Celebrating Birdability Week's Inaugural Offbeat Photography Contest!

Birdability Week 2024 brought together birders of all abilities to capture the joy, quirks, and unexpected moments that make birding such an incredible experience. This year, we launched our first Offbeat Photography Contest, and we were blown away by the creativity and enthusiasm displayed in each entry! From playful pelicans to resilient shorebirds, every photo told a story, and we’re excited to celebrate our Best in Show winner, finalists, and honorable mentions!!

“In November 2020, a wayward Snowy Owl appeared in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood and became an overnight sensation. The owl, dubbed “Queen Snow”, visited for four months amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Every evening, folks from all over the city would gather (3 feet apart) to watch the owl wake up from her rooftop roost and fly into the night. In a time of such uncertainty, sorrow, and fear, the owl’s presence provided people with joy and community. I took this photo one evening right as the owl took off for her nightly hunt. A combination of low light and camera operator ineptitude led to this blurry and interestingly exposed photo. I love how the lack of focus gives the owl a ghostly or spirited appearance, as her final departure from the neighborhood four months later was as silent and sneaky as a spirit.”

The highlight of our contest is the Best in Show winner, Georgia Coleman, with her ethereal shot “Snowy Spirit”. This photo captures the ghostly presence of a Snowy Owl that brought joy to Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood during the height of the pandemic.

Our celebrity guest judge, Karl Mechem (@the_inept_birder), shared his thoughts on the photo:

"Snowy Spirit is offbeat in all the best ways. It captures an almost magical sight--a majestic rarity that inspired onlookers at a time when people needed it most--while breaking most of the known rules of, you know, photography. But the effect is immediate: the blur is ethereal, and the blue hues are soothing and dreamy. That arctic bird was never supposed to be there in the first place. Who needs crisp focus? And yet, let's be honest, no one sets out to take a photo like this. Bird photography is basically impossible, and no one seems to talk about it; it's gaslighting, is what it is. But photos like this one are evidence of deep optimism and love. The fact that we keep hitting the shutter button over and over, despite fading light and previous experience, shows how much we love birds and birding. We can't help ourselves. It's beautiful. “

Finalists

We were also thrilled to recognize some standout shots that captured unique birding moments:

“Every spring I eagerly await the return of one of my favorite birds, the gray catbird. Seeing these quirky little birds again after the long winter months feels like reuniting with an old friend. On this particular day, I took my camera out to the park on a misguided quest to get some dignified photos. As I got this gray catbird into focus, it turned, lifted its tail, and showed me its best angle, showcasing the rust-colored feathers that adorn its underside. I was delighted to get this shot, and it remains my favorite bird butt photo I’ve ever taken.”

Sean Krepski's "Bird Butt": This perfectly timed capture of a Gray Catbird's best angle, delighting us with its cheeky charm.

"Hey Guys!" - One day in May of 2023, my fiancé and I were at one of my favorite birding locations…well, birding. We went hoping to see and photograph the Tree Swallows that had returned during Spring Migration. As I approached a tree near the walking path, I noticed this Tree Swallow perched on a branch, preening itself. As I clicked the shutter, the swallow picked up its foot to scratch its head. I ended up with this photo that looks like the swallow was winking and waving at the camera. It even had its beak open, as if to say, “Hey, guys!”

Samantha DeMarco's "Hey Guys!": A playful Tree Swallow appearing to wave at the camera, reminding us of the joy of birding’s unexpected moments.

“The Dancer” - While scanning a pond at California’s Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, my eyes landed on a Black-necked Stilt engaging in an unusual behavior. Every time the bird dipped down to feed from the water, it also threw its wings out and back, almost like a dancer. As I watched this dance happen over and over, I realized the cause of this balancing act- the bird was missing most of one leg. The stilt’s right leg ended around its knee. Amazingly, the injury site looked well-healed, indicating the stilt had been living with this injury for some time. Surely, this method of feeding on one leg must have been more energetically expensive. However, the bird seemed to be doing alright and was efficient in its dance. Big changes can be an unexpected and uncomfortable part of life. This stilt reminds me that there is beauty to be found in adaptation and resilience to adversity.

Georgia Coleman’s “The Dancer”: A Black-necked Stilt, adapting and thriving despite missing part of its leg, showcasing nature’s resilience.

Honorable Mentions

We had a wide range of submissions that made us laugh, think, and appreciate the lighter side of birding. Some of our favorite honorable mentions included:

"Afternoon Turkeys" by Scott Slusarski: A couple of turkeys putting their best "rear" forward, capturing the humor of nature.

"Jar Jar Binks?" by Patty Weik: A Great Blue Heron struggling with its catch, giving us a Star Wars moment we didn’t know we needed!

"Praying for Birds" by Paul Miller: A whimsical shot that makes us smile and appreciate the moments in birding that remind us of the humanity (and hilarity) in the pursuit.

"Autofocus Gone Wrong" by Georgiana Ploss: A comparison between a tiny hummingbird and a towering palm tree, reminding us that even "mistakes" can offer perspective.

"Voyeur" by Julie Hagen: A Green Heron photobombed by mating dragonflies—an unplanned moment that’s both comical and an intriguing possible 2-for-1 meal.

"Is Someone Sitting Here" by Ryan Gannon: A hooded merganser sharing a log with a turtle and giving an amusing side-eye, proving nature’s social dynamics can be awkward too.

"Feeding Time" by Cory Dean: A swallow parent getting up close and personal with its baby, capturing the lengths birds go to care for their young.

"Pooping Pelicans of the Pacific" by Anthony Gazso: Two brown pelicans flying over Rialto Beach leaving a "lasting" impression.

"Captain Killdeer" by Samantha DeMarco: A heartwarming shot of a Killdeer navigating life without its right foot, a reminder of resilience and adaptation.

Thank You to Everyone Who Entered!

A huge thank you to all the participants for their incredible submissions. We received 68 entries and we’re honored to share these moments with the birding community and can't wait for next year's Offbeat Photography Contest. Keep snapping those wonderfully weird bird moments, and remember, even the quirkiest shots have a place in the Birdability family! #PhotographyForEveryBody