The results are in for the 2025 Chicago Bird Photography Contest! This contest, held jointly by the Chicago Park District, Chicago Ornithological Society, and Chicago Bird Alliance, ran from March 15th to August 1st and featured six categories. The submissions were very impressive and it was difficult to whittle it down to one winner and three runners up.

Without further ado, here are the results:

Birds in My Parks

First place: Grace Kinney-Broderick (Northern Cardinal)

1st runner-up: Phillip Stosberg (Cackling Geese)

2nd runner-up: Ima Akagawa (Canada Geese)

3rd runner-up: Shawn Pfautsch (Red-winged Blackbird)

Northern Cardinal

Taken by Grace Kinney-Broderick

Cackling Geese

Taken by Phillip Stosberg

Canada Geese

Taken by Ima Akagawa

Red-winged Blackbird

Taken by Shawn Pfautsch

Feathered Flocks

First place: Sean McCann (European Starlings)

1st runner-up: Wenzheng Fang (Bank Swallows)

2nd runner-up: Todd Thomas (Cedar Waxwings)

3rd runner-up: Leyla Royale (Barn Swallows & Bank Swallows)

European Starlings

Taken by Sean McCann

Bank Swallows

Taken by Wenzheng Fang

Cedar Waxwings

Taken by Todd Thomas

Barn Swallows & Bank Swallows

Taken by Leyla Royale

Lakefront Flyers

First place: Phillip Stosberg (American Avocet)

1st runner-up: Maria Gamez (Double-crested Cormorant)

2nd runner-up: Karlos Bledsoe (Piping Plover)

3rd runner-up: Lewis Hakam (Ring-billed Gull)

American Avocet

Taken by Phillip Stosberg

Double-crested Cormorant

Taken by Maria Gamez

Piping Plover

Taken by Karlos Bledsoe

Ring-billed Gull

Taken by Lewis Hakam

Seasonal Spectacles

First place: Carlos Navarro Gonzalez (Common Nighthawk)

1st runner-up: Grace Kinney-Broderick (Nashville Warbler)

2nd runner-up: Austin St. Peter (Black-bellied Whistling-Duck)

3rd runner-up: Kevin Slattery (Black-and-white Warbler)

Common Nighthawk

Taken by Carlos Navarro Gonzalez

Nashville Warbler

Taken by Grace Kinney-Broderick

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

Taken by Austin St. Peter

Black-and-white Warbler

Taken by Kevin Slattery

Urban Aviary

First place: Mark Noll (Magnolia Warbler)

1st runner-up: Riley Phoebus Mazock (Blackburnian Warbler)

2nd runner-up: Leyla Royale (Peregrine Falcon)

3rd runner-up: Seth Konner (Black-throated Blue Warbler)

Magnolia Warbler

Taken by Mark Noll

Blackburnian Warbler

Taken by Riley Phoebus Mazock

Peregrine Falcon

Taken by Leyla Royale

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Taken by Seth Konner

Wetland Wonders

First place: Shawn Pfautsch (Black-crowned Night Heron)

1st runner-up: Max Kelly (Virginia Rail)

2nd runner-up: Ima Akagawa (Western Cattle-Egret)

3rd runner-up: Todd Thomas (Great Blue Heron)

Black-crowned Night Heron

Taken by Shawn Pfautsch

Virginia Rail

Taken by Max Kelly

Western Cattle-Egret

Taken by Ima Akagawa

Great Blue Heron

Taken by Todd Thomas

Congratulations to the winners & runners up and a huge thank you to everyone who participated!

If you are interested in seeing the photos displayed, a sneak peek will be at the Urban Birding Festival in September, and then the 24 selected entries will be on display at the Ford Calumet Environmental Learning Center at Big Marsh Park. At the latter, a gallery opening and contest celebration will be held October 11th. Don’t miss it!