2023 Bird Photo Competition Winners

Another year, another Kiwi Gardener bird photo competition – and what a competition it has been, with kererū and kingfishers vying against tūī, silvereyes, bellbirds and robins for the supreme prize.
We received such a large number of high-quality entries, it was quite the challenge to narrow the field to 75 finalists. To help us evaluate the wealth of beautifully composed images, we welcomed the expertise of Stephen Jaquiery to the bird table. Stephen is an award-winning photographer with the Otago Daily Times and author of Focused: A life behind the lens, and he kindly shared his decades of experience to judge the winning photos.

We are delighted to announce that the winner of the ninth annual Kiwi Gardener Bird Photo Competition is Deborah Owen for her live-action image of two swallows, which Stephen describes as “an absolute cracker. Crystal sharp, tidy background and perfect timing. These timid little birds, while quite easy to find, are difficult to get close to. Any bird photographer would be delighted to have achieved this image.”
Deborah wins a pair of Nikon Prostaff P7 8x42 binoculars from PhotoGear, a Topflite bird feeding pack featuring its new Nectar Nourisher and limited edition Blueberry Jumbo Logs feeding set, and a Bennetto chocolate hamper.

Stephen was also entranced by our two runners-up Karen Crozier and Amy Boyce, who each win the full range of Bennetto 100g chocolate bars and drinking chocolate and a Zoe Isaacs pottery mug.
Admiring Karen’s photo of a thrush in the rain, Stephen noted her image was “a lovely study of rain splattering off a miserable-looking thrush. Most photographers would be tucked up in front of the fire on a day like that.”
He also heaped praise on Amy Boyce’s elegant kererū: “The regal fan of cabbage tree leaves give this kererū photograph a touch of class.”

Our reader vote for the People's Choice Award prize, chosen from 75 finalists, went to Steve Howard for his popular ‘Silvereye fly-by’. He wins a Topflite bird feeding pack.
Congratulations to all our winners! We would like to thank everyone who entered or voted and congratulate Alice Davison, who wins a year’s subscription to Kiwi Gardener for taking part in the People's Choice vote.