There is a bird photo and video contest for this year’s Borneo Bird Festival 2023, and this is open to anyone who has taken photos or videos of birds in Sabah, Malaysia, Borneo.

This year’s bird photography contest is also sponsored by Futuromic Photo AV Sdn Bhd and Nikon Malaysia, and a jaw-dropping total of over RM30,000 in prizes is waiting to be won for both categories.

Bird Photo and Video Contest 2023 at Borneo Bird Festival

The 13th Borneo Bird Festival 2023 takes place over the weekend from 21-22 October and is held at the Rainforest Discovery Centre or RDC in Sepilok, Sandakan. Two main activities occur annually – The Sabah Bird Race and the Bird Photography Contest.

This year, Futuromic Photo AV Sdn Bhd and Nikon Malaysia have come in as the main sponsors for prizes, and there are two main categories for the contest – photography and videography, which are open to all. There will be several bird photography activities, including:

1. Bird Photography and Videography Competition

Participants will have the opportunity to submit their best bird photos for a chance to win prizes. The competition will be divided into Artistic Category, Endemic Category, and Best Video Category.

During the bird festival at the RDC, there will also be several talks and guided walks. The information will be available at the event; therefore, these are the on-ground activities that take place during the Borneo Bird Festival. If you are a bird photographer or if you are interested in learning more about bird photography, this is a great event to attend.

2. Bird Photography Workshop

An experienced nature and bird photographer will lead this workshop and will teach participants the basics of bird photography, such as how to use your camera settings, how to compose your shots, and how to make your photo look good.

3. A Guided Bird and Wildlife-Watching Walk

This tour will take participants to some of the best bird photography spots in the rainforest. A guide will help you spot and photograph birds and wildlife that call the Rainforest Discovery Centre Sepilok home. It includes the unique and famous Rainforest Skywalk, a 620-metre-long and 25-metre-high metal platform and walkways through the forest.

Here are some additional tips for bird photography at the Borneo Bird Festival:

• Be patient. Getting a good shot of a bird can take time, so be patient and don’t give up.
• Use a fast shutter speed to freeze the action of birds in flight.
• Use a telephoto lens to get close to birds without disturbing them. A telephoto zoom 200-600mm or 180-600mm or similar zooms.
• Use a tripod or monopod to keep your camera steady. Keep in mind some lenses are heavier to carry around.
• Experiment with different settings and compositions to find what works best for you.

 

Bird Photo and Video Contest Prizes

The prizes are brought to you by Futuromic Photo AV Sdn Bhd and Nikon Malaysia, totalling over RM30,000 for both contests. This is also the largest prize pool from the Borneo Bird Festival to date.

Prizes for the Bird Photography Contest;

• 1st Prize: Nikon Z fc Mirrorless Camera (Silver ) c/w Nikkor Z DX kit 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR worth RM5,188.00
• 2nd Prize: Nikon Z 50 Mirrorless Camera (Black) c/w Nikkor Z DX kit 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR worth RM 4,378.00
• 3rd Prize: Nikon Z 30 Mirrorless Camera (Black) c/w Nikkor Z DX kit 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR worth RM 3,918.00
• Special Mention: Nikon Binocular Aculon A211 10- 22 X 50, worth RM 1,124.00
• 3 Consolation Prizes: Nikon Binocular Aculon A30 10 X 25 Black, each worth RM 413.00
• Special Mention SanDiskPortable SSD E30 (1TB) worth RM1,169.00
• 3 Consolation Prizes: SanDiskPortable SSD E30 (480GB) worth RM1598.00

Prizes for the Bird Video Contest;

• 1st Prize: Nikon Z fc Mirrorless Camera (Silver ) c/w Nikkor Z DX kit 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR worth RM5,188.00
• 2nd Prize: Nikon Z 50 Mirrorless Camera (Black) c/w Nikkor Z DX kit 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR worth RM 4,378.00
• 3rd Prize: Nikon Z 30 Mirrorless Camera (Black) c/w Nikkor Z DX kit 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR worth RM 3,918.00
• Special Mention: Nikon Binocular Aculon A211 10- 22 X 50, worth RM 1,124.00
• 3 Consolation Prizes: Nikon Binocular Aculon A30 10 X 25 Black, each worth RM 413.00
• Special Mention SanDiskPortable SSD E30 (1TB) worth RM1,169.00
• 3 Consolation Prizes: SanDiskPortable SSD E30 (480GB) worth RM1598.00

How to Join? 

Please download the official contest form above for both the photo and video contest and follow the instructions given.

1. Open Photo in a new tab
2. Download the image
3. Print it and fill up the form
4. Take a clear photo of your form or scan the form
5. Submit Back to the organisers

Conclusion

For those interested in participating in the bird photo and video contest at Borneo Bird Festival 2023, make sure you arrange flights and accommodations. The main Sepilok area will quickly get fully booked by September.  Check this article we did on where to stay in Sepilok if you are attending.

We at Birdwatching Asia look forward to seeing your photos and videos for this year’s bird festival, and if you are there, we would love to meet you in person. Happy birding!