The Hamilton Conservation Authority and the Urquhart Butterfly Garden invite you to participate in a Winter 2025-26 Photo Contest.

Winter has come early this year with a few scenic snowfalls in November. Though a quieter season for wildlife, winter in Canal Park and the Urquhart Butterfly Garden is still exciting. The Desjardins Canal fills with wintering waterfowl, songbirds forage under the shrubs, insects venture out on milder days, and signs of their summer activity can still be found. Against a backdrop of trees and shrubs the remains of flowering plants provide artistic interest in the snow. Extremes of winter weather – calm, sunny mornings and powerful winter storms – give each day new photographic opportunities.

Please find the contest rules and details below:

ENTRY CATEGORIES:
1 – Birds & Other Wildlife (including insects)
2 – Natural Winter Scenes (including close-ups)

ONE AGE CATEGORY: All Ages

AWARDS:
1st Prize – Annual Pass from Hamilton Conservation Authority
2nd Prize – Certificate
Honourable Mention – Certificate at the discretion of the judges

AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT:
Winners will be announced Friday, March 27th

Judging Criteria will include: Originality, composition, artistic merit, rarity of sighting, technical skill, and correct identification of species.

RULES:

• PHOTOS MUST BE TAKEN from the paths of either
  the Urquhart Butterfly Garden or paths of Canal Park
  (including the deck) from Monday, December 1, 2025
  and Saturday, February 28, 2026.
• Photos are to be submitted without any digital editing, beyond cropping, adjustments of exposure, sharpness, and minor colour correction. No identifying marks (watermarks) or names are to appear on the photos that could identify the photographer.
• Enter up to 3 photographs per category (maximum 6).
• One Google Form entry per person (Submit all photos in one entry; do not enter multiple form submissions).
• Photos should be in high resolution .jpg format, maximum size 10 MB each.
• Deadline: 11:59 p.m. Saturday, February 28, 2026 – NO late submissions will be accepted.
• The Urquhart Butterfly Garden and Hamilton Conservation Authority reserve the right to use the photographs, with credit, on their websites or local news media, including social media, to promote the
  respective properties. Images will remain the copyright of the photographer.
  
  HOW TO ENTER:
  A link to the Google Forms entry form will be posted here in the New Year. Please direct any questions about rules, entry, or species identification to: ubgwinter25@gmail.com
  
  IDENTIFICATION:
  
  As noted above, all wildlife photos must include a correct species identification. We are aware that sometimes this may prove difficult! Here are some helpful resources for species identification:
  
• Birds: There are several good Apps available, the best being Cornell’s’ Merlin App, or the Sibley App. Classic, hard copy field guides are also very helpful. You may find them at a public library (or your home library!): Peterson, Sibley, and National Geographic are all trusted names in field guides.
• Wildlife: iNaturalist.ca (or download the iNaturalist App) is an excellent place to upload photos for identification help. It can be used for plants, insects, birds, mammals and all other wildlife. Hard copy field guides with the Peterson or National Geographic name can also help here.
• Insects, spiders, and bugs: Bugguide.net is another excellent website for identification help of insects, spiders, and bugs.
  
  Reach out to the contest Email address: ubgwinter25@gmail.com if you are particularly stumped
  Thank You for entering and best of luck to all!!!