Garden for Wildlife™ Photo Contest
The 2020 Garden for Wildlife™ Photo Contest showcased the impact that habitat gardens can have on wildlife and people alike. Take a look at the top overall submissions, individual category winners, and category runner-up winners from this year's contest. For even more inspiring photographs, don't miss this year's collection of honorable mentions.
GRAND-PRIZE WINNER
Tyler Moore
Omaha, Nebraska
Hoverfly on Spiderwort
"This photo was taken in my yard, which has been converted almost entirely to native plants in the last 5 years. As a result, I have enjoyed photographing and cataloging all the diverse life we are now supporting."
RUNNER-UP WINNER
Donna Ruiz
Cameron Park, California
Annas Hummingbird Drinking from a Fountain
"The Annas Hummingbirds in my backyard love to dive in and out of the solar water fountain in my backyard to get a drink, especially on hot summer days."
YOUNG HABITAT PHOTOGRAPHERS
Duncan Jurman
Weston, Florida
Giant Swallowtail 2
"I started a butterfly garden at my school in 2018 (NWF certified). This butterfly is one of 30+ species (including two imperiled) that we have attracted to the garden. The garden won Broward County's Emerald Award in 2019 for best practices in gardening. I am now the Youth Liaison for the Broward County Butterfly Chapter, aiming to foster a love of butterflies amongst schoolchildren."
WILDLIFE OBSERVED WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WORK, PLAY, LEARN AND WORSHIP
Noelle Burg
Santa Ynez, California
Bunnies and Quail at the Fountain
"The quail come first and then the bunnies join in for their evening hydration."
CERTIFIED WILDLIFE HABITAT LANDSCAPES
Teresa Considine
Riverton, Illinois
Certified Wildlife Habitat Sign with Monarch Butterflies
"This summer was the best we've had in our wildlife habitat! The native flowers we planted last year grew in even fuller and more vibrant than we'd hoped. I spent many hours watching the butterflies and birds fly delicately among the colorful blooms. I was delighted by how often I would see the same beautiful Monarch float in to visit the liatris near my Certified Wildlife Habitat. But soon, I realized I wasn't seeing the same butterfly over and over, he brought many friends with him!"
CLOSE-UP NATIVE PLANTS AND THEIR WILDLIFE VISITORS
Mark Paul
Starksboro, Vermont
Eastern Bluebird Eating Staghorn Sumac
"Staghorn sumac is a real bird magnet after a snow storm."
PEOPLE IN THE WILDLIFE GARDEN
Serapha Huber
Milford, New York
Daughter and Frog
"My daughter observing a frog."
Category Runners-Up
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Wildlife Observed Where People Live, Work, Play, Learn, and Worship
Sandra Becka, Chicago, Illinois
Painted Lady in the City
"I started an urban garden on the rooftop of my condo building this year. Once the native blanket flower bloomed, the wildlife really began to show up. I had many encounters with this butterfly species over the summer, however this is my favorite capture of her."
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Certified Wildlife Habitat Landscapes
Silvia Sigman, Santa Clarita, California
California Native Garden
"Over a year of planning, designing, prepping, landscaping, and planting the fall and winter rains have made my garden explode in size and color."
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Close-Up Native Plants and their Wildlife Visitors
Doris Dumrauf, Corapolis, Pennsylvania
Milkweed Bugs on Common Milkweed Seed Pod
"We have a collection of common milkweed plants in our backyard, a Certified Wildlife Habitat. When I spotted this gathering of milkweed bugs on one, I composed the image with the stunning backdrop of panicled asters.
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Young Habitat Photographers
Raphaelle Thomet, Newburg, Maryland
Reflection of a Sunflower
"In hopes of capturing some monarch butterfly images in our sunflower patch, I headed out with my camera and lens kit. After searching for a while, I was out of luck in that area but was in luck in another area. I discovered a sunflower with large dew drops clinging on to its petals and reflecting the sunflowers in the background. The plant was in the shade so I waited until the sun came out from behind the large cedar tree that was casting the shade before capturing some pictures."
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People in the Wildlife Garden
Samuel Richardson, San Jose, California
Joyful Woman in Flower Field
"My mom in a field of wild flowers."
