Calling all backyard photographers — it’s time to show the world your talent.
The annual B.C. SPCA Wildlife-In-Focus photography contest is now open and photos submitted by Aug. 15 will be considered for an upcoming book by Vancouver author Nicholas Read.
City Critters: Living Wild in the Urban Jungle, from Orca Book Publishers, will be a full-colour children’s book about the urban wildlife who call North America home.
All other photos for the contest can be submitted until Sept. 30.
Last year’s Wildlife-In-Focus contest entries are also being considered for publication in City Critters. Prizes will be awarded for the top three photos in each of two categories: Wild Settings and Backyard Habitats.
The contest is open to all adult (age 14 years and up) backyard and amateur photographers residing in B.C.
“We were thrilled to have the publisher review our contest photos last year, but to have another opportunity to include even more pictures from B.C.’s backyard and amateur photographers, is exciting,” says Sara Dubois, manager of wildlife services for the B.C. SPCA.
Read co-authored The Salmon Bears: Giants of the Great Bear Rainforest and The Sea Wolves: Living Wild in the Great Bear Rainforest with Ian McAllister, both from Orca Book Publishers.
“We’re very happy that Nicholas has asked to review this year’s early photo contest entries again,” says Dubois. “It’s a testament to the calibre of photos that are entered.”
The 2011 Wildlife-In-Focus photography contest is a fundraiser for Wild ARC, the BC SPCA’s wildlife rehabilitation facility on Vancouver Island.
The annual Wildlife-In-Focus contest encourages participants to explore green spaces, roadsides, beaches and even backyards to find striking images that represent the resiliency of local wildlife living at the interface with humans. Wildlife includes free-living birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish and insects, but not exotic, feral or domestic animals, or wildlife in zoos or rehabilitation facilities.
As the only wildlife rehabilitation center on southern Vancouver Island, the B.C. SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC) treats more than 1,800 wild animals each year. Your gift can help give an orphaned or injured animal a second chance.
Contest rules
All photos must be entered in one of two categories. The same photo cannot be entered in both categories. Judges reserve the right to switch images into the appropriate category.
Wild Settings
Local wild animals found in their natural habitats around B.C.
Habitats
Wildlife in this category can include but is not limited to the ingenious behaviours of urban wild animals using man-made structures or habitats (birds at feeders, perching on buildings) in B. C.
The contest deadline is Sept. 30.
Learn more about this year’s contest and see more winners from the 2010 contest at spca.bc.ca/wildlife-in-focus.