Since it was started in 2015, the underlying aim of the Bird Photographer of the Year competition has been to support conservation. Not only does the competition raise money for conservation causes, but it also uses the artistry of bird photography to raise awareness of, and inspire empathy for, the living world. Over the last five years the competition has raised over £10,000 to support the likes of the British Trust for Ornithology, the Birdfair annual conservation project, the World Land Trust, the Bermuda Petrel nest-site programme through the Bermuda Audubon Society and Hookpod.

The Bermuda Petrel nest-site programme is just one of the many projects money raised through Bird Photographer of the Year has helped.

It has always been our goal to expand our conservation aspirations and the charity Birds on the Brink was founded in early 2020. Profits from Bird Photographer of the Year contribute to Birds on the Brink funds and help support bird-related conservation projects on a grant-awarding basis, using small grants that will do the most measurable good. To find out more about Birds on the Brink visit the website https://www.birdsonthebrink.co.uk/

Birds on the Brink is the realisation of a collective long-standing aspiration and we are delighted that it is now a reality. Looking to the future, as BPOTY the competition prospers, so Conservation will benefit.

Birds on the Brink Trustee and founding director of BPOTY Paul Sterry comments: ‘Birds on the Brink was born of a passion for wildlife and in particular birds, but also out of a sense of despair: a response to the seemingly unstoppable process of human environmental exploitation and biodiversity’s steady progression towards extinction. But at its heart there is a recognition that all is not yet lost and that if enough people care passionately enough about the world we live in, we stand a chance of reversing the decline. BPOTY and Birds on the Brink know that the first step is to engage and educate people about the issues, and that is where striking imagery can help capture the imagination and nurture interest and compassion.’

Our winner from the 2020 competition. © Majed Ali / Bird Photographer of the Year 2020