NEW FOR 2019. The BPOTY team is thrilled to be running a Conservation Documentary Award this year. This award requires the submission of a series of 3–6 images with extended captions that together document the story behind a bird-related conservation or environmental issue. The subject story can have a positive or negative narrative, be ‘shock and awe’ in content or indeed unerringly optimistic. The judges will be looking for a cohesive set of images that show tenacious and innovative story-telling in a photo-journalistic style. Enter the BPOTY competition here.

We are thrilled that two luminaries in the Conservation world have agreed to help with the judging process. Mark Carwardine needs little introduction, a wildlife fixture on the BBC and perhaps best known for his ‘Last Chance to See’ programmes, the radio version with Douglas Adams and the recent TV revisit with Stephen Fry. As it happens, Andrew Cleave MBE, one of the BPOTY founders, was Mark’s biology teacher at school. Then there’s Mark Avery, that fearless advocate for nature and part of the Wild Justice team alongside Ruth Tingay and BPOTY Judge Chris Packham. It’s great to have the two Marks on board.

As part of the competition process a selection of best entries will be short-listed by members of the BPOTY team. These budding photo-journalists will then be contacted and invited to submit a title for their story, a summary paragraph to lead the story, and suggest the sequence in which the images should be viewed to best tell the story. Entrants may number their images as part of the image captioning entry process. The BPOTY team wants foster budding environmental photo-journalists. So we will provide pointers if required to shortlisted entrants, with the aim of helping them create an article suitable for a blog post or a magazine.

These finished articles will then be judged. Worthy stories as well as the winning one will be posted on our social media platforms giving exposure to the entrants and their stories.

BPOTY is pleased to announce that the winner of the Conservation Documentary Award will receive a prize from Gitzo comprising a tripod and tripod head – details of the prize can be found here.

Entries for our 2020 competition are now open until 30 November 2019. Visit our new entry portal here to register an account and start uploading your images for your chance to win.

To follow is the first in a series of articles that might stand as suitable entries for the Conservation Documentary Award.

New Zealand – a heady mix of Ecological Disaster and Conservation Success.

First time UK visitors to New Zealand often remark ‘it’s just like home’ especially if they arrive in Christchurch. Similarities go beyond the topography: agricultural land similar to that found in the UK has replaced native scrub and woodland and introduced birds outnumber natives. Native New Zealand fauna evolved in the absence of terrestrial mammals – until man arrived of course, along with a menagerie of cats, dogs, stoats, rats, you name it. As a result 42% of native bird species have become extinct since land mammals first set foot, or paw, on New Zealand soil. However, this manmade ecological disaster seems to make Kiwi Conservationists even more determined: they have an uncompromising and ruthless approach to mammalian predator control and nothing is out of bounds.

Once common around the coast of New Zealand and its islands, by the turn of the 20th Century the Shore Plover was reduced to a single population on Rangatira in the Chatham Islands; it was on the verge of extinction. It is still one of the world’s r… — Once common around the coast of New Zealand and its islands, by the turn of the 20th Century the Shore Plover was reduced to a single population on Rangatira in the Chatham Islands; it was on the verge of extinction. It is still one of the world’s rarest waders, but captive breeding and reintroductions mean it now clings on to survival on a few predator-free islands. The entire world population numbers some 175 birds. ©Paul Sterry

Prior to human settlement the Kaka, and endearing parrot, was widespread in New Zealand but destruction of native forest habitat and mammalian predators means the population is now thought to number fewer than 10,000 birds. The best opportunities to… — Prior to human settlement the Kaka, and endearing parrot, was widespread in New Zealand but destruction of native forest habitat and mammalian predators means the population is now thought to number fewer than 10,000 birds. The best opportunities to see the species are on predator-free offshore islands and main island locations where intensive predator control is undertaken. ©Paul Sterry

Once widespread throughout New Zealand, the Black Stilt’s range has shrunk and numbers have plummeted to the point where the world population now numbers around 100 birds; and this includes captive birds that comprise part of a breeding programme. H… — Once widespread throughout New Zealand, the Black Stilt’s range has shrunk and numbers have plummeted to the point where the world population now numbers around 100 birds; and this includes captive birds that comprise part of a breeding programme. Habitat loss, predation and hybridisation with the more numerous Pied Stilt have contributed to its decline. In the wild, ‘genuine’ Black Stilts wear colour rings as badges of honour, testifying to their genetic purity. ©Paul Sterry

Unique to New Zealand, the Wrybill is the only bird in the world to have a laterally-curved bill, this unique adaptation allowing it to retrieve aquatic insect larvae from underneath stones in its braided river breeding haunts. The entire world popu… — Unique to New Zealand, the Wrybill is the only bird in the world to have a laterally-curved bill, this unique adaptation allowing it to retrieve aquatic insect larvae from underneath stones in its braided river breeding haunts. The entire world population - 5-6,000 birds – is restricted to New Zealand and the species is most vulnerable when nesting; predation and flooding pose serious threats. ©Paul Sterry

For a period of 50 years or so the South Island Takahe (a bit like a giant, flightless Moorhen) was considered extinct until the discovery in 1948 of a tiny population in the Murchison Mountains. Since then ‘wild’ birds have been protected from pred… — For a period of 50 years or so the South Island Takahe (a bit like a giant, flightless Moorhen) was considered extinct until the discovery in 1948 of a tiny population in the Murchison Mountains. Since then ‘wild’ birds have been protected from predators as far as possible, and captive-bred birds have allowed the species’ introduction to predator-free islands and a few secure mainland sites. Locations include spots on North Island where they replace the now extinct North Island Takahe. ©Paul Sterry

The Tomtit is an example of a species that arguably has not fared to badly since human settlement. Habitat loss has probably caused the biggest reduction in numbers and range but it appears to have adapted quite well to a range of non-native habitat… — The Tomtit is an example of a species that arguably has not fared to badly since human settlement. Habitat loss has probably caused the biggest reduction in numbers and range but it appears to have adapted quite well to a range of non-native habitats. ©Paul Sterry

Introducing the new BPOTY Conservation Documentary Award