NEW YORK, NY July 2, 2018 – Today, the National Audubon Society declared four talented photographers winners in the 2018 Audubon Photography Awards, the ninth year of the annual contest.

The winning photographers and their stunning photographs were selected from more than 8,000 entries submitted by photographers from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and 10 Canadian provinces.

This year’s judges included world-renowned birder Kenn Kaufman, wildlife photographer and winner of the 2015 contest’s Grand Prize Melissa Groo, and chairman and co-founder of PhotoShelter Allen Murabayashi. Winning photos and honorable mentions will be featured in Audubon magazine, Nature’s Best Photography magazine and the 2018 Nature’s Best Photography Exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

This year’s exquisite photographs celebrate the splendor of many bird species protected under the 100-year-old Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), the most important bird conservation law, which is currently under attack by the Administration.

Now, introducing the winning photographers:

Grand Prize Winner

Great Gray Owl. Photo: Steve Mattheis/Audubon Photography Awards

Professional Winner

Black-necked Stilts. Photo: Gary R. Zahm/Audubon Photography Awards

Amateur Winner

Long-tailed Tit. Photo: Diana Rebman/Audubon Photography Awards

Youth Winner

Cobalt-winged Parakeets. Photo: Liron Gertsman/Audubon Photography Awards

Professional Honorable Mention

Red-winged Blackbird. Photo: Donald Quintana/Audubon Photography Awards

Amateur Honorable Mention

Wood Duck. Photo: Scott Suriano/Audubon Photography Awards

Youth Honorable Mention

Bald Eagle. Photo: Liron Gertsman/Audubon Photography Awards

Youth Honorable Mention

Fawn-breasted Brilliant. Photo: Liron Gertsman/Audubon Photography Awards