GENERAL
WINNER: Rock Hobby - Joan Goy
This adult male Eurasian Hobby was ringed as a chick in a nest on a rock — something that, at the European level, has only been documented in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula. The photograph was taken during the breeding season, near a woodland area where hobbies have historically bred, using abandoned carrion crow nests in trees.
FINALIST: French connection - Joanna Sajnaj
Bluethroat - the ring was read in the spring of 2025 in Poland, in a Natura 2000 area near Poznań, and reported to Polring - the National Ringing Center. After 5 days, I received feedback - the bird had been ringed in France over 3.5 years earlier, and my reading was the first. The distance from the ringing site was 1,336 km.
FINALIST: White Storks at dusk - José A. Gil
This image is one of the few times when photographing nature was a case of arriving and striking gold. I had in mind to photograph White Storks in backlight against an unusual orange sunset background. On September 15, 2013, I decided to give it a try, and luck was on my side. My joy was doubled when I noticed that one of the photographed storks was ringed, after several ringing campaigns carried out by my colleagues from the Black Stork ringing group, who had been ringing chicks in that busy colony in the northern area of the San Roque Station (Cádiz, Spain).
ARTISTIC
WINNER: Flight code activated - Fabià Córdoba
The Little Owl spreads its silent and determined flight as evening falls, setting off in search of food. Its short, rounded wings allow it to maneuver skillfully among trees and rural buildings, reflecting its perfect adaptation to human-shaped landscapes. Observing a ringed individual in full flight not only reveals the beauty of this small nocturnal raptor but also provides valuable information for species monitoring and conservation programs. In this case, the photograph was taken right next to a nesting tower in an agricultural area of Lleida (Spain).
FINALIST: Christmas - Héctor Cordero
Winter is harsh for sedentary species such as the Northern Cardinal, as the heavy snow cover makes food scarce. At times, this species undertakes erratic migrations with no defined directional pattern. For this reason, scientists are ringing individuals to better understand these movements and to shed light on the mysteries that still surround bird migration.
FINALIST: Nordic - Alfredo B. Ramírez
This Lesser Black-backed Gull was ringed as a juvenile in Norway in 2015. Every year during the winter season, it faithfully returns to the beaches of Gijón (Spain).
CONSERVATION
WINNER: Snowfall - Antonio Mediavilla
An immature Bearded Vulture, probably originating from the species reintroduction project in the Picos de Europa (Spain), wanders through the Palencian mountains, braving the harsh winter conditions (December 2021).
FINALIST: An uncertain future - Aitor Gil
The pair of Egyptian Vultures that was once the most productive on Lanzarote (Canary Islands) now faces two consecutive years of breeding failure. Yet, their perseverance gives us a spark of hope for the survival of this endangered bird. Thanks to scientific banding, we can follow their story and better understand the challenges they face. This image captures a moment of fragility and resilience, inviting us to join efforts to safeguard their habitat and secure their future. The struggle for survival continues… Can we change their destiny?
FINALIST: The flight of the dragon- Eduard Villar
In the High Pyrenees, there is a network of Supplementary Feeding Points that support the conservation of scavenger birds. From a vantage point on the border between Pallars Jussà and Pallars Sobirà, thanks to this initiative that ensures a regular food supply for these birds -particularly Bearded Vultures-, we can enjoy watching them without causing any disturbance from a hide fully integrated into the landscape—observing and photographing them, while at the same time contributing, through the activity’s income, to the funding of various conservation projects.
PROJECTS
WINNER: The hope of the Piping Plover - Héctor Cordero
The Piping Plover is a small migratory shorebird that breeds on sandy beaches and sandbars along the Atlantic Coast. In past decades, it suffered such an alarming population decline that it became endangered. For this reason, in 1986 it was listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). Among the key conservation measures is nest fencing, which protects the birds from predation not only by mammals such as foxes and cats but also by opportunistic birds like crows and gulls that take advantage of any distraction to feed on eggs and chicks. Another major threat is human disturbance. The plover’s breeding season coincides with the summer holiday period on the same beaches where it nests. Recreational activities, unleashed dogs, and vehicles driving on the sand continue to pose a serious risk to this species. To minimize these disturbances, restrictions have been put in place, such as bans on dogs, limits on access to certain areas, and temporary closures of critical zones during the breeding season. Even so, coastal urbanization continues to reduce and fragment the available habitat.
The hope for this species’ recovery lies not only in legal protection but also in public awareness and environmental education. In the New York area where I carried out this photographic project, organizations such as the National Audubon Society, the NYC Plover Project, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) work actively to monitor the species through banding programs, as well as by giving talks in schools, on beaches, and in community centers to raise public awareness about the importance of its conservation. In the final image, a sign is shown featuring a drawing of a banded plover made by a child, displayed alongside other similar posters along the boardwalk of one of the nesting beaches. These types of environmental education initiatives carried out by children symbolize the true hope for the species’ survival.