Who says you need to trek deep into the wilderness to witness the magic of nature? The Nature’s Best Photography Awards just proved that some of the most breathtaking wildlife moments can happen right in your backyard. With the theme “Backyard,” this year’s competition celebrated the incredible diversity, beauty, and wonder that exist mere steps from our homes — in gardens, parks, and quiet corners of suburban streets.
From fox pups bathed in golden light to hawks diving through the sunset, these 30 award-winning photos remind us that nature’s charm isn’t just in remote landscapes — it’s in the everyday scenes we often overlook. The Pro Winner, Donna Feledichuk from Canada, captured an enchanting shot titled “Red Fox Pups.” As sunlight streamed through the trees, the moment glowed with a warm, dreamy bokeh, revealing pure serenity near a fox den.
In the Amateur category, Isabel Guerra Clark from the USA stunned viewers with “Crested Caracara,” photographed on a dusty back road in the Sonoran Desert. Her lens caught a family of these striking birds feeding their young atop a cactus — a raw, intimate scene straight from nature’s playbook.
Meanwhile, the Youth Winner, Parham Pourahmad, delivered a jaw-dropping image of a Red-shouldered Hawk in flight. After patiently observing the bird’s sunset routine, he nailed the shot — wings spread, light glowing, and every feather crisp.
These photos prove you don’t need to travel far to find wonder — sometimes, it’s right outside your window. The world’s beauty unfolds daily; all it takes is curiosity, patience, and a camera to see it.
You can find more info NBP:
#1. Winner – Pro: "Red Fox Pups" by Donna Feledichuk, Canada
"When the sun reached the perfect position above the horizon, a golden light filtered through the trees, creating a soft bokeh effect near a fox den."
#2. Winner – Amateur: "Crested Caracara" by Isabel Guerra Clark, USA
"On a back road in the Sonoran Desert, a caracara family was nesting in a saguaro. We watched the parents land on the cactus and jump into the nest to feed their brood."
#3. Winner – Youth: "Red-shouldered Hawk" by Parham Pourahmad, USA
"This hawk loved to hunt for crickets from small bushes, so I found where it liked to perch at sunset, and waited. Clicking away, I captured this photo of the hawk in flight."
Highly Honored
#4. "Chaffinch in Cherry Tree" by Andy Rouse, UK
#5. "Globe Mallow Bees" by Bruce D. Taubert, USA
#6. "Honey Buzzards" by Veronica Chai, Singapore
#7. "American Tree Sparrow" by Paul Grecian, USA
#8. "Bluebirds" by Don Wuori, USA
#9. "Carolina Chickadee" by Pat Comas, USA
#10. "Eastern Screech Owl" by Robert Gloeckner, USA
#11. "Palm Squirrel" by Avanka Fernando, Sri Lanka
#12. "Groundhog with Nesting Material" by Barb D’Arpino of Wasaga Beach, Canada
#13. "White-Legged Damselfly" by Tim Crabb of Exeter, UK
#14. "Madagascar Cactus" by Greg Tucker, USA
#15. "Red Fox Family" by Glen Strickey, Canada
#16. "Damselflies" by Salahuddin Ahmed, Bangladesh
#17. "Burrowing Owls" by Shane Keena of Redlands, USA
#18. "Brown Pelican" by Frank Abbott, USA
#19. "Male Northern Cardinal Feeding Female" by Barb D’Arpino, Canada
#20. "Bleeding Heart" by Sandy Selesky, USA
#21. "Cooper’s Hawk" by Samir Kamat, USA
#22. "Rufous Hummingbirds" by Janice E. Katz, USA
#23. "Aurora Borealis over Pineview Reservoir" by Brian Clopp, USA
#24. "Raccoon" by Dave Shaffer, USA
#25. "Snowy Egret" by Bruce D. Taubert, USA
#26. "Magnolia Plantation and Gardens" by Greg Tucker, USA
#27. "Male Baltimore Oriole with Fledglings" by Barb D’Arpino, Canada
#28. "Canadian Goose in Rain" by Jeff Grabert of Fleetwood, USA
#29. "Snow Geese" by Jeff Grabert, USA
#30. "Snowy Egrets & Brown Pelicans at Sunset" by Frank Abbott, USA
