Jason is honored by the Audubon Society for Bird Photo for 2025

Wild Good News!   This year I decided to finally enter some of the larger photo contest.  It was announced by the Audubon Society, that my image of a shoebill stork, photographed on the 2024 Uganda wildlife tour, as being named one of the top 100 bird photographs for 2025. This is bittersweet as I wish nothing more than my mom to be around to see this, as she would’ve love it. 

Image Location: Mabamba Swamp, Entebbe, Uganda

Camera: Canon R5 Mark II with a Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens and Canon Extender RF 1.4x; 1/3200 second at f/4; ISO 1250

Behind the Shot: Paddling through the swamp in a worn wooden canoe, my desire was to get a glimpse of a Shoebill. Fewer than 15 Shoebills are left in the 64-square mile swamp, but the Ugandan guide at the helm of our vessel knew his way around. As we steered through the thick vegetation, I saw a large object in the distance. As we got closer, I realized it was a Shoebill. The bird turned, faced us, and took my breath away. I was overcome with emotion; I felt like I was watching a living dinosaur. The bird was decisive but elegant in its movements as it hunted. It is my hope that through this image, people will be moved by the elegance, grace, and power exhibited by the Shoebill and realize actions must be taken to protect this and other species from habitat loss, climate change, hunting, and ultimately extinction.

There are some really amazing images in this list, and I am honored to be among them! 

Here is a link to the other photos:

https://www.audubon.org/magazine/2025-audubon-photography-awards-top-100