International bird photography exhibition opening at the South Carolina State Museum

Seventy award-winning photographs from an international competition showcase birds from around the world. 

The South Carolina State Museum will take flight this spring with the opening of the new exhibition, “Bird Photographer of the Year,” on Saturday, March 7. The exhibition features 70 award-winning images captured by amateur and professional photographers from around the globe.  Guests are invited to explore the beauty and natural wonder of birds through these stunning images and to learn more about birds found in our own state.

“Bird Photographer of the Year” is an international competition and acclaimed traveling exhibition. In 2025, the competition received more than 25,000 submissions from photographers in 115 countries, across 12 categories for both adults and youth. The images showcase birds in a wide range of habitats, revealing breathtaking moments set against striking and sometimes unexpected backdrops.

Canadian photographer Liron Gertsman was named Grand Prize Winner for his atmospheric image taken in Mexico, while 16-year-old Tomasz Michalski of Poland earned the title of Young Bird Photographer of the Year for his striking silhouette of a black vulture.

“The images capture the agility and power of these amazing animals, while sometimes revealing the fragility of the habitats that support them,” said Dr. W. Scott Persons, State Museum Natural History Curator. “Not only are the birds beautiful and the imagery stunning, but often the photographer has captured a sense of each bird’s personality. These are rarely seen and intimate moments in nature.”

In addition to the amazing photographs on exhibition, the museum also invites guests to learn more about birds closer to home in, “South Carolina Wings of Wonder.” Drawing from the museum’s extensive natural history collection, this display will highlight the rich diversity of birdlife found across the Palmetto State. It features specimens and objects that represent several bird species found in South Carolina, including raptors, shorebirds, and songbirds.

Guests are also encouraged to save the date for Flock Fest at the State Museum on Saturday, March 21, 2026. This day-long event will feature hands-on activities, gallery tours, birding opportunities for up to 30 museum members, and programs presented in partnership with organizations from across the state.  This will be a great chance to learn about and participate in the museum’s statewide birding challenge with opportunities to go birding with partners across South Carolina.

Exhibition entrance is included with museum general admission: $13 for adults, $11 for seniors, and $10 for kids aged 3-12. Infants 2 and under are free. The museum is open Tues. – Sat. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sun. from Noon – 5 p.m. For more information, visit scmuseum.org.

About the South Carolina State Museum

Since opening in 1988, the South Carolina State Museum has been committed to collecting, preserving and showcasing the rich culture, art, natural history, technology and innovation of the Palmetto State. Through a comprehensive collection of over 1.1 million objects and four floors of stimulating exhibitions and displays housed within the historic Columbia Mills Building, the State Museum provides educational environments that entertain, inspire and enrich the lives of millions of visitors and students from across South Carolina.