Wildlife Promise » Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org The National Wildlife Federation's blog Wed, 22 May 2013 21:17:56 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Photo of the Day: Quizzical Scarlet Tanager http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/photo-of-the-day-quizzical-scarlet-tanager/ http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/photo-of-the-day-quizzical-scarlet-tanager/#comments Wed, 22 May 2013 20:11:12 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=80672 Read more >]]> Scarlet Tanager Just A Few Feet Away From The Boardwalk

Photo by Mark Preston

See more of Mark Preston’s photos on Flickr >>

Your Photo Could Be Here

We want one of your nature photos to be the next Photo of the Day! Share your images with our Flickr group and tag them with PhotoOfTheDay-NWF12.

Don’t have a Flickr account? It’s free and easy to create one.
 

]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/photo-of-the-day-quizzical-scarlet-tanager/feed/ 1 Photo of the Day: Tree Swallow Scuffle http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/photo-of-the-day-tree-swallow-scuffle/ http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/photo-of-the-day-tree-swallow-scuffle/#comments Mon, 20 May 2013 19:22:49 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=80611 Read more >]]> Tree swallows fighting over a perch. Photo by Bob Feldman. 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest.

Tree swallows fighting over a perch. Photo by Bob Feldman. 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest.

This Photo of the Day was donated by a participant in the annual National Wildlife Photo Contest. See more photos or sign up for the 43rd Annual National Wildlife Photo Contest.
]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/photo-of-the-day-tree-swallow-scuffle/feed/ 1 Photo of the Day: Flight of the Green Heron http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/photo-of-the-day-flight-of-the-green-heron/ http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/photo-of-the-day-flight-of-the-green-heron/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 20:42:41 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=80569 Read more >]]> Green Heron Flight

Juvenile green heron flying

Photo by Flickr member Wildlifeshoots

Do you love nature photos? Check out the amazing entries or sign up for the 43rd Annual National Wildlife Photo Contest.
]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/photo-of-the-day-flight-of-the-green-heron/feed/ 0 Photo of the Day: Nuttall’s Woodpeckers http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/photo-of-the-day-nuttalls-woodpeckers/ http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/photo-of-the-day-nuttalls-woodpeckers/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 19:37:49 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=80531 Read more >]]> Nuttall's Woodpecker 3, Picoides nuttallii, male and female bringing food back to the nesting cavity. Los Osos, CA

Nuttall’s woodpeckers feeding their fledgling in Los Osos, California

Photo by Donald Quintana

Gardening For Wildlife

Create habitat for woodpeckers and other wildlife species in your yard or garden by providing food, water, cover, and places to raise young. Learn how to make your home a Certified Wildlife Habitat™!

]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/photo-of-the-day-nuttalls-woodpeckers/feed/ 3 Photo of the Day: Unimpressed Waterbuck http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/photo-of-the-day-unimpressed-waterbuck/ http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/photo-of-the-day-unimpressed-waterbuck/#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 14:59:35 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=80499 Read more >]]> Waterbuck in Lake Nakuru, Kenya.

A waterbuck wading in Lake Nakuru in Kenya. Leslie Scopes Anderson writes about her photo, “This elegant animal must have wanted me to go away!” 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest entry.

This Photo of the Day was donated by a participant in the annual National Wildlife Photo Contest. See more photos or sign up for the 43rd Annual National Wildlife Photo Contest.
]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/photo-of-the-day-unimpressed-waterbuck/feed/ 1 7 Photos That Capture A Mother’s Love http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/7-photos-that-capture-a-mothers-love/ http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/7-photos-that-capture-a-mothers-love/#comments Fri, 10 May 2013 20:06:24 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=80457 Read more >]]> Here at National Wildlife magazine, there is no more sure fire way to get a big response from our readers than to publish a photo that captures the bond between mother and baby. It doesn’t matter if it’s polar bears or ducks or apes—these photos touch us because they remind us that the love between a mother and baby is universal.

So, in honor of Mother’s Day this Sunday, I’m sharing some amazing photos that were past entries in the Baby Animals category of our National Wildlife Photo Contest.

Browse through our gallery of “aww”dorable baby animal entries from last year below.

The Baby Animals category is always one of our most popular, and this year is no exception. You can see this year’s exciting and touching crop of Baby Animal photos right now at the 43rd annual National Wildlife Photo Contest. You can vote for and share your favorites or even enter your own photos.

If you love taking pictures of the wild things and wild life all around us, I encourage you to enter a few photos of your own! Enter by May 15th and you’ll get to add 5 extra photos at no additional cost.

Brown bear cub gets its mother in a muzzle-lock. Photo by Michael Pollack. 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest entry, Baby Animals category.

Brown bear cub gets its mother in a muzzle-lock. Photo by Michael Pollack. 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest entry.

Cheetah mother and cub

An affectionate moment between a mother cheetah and her cub. Photo by Lisa Hoffner. First Place winner, Baby Animals, 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest.

Hippo mother and calf

Hippo mother and calf in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia. Photo by Thomas Mattas. 2011 National Wildlife Photo Contest entry.

Sandhill crane chick

Sandhill crane chick peeking out of its parent’s feathers. Photo by Scott Helfrich. Second Place winner, Baby Animals, 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest.

Polar bear mother and cubs

A polar bear cub cuddles against its mother in Wapusk National Park, Canada. Photo by Christine Haines. 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest.

Yellow-bellied marmot mother and baby.

A baby yellow-bellied marmot snuggles against its mom in Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo by Fi Rust. 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest entry.

Humpback whale mother and calf

A humpback whale helps her calf to the surface to breathe. Photo by Mazdak Radjainia. 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest entry.

All photos were entries in the Baby Animals category of the National Wildlife Photo Contest. See more photos or sign up for the 43rd Annual National Wildlife Photo Contest >>
]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/7-photos-that-capture-a-mothers-love/feed/ 1 Photo of the Day: Beak Wide Open http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/photo-of-the-day-beak-wide-open/ http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/photo-of-the-day-beak-wide-open/#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 20:29:03 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=80192 Read more >]]> Beak wide open

Common tern chick ready and waiting for food

Photo by Lisa Franceski

Check out more nature and wildlife photos, vote for your favorites and enter your own images in the 43rd Annual National Wildlife Photo Contest.
]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/photo-of-the-day-beak-wide-open/feed/ 0 Wildlife Through a Lens: Focus on Birds http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/wildlife-through-a-lens-focus-on-birds/ http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/wildlife-through-a-lens-focus-on-birds/#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 14:44:08 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=78650 Read more >]]> Spring is a prime season for bird photography, and we want you to feel inspired to grab your camera and snap some photos! We asked Christine Haines, one of our Flickr group members and a long-time National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant, about her experience photographing these sometimes challenging critters. She shared some of her own striking images and advice:

California Quail

California quail. Photo by Christine Haines.

Flock of Robins Plus Waxwing

Flock of American robins and a cedar waxwing. Photo by Christine Haines.

 

Be patient and take lots of photos.

“Patience and persistence are good qualities to have as a wildlife photographer.” In the 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest, Christine’s polar bear photo won an Honorable Mention, “proving that persistence pays off.”

 

Calliope Hummingbird

Calliope hummingbird. Photo by Christine Haines.

Feeding Time

Pygmy nuthatch. Photo by Christine Haines.

 

You don’t have to go far to find photo opportunities.

“Most of my bird images were taken in my backyard. Installing a bird bath with a water dripper will attract the greatest variety of birds.”

 

Runner up in The Nature Conservancy's Photo Contest

Pygmy nuthatches on a water dripper. Photo by Christine Haines.

Mt Chickadee

Mountain chickadee. Photo by Christine Haines.

 

Find your inspiration, and hone your skills with reading and practice.

Christine worked for the City of Spokane, Washington for 20 years as a traffic engineering specialist, and it was bird watching that sparked her interest in photography. “I saw the beautiful images in my bird magazines and wanted to take them, too.” She developed her skills through reading and joining a photography club.

 

House Finch

House finch. Photo by Christine Haines.

Hummer in Plum Tree

Calliope hummingbird in tree. Photo by Christine Haines.

See more of Christine’s photos on Flickr >>

Want More Nature Photography Ideas?


Visit our Nature Photography Tips Center or check out the entries in this year’s National Wildlife Photo Contest! Vote for your favorite photos and consider entering your own for a chance to win the Grand Prize — a trip for two to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada where you can see and photograph polar bears.

]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/wildlife-through-a-lens-focus-on-birds/feed/ 3 Photo of the Day: Snoozing Sea Lions http://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/photo-of-the-day-snoozing-sea-lions/ http://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/photo-of-the-day-snoozing-sea-lions/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:54:37 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=79701 Read more >]]> Sea lion and pup sleeping on rocks of Galapagos Islands. Photo by Robert Miller.

Sea lion and pup sleeping on rocks of Galapagos Islands. Photo by Robert Miller.

This Photo of the Day was donated by a participant in the annual National Wildlife Photo Contest. See more photos or sign up for the 43rd Annual National Wildlife Photo Contest.
]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/photo-of-the-day-snoozing-sea-lions/feed/ 3 Photo of the Day: Eastern Meadowlark http://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/photo-of-the-day-eastern-meadowlark/ http://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/photo-of-the-day-eastern-meadowlark/#comments Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:34:07 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=79270 Read more >]]> Eastern Meadowlark

Photo by Wildlifeshoots

See more of Wildlifeshoots’ photos on Flickr >>

Check out more nature photos, vote for your favorites, and submit your own images in the 43rd Annual National Wildlife Photo Contest.
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