On November 4th, Saturday morning, in the Giants' Hall of the Budapest Zoo, a festive event took place, where the awards for Birdo's Bird Photographer of the Year 2023 competition were presented to this year's winners. The awards included certificates, the "Veled" award, prizes (with a total value of nearly 2 million Hungarian Forints), and the Birdo trophy for the grand prize winners.

Over 120 guests, including press representatives, awarded photographers and their guests, professional and financial supporters, organizations offering special prizes, Birdo organizers, and their staff were present. The event began with welcoming speeches. Zoltán Hanga, the spokesperson for the Budapest Zoo, mentioned, among other things, that human interest in birds often relies on cooperation. He highlighted an example of the honeyguide bird, which, as an excellent aerial scout, instinctively finds honey but cannot access it without human collaboration. On a practical note, he advised attendees never to go into the field without a camera.

Dr. Endre Sós, one of Birdo's jury members and the director of conservation and animal health at the Budapest Zoo, immediately illustrated the importance of cooperation with a practical example. While birdwatching, he encountered a rare pygmy owl in Hungary, which, rather unusually, preyed on a peacefully observing long-eared hedgehog.

Dr. Sós also shared with the audience that, in accordance with the judging regulations, even the jury members do not know the final standings of the competition, as everyone only knows the scores they assigned to the photos.

Dr. László Zanaty, Birdo's main sponsor and the managing director of Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft., explained that their group conducts environmental, pharmaceutical, and food industry laboratory tests to ensure life is as safe as possible for us. They consider the Birdo competition important because life, respect for birds, and the wonder of flight are all captured in the photos.

On behalf of the three organizers, S. Takács Zsuzsanna greeted the attendees, representing her colleagues, Awad Abdel Halim Doris and Czeglédi Andor. She thanked the staff, the jury, the supporters, and the participants for contributing to the Birdo competition. She also mentioned that, like the previous year's traveling exhibition, an exhibition featuring the awarded photos would tour the country in 2024.

Zsolt Geréb, the manager of Tripont Photographic Technical Store, shared his experience on how creating an excellent bird photo requires complex work and substantial bird knowledge. Often, a well-thought-out hide needs to be constructed, while adhering to the ethical principles of bird photography.

During the presentation of special awards, Balázs Rigó, Deputy Mayor of Tata, invited the Birdo Bird Photographer of the Year award ceremony to Tata in 2025. Tata will be in a unique and honorable position as a Ramsar city organizing the 25th-anniversary celebration of the international treaty.

After the awards and main prizes were presented (viewable here), nature photographer Árpád Krivánszky opened the exhibition with a clever introduction, noting that the opening is not delivered by a bird photographer since they are all out in the field. He tipped his hat to birdwatchers as he considers their work a particularly challenging genre. The exhibition, which can be viewed until January 15, 2024, at the Star Square, was then officially opened.

The event concluded with a group photo, featuring the highlighted photo of this article.

Here is a small selection of photos to evoke the atmosphere of the event. Photographer: Dániel Dömölky.

Birdo Award

Designers: Mátyás Galavits , Tamás Lajos 

Birdo Awards and albums

Dr. Endre Sós, one of the jury members of Birdo, Director of Conservation and Veterinary Services at Budapest Zoo, chief veterinarian

Dr. László Zanathy, managing director of Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft., presenting the Birdo album featuring award-winning photos and photographers

Balázs Rigó, Deputy Mayor of Tata, with the background photo that received a special prize

Zsolt Geréb, Tripont Foto Video Ltd.

Dr. Endre Sós presenting the special award of Budapest Zoo to László Szomju

S. Zsuzsanna Takács, one of the founders and owners of Birdo, Tamás Koncz-Bisztricz, winner of the 2023 Birdo Young Bird Photographer of the Year award, Doris Awad Abdel Halim, one of the founders and owners of Birdo

 S. Zsuzsanna Takács, one of the founders and owners of Birdo, Csaba Daróczi, winner of the 2023 Birdo Bird Photographer of the Year award, Imre Fatér, sponsor of the main prize, Doris Awad Abdel Halim, one of the founders and owners of Birdo

Exhibition of the Birdo Bird Photographer of the Year 2023 featuring award-winning and special prize-winning photos

 Andor Czeglédi, one of the founders and owners of Birdo, giving a welcome speech at the reception after the event

2023. november 5.