So, the magic begins with our 14th annual California Wildlife Photo of the Year contest. Feathered friends from the land, sea, and sky – in search of food to nourish and sustain themselves and their young. We look forward to more amazing moments in the months ahead. Our winning photographers share the stories of these winning images.
Photographer: Alice Cahill
For several years a Bald Eagle had periodically hunted at Atascadero Lake, which is a small local lake in the middle of the city surrounded by homes and circled by a road. In February, I heard that there was a Bald Eagle actively hunting at the lake. That was my call to go check it out. I was hoping to see it catch a fish. I arrived early and saw the eagle perched in a tree at one end of the lake. After about an hour, it made several test forays out over the lake, but each time returned with empty talons to his perch. Then, in a blink, he swooped down and much to my surprise grabbed a Coot! As he was flying back to his perch he looked down at the Coot and adjusted his grip. THAT was my shot! After he landed in the tree, a group of crows harassed him until he eventually flew off with his prize. It was an exciting morning.
Sony A1, Sony 200-600 lens, 1/2000, f/8.0, ISO 640
Photographer: Andrew Lincoln
Depicted is a Western Bluebird family in a sustainably-farmed Los Carneros vineyard the photo was taken on Las Amigas Road, close to the Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area. Members of the thrush family, these charming passerines (perching birds) have made a comeback in the Napa Valley thanks to responsible land stewardship. When they have nestlings, they will feed their young 200 times a day! This helps to manage insect pest populations and makes them an enormous asset to agro-ecosystems.
Canon R5, Canon 500mm lens, f/4, 1/4000sec, ISO 500
Photographer: Jacqueline Deely
Long-billed Curlew with Sand Crab
Morro Bay State Park
Every winter I visit Morro Bay to see and photograph the array of migrant shorebirds that visit our shores, one of these being the beautiful Long-billed curlew. It is the largest of North American shorebirds with a very long, thin downward curved bill, perfectly designed to probe deep into the sand for aquatic invertebrates. I like to photograph birds at eye level, which in this instance meant lying on the sand as this particular bird slowly made its way towards me, stopping occasionally to probe. After several attempts it successfully brought up a sand crab, which I managed to capture mid-air before it was quickly devoured.
Nikon Z8, AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR, 1/2500s, f/6.3 @ ISO 640
The wildlife photo contest has five submission Entry Periods, beginning in January, 2025 and ending October 31, 2025. The final judging period, November – December, 2025, is reserved for selecting the Photo of the Year. The 14th annual contest is presented by California Watchable Wildlife and is sponsored by Sierra Nevada Conservancy, Out of this World Optics and Abbey House Inn.
