Backyard Wildlife Photo Contest 2023

Join us in celebrating backyard wildlife this spring and summer by sharing your best photos of animals, habitats, or landscapes from your property or neighborhood.

For 10 weeks during Spring 2023, we hosted a weekly photo contest on social media. See below for the top three photos from each week.

If you missed the submission period and have backyard wildlife photos, we'd love to see them! Share your backyard wildlife photo with WDFW.

Week 1 (March 29-April 3)

Winning photo

Barred owl perched in a tree — Barred owl near Bridgeport

Second place

Cooper's hawk perched in tree — Cooper's hawk in backyard maple tree

Third place

Hummingbird in flight — Hummingbird buzzing around backyard on Lake Morton

Week 2 (April 4-10)

Winning photo

California quail sits on sagebrush with snow — David Hutson - California quail on sagebrush during heavy snow on April 1 in Grant County.

Second place

Bald eagle flying — Larry James - Screaming eagle in Lacey

Third place

Hummingbird perched on a twig — Jason Burnett - Hummingbird on budding Azalea in Gold Bar.

Week 3 (April 11-17)

Winning photo

Hummingbird in flight — Rufous hummingbird in Yelm by Bob Haney

Second place

Raccoon hanging out in tree cavity — Raccoon in tree cavity in Olympia by Mary Birchem

Third place

Wood duck couple — Wood duck pair in Kent by Dale Richard

Week 4 (April 18-24)

Winning photo

Anna's hummingbird at feeder — Anna's Hummingbird in Lake Stevens, Dave Durkee

Second place

Orange-crowned warbler on branch — Orange-crowned warbler in North Bend, Melissa Grant

Third place

Loon swimming — Common Loon in Tokeland Bay, Dale Richard

Week 5 (April 25-May 1)

Winning photo

Bald eagle soaring through the sky — Soaring bald eagle near Sequim, Dave Durkee

Second place

Male wood duck in a tree — Male wood duck in Yelm, Bob Haney

Third place

Napping bobcat in a field — Relaxed bobcat near Sequim, Nelson Morgan

Week 6 (May 2-8)

Winning photo

Raccoon in a tree — Raccoon in a tree in Kitsap County. Photo by Lacey Gibson.

Second place

An American goldfinch in dogwood — American goldfinch in dogwood tree in Shelton. Photo by Lisa Bruney.

Third place

Camouflage great horned owl — Camouflaged great horned owl in Lynden. Photo by Daniel Holleman.

Week 7 (May 9 - 15)

Winning photo

Ring-necked duck on water — Ring-necked duck in Auburn. Dale Richard

Second place

Pacific tree frog — Pacific tree frog in Port Townsend. Kim Simonelli

Third place

Mother hummingbird sits on her nest — Mother hummingbird on her nest in Auburn.

Week 8 (May 16 - 22)

Winning photo

Hummingbird getting a refreshing drink of sugar water. — Hummingbird at feeder in Yakima County.

Second place

Raccoon standing up — Backyard raccoon in Port Townsend.

Third place

Harbor porpoise at sunset in Discovery Bay — Harbor porpoise in Discovery Bay.

Week 9 (May 23-29)

Winning photo

Honey bee in flight — Honey bees in Grant County.

Second place

Raccoon caught eating bread on a porch — Raccoon caught in the act in Tacoma.

Third place

Pygmy owl perched — Pygmy owl in Colville.

Week 10 (May 30 - June 4)

Winning photo

Bald eagle perched on a tree — Bald eagle in Yelm

Second place

Squirrel — Marysville squirrel

Third place

Anna's hummingbird visits flower — Anna's hummingbird in Bainbridge Island

Week 11 (June 5-11)

Winning photo

Three turtles on a log enjoying the sun. — Turtles enjoying the sun in Pend Oreille County. Renee King

Second place

Barred owl perched in a tree — Barred owl in Yelm.

Third place

Doe with two fawns — Doe with two fawns in Lacey.

Week 12 (June 12-18)

Winning photo

Hummingbird at feeder with flag in background — Hummingbird in Yelm

Second place

Squirrel eating — Silly squirrel in Moses Lake

Third place

Spike bull elk — Spike bull in Yelm