Submission deadline Jan. 31
WASHINGTON, DC -- The National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) has announced its 2nd annual digital photo contest showcasing America’s national wildlife refuges. Entries for the 2007 Refuge Photo Contest can be submitted until Jan. 31, with results to be announced March 14 at the 104th anniversary of the establishment of the first National Wildlife Refuge.

Kansas has four national wildlife refuges: Flint Hills, Coffey County; Kirwin, Phillips County; Marais des Cygnes, Linn County; and Quivira, Stafford County.
The National Wildlife Refuge System, comprised of more than 540 refuges throughout the nation, protects both rare and common types of habitat -- everything from southwest desert to arctic tundra. Images submitted for the photo contest can be of birds, mammals, insects, fish, other animals, plants, people, or refuge scenery.

This year's judges will be Maria Cecil, editor of Wildlife Refuge magazine; Jim Clark, nature photographer, writer, motivational speaker, and instructor; and Karen Hollingsworth, professional nature photographer. Top prizes include a pair of Steiner Merlin 8x24 binoculars, a Swarovski Extremadura backpack, and a MagMount TrekPod.

In addition, the winners’ images will be highlighted on the NWRA website and future NWRA publications. As many as 200 images will also be selected for inclusion in the NWRA Refuge Image Library, and every photographer submitting an entry will receive a complimentary one-year membership in the National Wildlife Refuge Association.

“Images are critical to telling the refuge system story,” says Evan Hirsche, president of NWRA. “We know that there are terrific amateur photographers capturing images throughout the system. This is an opportunity for those photographers to show their work to a broader audience and to help capture the essence of our remarkable wildlife refuges.”

For photo contest details, requirements, and procedures, go online to www.refugenet.org, and click on “ 2007 Refuge Photo Contest.” More information may also be obtained by contacting Claire Stoker at cstoker@refugenet.org or 202-333-9075.
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