This category is designed to encourage our youngest generation to pursue photography and wildlife conservation. This age group will celebrate a winner, highly commended and three finalists. Images can be landscape or portrait orientated.

Crikey! Kids – 10 Years and Under Winning Image:

Winner: Erik Tucey

‘Black-chinned Hummingbird Sips Nectar’

I was by the Flathead River, just outside Glacier National Park, Montana when I saw this beautiful adult male Black-chinned Hummingbird sipping nectar from flowers. Due to their lightning fast movements, darting and flying up to 35 miles per hour (56 kilometres per hour), I needed to use a shutter speed of 1/8000 of a second to get his wings sharp.

Image location: West Glacier, Montana, USA
Camera: Canon 7D Mark II with Canon 100-400mm II

Highly Commended: Hamish Burton

‘Icon of K’gari’

At sunrise, my family and I were exploring the Maheno Shipwreck on K’gari when a dingo appeared metres away. Dingoes are one of Australia’s most iconic native animals, deeply connected to our landscapes and Indigenous culture. Seeing one in the wild on K’gari was a truly unforgettable Australian moment and privilege.

Image location: K’gari, Queensland, Australia
Camera: Canon 700d with 18-55mm canon kit lens

Finalist: Erik Tucey

‘Hummingbird Hawkmoth Sips Nectar from Coyote Mint’

I was at the summit of Mt Umunhum when I saw this beautiful Hummingbird Hawkmoth hovering over a Coyote Mint flower. It’s easy to see where this moth gets its name, with its hummingbird-like features and hovering flight. I was amazed by his extremely long proboscis and used a fast shutter speed to capture him in flight.

Image location: Mt. Umunhum, California, USA
Camera: Canon 7D Mark II with Canon 100-400mm II

Finalist: Henry To

‘Eye Spy’

This curious barking owl keeps a watchful eye on its surroundings. By tracking the slightest movements, it can easily spot its next meal, such as small rodents. Barking owls are most active during the early mornings and late afternoons and unlike many other owl species, are not nocturnal!

Image location: Buderim, Queensland, Australia
Camera: Canon EOS 60D EF70-300mm lens

Finalist: Nethul Ariyaratne

‘Fairy of the Bottlebrush’

We were having lunch when this superb fairy-wren appeared in a bottlebrush tree, hunting his own lunch (bugs)! I quickly swapped my food for my camera. He jumped around super fast, but I waited very still to take this photo. I think his bright blue feathers and the red flowers look so cool together.

Image location: Dandenong Ranges Botanical Garden, Victoria, Australia
Camera: Canon PowerShot SX430 IS