Bird photographers from across South Africa have been recognised for their striking images in the 2025 BirdLife South Africa Photography Competition, announced this week. From dramatic portraits to evocative environmental shots, the winning entries highlight both the artistry of photography and the urgency of bird conservation.
Beverly Pickford emerged as the overall winner, claiming the Grand Prize, while a diverse group of photographers were celebrated across categories ranging from Action to Threatened Species.
Alongside prestige, the competition offers memorable rewards: luxury lodge stays, specialised birding experiences, high-end camera gear and exclusive birding resources, generously provided by conservation-minded sponsors.
Congratulations to all!
Grand Prize — Beverly Pickford
Beverly Pickford takes home the Grand Prize with her stunning underwater photograph of a Cape Cormorant (regionally Endangered). She wins:
- A luxurious 4-night stay for two at either &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge or Mountain Lodge
- One year’s free membership to the Firefinch app
- One year’s free membership to Birdle Pro
Action — Beverly Pickford
Also honoured in the Action category! Beverly wins:
- A 3-night stay at Zimanga Private Game Reserve Main Lodge (with game drives and activities)
- A voucher to download the Firefinch Kruger app for free
- One year’s free membership to Birdle Pro
Portrait — Johan Kloppers
Johan Kloppers, the winner in the Portrait category for this crystal clear shot of a Giant Kingfisher shortly after a successful hunt of a tilapia species. He receives:
- A 2-night stay for two in a Milkwood Room at the Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa in Cape Town, complete with breakfast and a curated three-course dinner at the Azure Terrace
- A voucher for the Firefinch Kruger app
- One year’s free membership to Birdle Pro
Birds in the Environment — Konrad Andrag
Konrad Andrag wins with his excellent photograph of a Secretarybird (regionally Vulnerable) enduring a dust storm; this image communicates the harsh conditions that birds face. Konrad claims:
- A pelagic cruise from Cape Town with Zest for Birds
- A 2-night stay for two at The Silo Hotel, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
- A voucher for the Firefinch Kruger app
- One year’s free membership to Birdle Pro
Garden — Peter-John Welcome
Peter-John Welcome wins with this shot of a colourful male White-bellied Sunbird searching for nectar in the flowers of Leonotis leonurus (wild dagga, Lion’s ear). It brings him:
- A 3-night stay at Return Africa’s Pafuri Tented Camp in Northern Kruger National Park for two
- A voucher for the Firefinch Kruger app
- One year’s free membership to Birdle Pro
Youth — Andrio de Vries
A big shout-out to 16 year old Andrio de Vries, winner of the Youth category (for entrants under 18) with this charming shot of a Yellow-billed Duck. Andrio wins:
- A Canon EOS R10 with a Canon RF 100-400 lens from Canon South Africa
- A voucher for the Firefinch Kruger app
- One year’s free membership to Birdle Pro
People’s Choice — Dave Dooley
Dave Dooley captured the public’s heart—and the People’s Choice title—with his stunning image of a Greater Double-collared Sunbird in the snow. He wins:
- A voucher for the Firefinch Kruger app
- One year’s free membership to Birdle Pro
- A book hamper from Struik Nature
Threatened Species — Benjamin Loon
Benjamin Loon’s powerful capture of a a White-backed Vulture (Critically Endangered) mid-feeding brings him:
- A voucher for the Firefinch Kruger app
- One year’s free membership to Birdle Pro
- A Roberts Bird Book Hamper, courtesy of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund
Endemic Species — Rachel Gemmell
Rachel Gemmell’s exceptional image of a Blue Crane (regionally Vulnerable) earns her:
- A voucher for the Firefinch Kruger app
- One year’s free membership to Birdle Pro
- A Roberts Bird Book Hamper, from the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund
A Celebration of Conservation and Creativity
All winners will be featured in African Birdlife magazine and included in the BirdLife South Africa 2026 calendar—an enduring tribute to their work and a beautiful reminder of the landscapes and species we strive to protect.
Thank you to every photographer who entered, and to our generous prize sponsors for making these rewards possible. Your art inspires awareness—and action—for bird conservation across the region.
