Photo Contest

As the sun sets behind the towering pines, its golden rays pierce through the winter landscape, casting a warm glow on the snow-covered forest floor. This tranquil moment captures the quiet beauty of Arizona’s wilderness, where light and shadow dance in perfect harmony.

Location: Mt. Lemmon

The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is a large, majestic bird found across North America, including Arizona, where it thrives in wetland habitats like the Salt River and Saguaro Lake. These herons migrate to Arizona, often nesting in tall trees near water, and feed on fish, amphibians, and other small creatures. The bird plays an important ecological role as a top predator in wetlands, helping regulate local aquatic ecosystems. While not endangered, they face habitat challenges, but conservation efforts in Arizona help maintain their populations.

Location: Scottsdale, Arizona

An illuminated purple flower stem sprouts out of the lower left corner of the frame. A hummingbird is hovering, attempting to take a sip of nectar from one of the flowers. The body of the humming bird is still but the wings are blurred. The background is dark while the rest of the items in frame are illuminated significantly brighter.

Location: Prescott, Arizona

The Rosy-faced Lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis), native to southwestern Africa, is a small, colorful parrot known for its peach-colored face and social nature. In the 1990s, these lovebirds began forming wild populations in Arizona, particularly around Phoenix, after escaping or being released from captivity. The birds have adapted well to Arizona's desert climate, nesting in palm trees and thriving in urban environments. While non-native, they have become a beloved part of Arizona's wildlife without causing significant ecological harm.

Location: Scottsdale, Arizona

This photo was taken at the garden of my school. The Anna’s Hummingbird landed on the branch of a tree while looking out into the distance. This photo also captures the sun shining on the teal highlights of its feathers.

Location: Ironwood Ridge High School

March is the best time for sun ripened citrus and who loves the sun more than a bearded dragon? This lizard enjoys each new harvest when she gets to bask in the sun in a bed of blood oranges

Location: My backyard

The early morning Tucson sun provides a brief moment in the spotlight for this beautiful columnar cactus.

Location: Banks of the Rillito River

An adult sandhill cranes spreads its wings as it prepares to land on the ground at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area. There were hundreds of other sandhill cranes landing and taking off nearby.

Location: Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area, McNeal, Arizona

A quaint and cozy mix of beautiful Arizona grasses and stunning Autumnal colors.

Location: Banks of the Rillito River

I was at home and noticed the pattern in the sky and took a picture thinking it represented a symbol of peace

Location: Tucson

An Urbane Digger Bee feeding on a lavender flower. Several bees were seen and photographed on this plant.

Location: Boyce Thompson Aboretum, Superior, Arizona

I was watching a thunderstorm with my friend at his house and would thought it’d be cool to take pictures and hopefully land on something cool and managed to get this

Location: Dewey