Backyard Wildlife Photo Contest

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.

Share your backyard wildlife photo with WDFW. 

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

Week 1 (March 29-April 3)

Winning photo

Barred owl perched in a tree
Barred owl near Bridgeport Tyler Hicks

 

Second place

Cooper's hawk perched in tree
Cooper's hawk in backyard maple tree Paul Thomson

 

Third place

Hummingbird in flight
Hummingbird buzzing around backyard on Lake Morton Courtney Laws

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. David Hutson

Second place

Bald eagle flying
Larry James - Screaming eagle in Lacey Larry James

 Third place

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

Week 3 (April 11-17)

Winning photo

Hummingbird in flight
Rufous hummingbird in Yelm by Bob Haney Bob Haney

Second place

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

Third place

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

Week 4 (April 18-24)

Winning photo

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

Second place

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

Third place

Loon swimming
Common Loon in Tokeland Bay, Dale Richard Dale Richard

Week 5 (April 25-May 1)

Winning photo

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

Second place

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

Third place

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

Week 6 (May 2-8)

Winning photo

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

Second place

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

Third place

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

Week 7 (May 9 - 15)

Winning photo

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

Second place

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

Third place

Mother hummingbird sits on her nest
Mother hummingbird on her nest in Auburn. Bobbi Cantellay

Week 8 (May 16 - 22)

Winning photo

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

Second place

Raccoon standing up
Backyard raccoon in Port Townsend. Kim Simonelli

Third place

Harbor porpoise at sunset in Discovery Bay
Harbor porpoise in Discovery Bay. Tyler Meeks

Week 9 (May 23-29)

Winning photo

Honey bee in flight
Honey bees in Grant County. Paula Zanter-Stout

Second place

Raccoon caught eating bread on a porch
Raccoon caught in the act in Tacoma. Allison D'Ambrosio

Third place

Pygmy owl perched
Pygmy owl in Colville. Bertha Kamstra

Week 10 (May 30 - June 4)

Winning photo

Bald eagle perched on a tree
Bald eagle in Yelm Robert Haney

Second place

Squirrel
Marysville squirrel Breanna Buick

Third place

Anna's hummingbird visits flower
Anna's hummingbird in Bainbridge Island John Knox

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 Renee King

Second place

Barred owl perched in a tree
Barred owl in Yelm. Tricia Buti

Third place

Doe with two fawns
Doe with two fawns in Lacey. Larry James

Week 12 (June 12-18)

Winning photo

Hummingbird at feeder with flag in background
Hummingbird in Yelm Tricia Buti

Second place

Squirrel eating
Silly squirrel in Moses Lake Cindy Jordan

Third place

Spike bull elk
Spike bull in Yelm Robert Haney