Henley Spiers Wins Bird Photographer of the Year 2026 with Gannet Dive

Key points

• Henley Spiers won the overall prize with 'Sunball Rocket,' depicting a northern gannet diving in Shetland, Scotland.
• The competition received over 24,000 entries from photographers worldwide.
• 16-year-old Parham Pourahmad won the youth category with an image of a great horned owl in California.
• The competition donated over £5,000 to the charity Birds on the Brink.
• Director Will Nicholls emphasized the value of authentic wildlife photography over AI-generated imagery.

Background

The Bird Photographer of the Year competition is an annual event that celebrates wildlife photography and supports conservation efforts. Previous years have seen similar competitions, such as the Astronomy Photographer of the Year, which also awards prizes and supports scientific and conservation causes.

How outlets are covering it

All sources agree on the winner and the number of entries. CNN and The Guardian provide detailed descriptions of the winning images and the photographers' techniques. New Atlas focuses on the technical aspects of the photography and the species involved. Discover Wildlife highlights the overall theme of authenticity in the age of AI. There are no significant disagreements among the sources.

Why it matters

The competition highlights the importance of authentic wildlife photography in the age of AI-generated content. It also supports conservation efforts by donating to charities and raising awareness about bird populations and their habitats.

What to watch

The winning images will be published in a coffee table book by Graffeg. The competition will continue to support conservation efforts and raise awareness about bird populations and their habitats.