The winners of the Bird Photographer of the Year 2024 competition have been unveiled, with Canadian photographer Patricia Homonylo taking the grand prize. Her powerful image, titled When Worlds Collide, captures the tragic reality of bird deaths caused by collisions with windows in urban environments. The photo features over 4,000 birds that died after hitting windows in Toronto, underscoring a significant yet often overlooked environmental issue.
Homonylo’s photograph was selected from more than 23,000 entries submitted by photographers worldwide, all vying for the £3,500 grand prize. When Worlds Collide draws attention to the estimated one billion birds that die annually in North America due to window collisions. Homonylo, a conservation photojournalist, is closely involved with the Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP), a Toronto-based initiative dedicated to rescuing birds injured in window strikes and raising public awareness about the dangers posed by reflective surfaces.
“Each year, more than one billion birds die in North America alone due to collisions with windows,” Homonylo explains. “I hope people are shocked by what they see and are moved to act by using bird-safe glass and supporting organisations like FLAP.”
Reflective windows can be deadly to birds, as they often appear to be a continuation of the surrounding landscape. Birds, unable to distinguish these surfaces, fly into them at full speed. FLAP promotes the use of bird-safe films, window screens, and other protective measures to reduce bird fatalities. More information about their work can be found at www.flap.org.
In addition to the grand prize, the competition celebrated several other winners. Fourteen-year-old Spanish photographer Andrés Luis Domínguez Blanco was awarded the Young Bird Photographer of the Year title for his imaginative capture of a nuthatch on an oak tree.
Photographers competed across eight categories, including Best Portrait, Birds in the Environment, Bird Behaviour, and Urban Birds. A Conservation Award, Portfolio Award, and Video Award were also presented.
Bird Photographer of the Year, known for its commitment to conservation, donated £5,000 this year to its partner charity, Birds on the Brink. The charity funds grassroots conservation projects worldwide, supporting vital efforts to protect bird populations.
Paul Sterry, a trustee of Birds on the Brink, praised the winning image for its dual impact: “The mark of a good photograph is one that either demonstrates artistry or tells a story. The mark of an exceptional one is that it does both. This photograph portrays a tragic yet often overlooked consequence of human activity, highlighting the devastating threat reflective surfaces pose to wild birds.”
All winning and shortlisted images are featured in a hardcover book, published by Princeton University Press. The 2025 competition is now open for entries, inviting bird photographers of all skill levels to participate.
For more information and to view the winning images, visit www.birdpoty.com.
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