Whether in the air, in water or in a nest, photographers discovered an array of birds during the 16th annual Olympic Peninsula BirdFest.
For its second Photo Contest, birders went out across the Olympic Peninsula April 5-17 looking for the subtle and/or significant moments in a bird’s life.
“The contest was created to celebrate the diversity and beauty of birds on the Olympic Peninsula,” said Lori Moilanen, organizer for the contest.
This year, 25 photographers submitted 65 photos representing 34 bird species. Staff with the Dungeness River Audubon Center say entries doubled this year.
Professional bird photographer Tim Boyer (www.timboyerphotography.com) from Newcastle, Wash., judged the contest based on technical and artistic aspects including proper exposure and focus, composition, viewer impact, and uniqueness.
He selected Todd Katke’s “Bushtit Nest” for first place, Bruce Fryxell’s “Long-tailed duck” for second, and Suzanne Anaya’s “Pensive Moment” of a bald eagle for third.
Organizers selected five candidates for a “People’s Choice” award, and the winner was determined by the highest number of “likes” on the Dungeness River Audubon Center’s Facebook page.
Online voters chose Barbara Chan’s “Red-breasted sapsucker.”
The top three winners received $100, $50 and $25 towards activity credits at the 2020 Olympic Peninsula BirdFest.
Next year’s BirdFest is scheduled for April 17-19, 2020, with planning underway for the Third Annual BirdFest Photo Contest, Moilanen said.
Any photographer can participate and the contest is meant to be fun, she said. BirdFest registration is not required to participate, either.
BirdFest in an annual fundraising event for educational programs at the Dungeness River Audubon Center. While the Photo Contest doesn’t bring in money, other events such as field trips support the Audubon Center.
The Olympic Peninsula BirdFest is a partnership of the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society, Dungeness River Audubon Center and Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.
For more information, visit olympicbirdfest.org, call 360-681-4076 or email to info@olympicBirdFest.org.
Bruce Fryxell earned second for his “long-tailed duck” shot that he took on April 13 in Port Angeles. Photo courtesy of Olympic Peninsula BirdFest
Susanne Anaya won third place for “Pensive Moment,” a shot of a bald eagle on April 7 at Dungeness Landing. Photo courtesy of Olympic Peninsula BirdFest
After voting on the Dungeness River Audubon Center’s Facebook page, fans chose Barbara Chan’s “Red-breasted sapsucker” for the People’s Choice award with the most “likes.” Photo courtesy of Olympic Peninsula BirdFest
