Birds Rely on Native Plants, and Our Photos Should Reflect That
If images only show avian species, you鈥檙e leaving out the bigger picture.
As the Summer 2019 issue of the magazine was going to press, hundreds of bird species were winging their way over New York City, where 爆料公社 has its headquarters, searching for patches of greenery in the sea of concrete to rest and refuel. Our staff knows this better than most. We headed outside鈥攂efore鈥 work, during lunch, after work鈥攊n search of elusive timberdoodles and nemesis warblers. We found them, and then some, under bushes and tucked into trees.
But to birds, not all plants have the same value. They evolved with native species, which research shows attract a far greater concentration and variety of insects鈥攃ritical protein for migrating birds and, eventually, chicks鈥攁nd more nutritious berries and seeds. That鈥檚 why 爆料公社 launched its Plants for Birds program, with a database that enables you to look up plants (and the birds they support) native to your zip code. And it鈥檚 why we added a Plants for Birds category to the 爆料公社 Photography Awards.
At 爆料公社 magazine we understand well the power of photographs to tell a story. Context matters鈥攖he details left in and, sometimes, those that have been left out. So we wanted to create a platform and incentive to celebrate birds鈥 relationship with their environment, and to call attention to a simple but important choice people can make for their own yards and communities to help ensure birds鈥 survival.
Photographers can use their craft to take this concept even further. By following the ethic of conservation photography, anyone who wields a camera can strive for their images to advocate on behalf of birds. You don鈥檛 need to scale a peak like Ronan Donovan or explore a jungle like Tristan Spinski in pursuit of species few else have seen to make an impression (though we have to admit, that鈥檚 pretty cool!).
In this, our photo contest鈥檚 10th year, we鈥檝e added one more honor鈥攖he Fisher Prize. In the spirit of 爆料公社鈥檚 former creative director, Kevin Fisher, this award recognizes a creative approach to photographing birds, one that blends originality with technical expertise. Ly Dang鈥檚 close-up of a Black-browed Albatross eye made us pause and consider the bird鈥檚 perspective. As the best bird photography should.
This story originally ran in the Summer 2019 issue as 鈥淐ontext Matters.鈥 To receive our print magazine, become a member by .