Parakeet Biting Monitor Lizard Grabs Top Spot

We are incredibly happy to announce the results of the SINWP Bird Photographer of the Year 2024 in aid of RSPB
Now in its seventh year, this prestigious competition has become a celebrated platform for showcasing the beauty and diversity of birdlife through the lens of talented photographers worldwide. Since its inception, the competition has raised an impressive £16,138 to support vital conservation efforts led by the RSPB.
With over 2,300 photographs submitted from around the globe, the SINWP Bird Photographer of the Year 2024 competition has showcased an extraordinary array of avian beauty. From kingfishers and bald eagles to puffins and peacocks, and everything in between, the diversity and quality of the entries have been truly breathtaking.
The winning entry by Hira Punjabi from Maharashtra, India was of a Parakeet Biting a monitor lizard.
The competition was adjudicated by our three specialists Jon Ashton ARPS, Charles Farnell ARPS and Tracy Lund FSINWP. Mike McNamee chaired the proceedings.
“Thank you to all entrants for sharing your work with us at the same time as benefitting the RSPB to the tune of £2,867 bringing the total raised by this competition to £16,138 over the five years it has been running. It has been a pleasure!” JA CF TL MMcN
Hira tells us – ‘’Thank you so much for the great news!’’
The details of the shot are as follows:
Time and location:
This image was taken in Keoladeo national park in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India in January 2024
Equipment:
The Camera was a Nikon Z9 with 600mm VR TC lens.
Hira takes us through the amazing shot – ‘’ This is a bird sanctuary where many migratory birds comes here in winter and some residents birds breeds here, January is very cold month and many times there is a mist and fog, I has observed this behaviour if birds attacking snake and lizards, as they feed on bird eggs, last 30 years I am going here, but this time I was lucky, for continues observing 4 days the same dry tree, one morning a pair of Parakeets along with some 10 or 12 birds started attacking the lizards, the whole drama lasted for an hour or so, I had managed to shoot many images, but this one is my favourite.’’
2nd place was awarded to Thomas McDonnell from County Antrim, Northern Ireland and 3rd place was awarded to Maggie Bullock from Cheshire, England.
2nd Place – Thomas McDonnell

3rd Place – Maggie Bullock

View the winning images here
1st https://sinwp.com/Bird24/1st.htm
2nd https://sinwp.com/Bird24/2nd.htm
3rd https://sinwp.com/Bird24/3rd.htm
Sue Morris, Thomas McDonnell and Arne Bivrin all received Judges Choice Awards https://sinwp.com/Bird24/jc.htm
As the quality this year’s competition was superb, Very Highly Commended, Highly Commended and Commended images were also awarded.