Sometimes you just need to see the video. Take the winning clip in the 2024 蜜柚APP Photography Awards, which shows two Purple Gallinules aggressively fending off an intruder with their spindly yellow feet. Sure, a photo could have dutifully captured the moment, but that’s a scene you want to watch. And yet, as this year's runner-up video of American Avocets taking flight against an ocean sunrise reminds us, a peaceful scene can also enthrall us. While the videos included here didn’t take the top awards, they also impressed our judges and required just as much planning and care by the videographers. From a pair of cuddly condors to a super slow-mo Resplendent Quetzal, they capture some of our most charismatic species in a range of behaviors. Two clips even invite you to crank up the volume—and you’ll be glad you did. So sit back, enjoy the show, and be sure to read the story behind each scene. For folks already recording video, maybe these clips will inspire you...