it appeared and flew simply above me, proper throughout my line of sight. With out stopping, the fowl grabbed and snapped a department off this tree with its spectacular talons. It felt just like the raptor knew I used to be observing and was solely making an attempt to impress me with its expertise, because it dropped this department shortly after performing its swish feat! I used to be past thrilled to witness this habits—one I’d by no means skilled earlier than by these stunning birds—and was much more thrilled that I used to be one way or the other in a position to seize all the scene with my digital camera.