Outdoor briefs

Wild Ohio writer wins national award COLUMBUS – An article from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife's Wild Ohio magazine won a national communications award from the Association for Conservation Information. "A Year in the Life of a Wetland" was awarded first place in the category for general interest magazine article. Written by Wildlife Communication Specialist Kelly Schott, the winning article appeared in the 2022 Issue 4 edition of Wild Ohio magazine, which highlighted the H2Ohio program and the importance of wetlands in conservation. The article celebrated the changing flora and fauna of wetlands through the four seasons as well as the associated wildlife diversity. "Kelly has been an incredible and valuable asset to ODNR and the Division of Wildlife," ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. "She has a great talent for capturing the importance of wildlife and conservation. We're so proud that her work has been recognized on a national level." Schott has served as the wildlife communication specialist at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area in Oak Harbor since 2016. Go to wildohio.gov to read a copy of the article. A year-long subscription to Wild Ohio is $5 and offers six full-color, 36-page editions. Subscribe online at wildohio.gov or at any store that sells Ohio hunting or fishing licenses, or call 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) to request a mail-in form. The Association for Conservation Information is a nonprofit organization of natural resources communicators that offers opportunities for state, federal and Canadian wildlife resource agencies to share best practices and ideas. ODNR announces winners of wildlife photo contest COLUMBUS – A photo of a majestic great blue heron gliding low over the water took the top spot in this year's Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife photo contest. More than 1,500 photos from across the state were submitted. Winners from six categories were also chosen. The best in show photograph was captured in Adams County and featured a picturesque moment as a great blue heron flew with wings spread wide just above the surface of the water while its striking reflection stood out below. The photo was captured by David Bowie of Adams County. The winners of each category and the best in show were voted on by a panel of Division of Wildlife employees. The seven winning photographs were displayed at the Natural Resources Park at the Ohio State Fairgrounds. In the Wildlife Watching category, Kelley Hughes, of Washington County, snapped a photo of an adorable moment when a red fox kit peered out of its den, raising its glossy brown eyes. The winning photograph in Pursuit of the Harvest, taken by Brian O'Neil, of Clermont County, captured a misty shoreline with a waterfowl hunter and dog silhouetted on a boat. A photo of a female trumpeter swan spreading her wings over her cygnets amidst a lush green wetland took the top spot in Birds and Birding. The photo was taken by Tony Everhardt, of Wood County. Kyle Iwanicki, of Toledo, encapsulated the Art of Fishing with his photo of an angler loaded with gear wading through shallow water just off the shore. Rebecca Davis, of Ottawa County, won the Wildlife in Habitat category with her picture of an excellently camouflaged short-eared owl gazing into the camera lens from its perch on a hillside of yellow grass. The Wildlife…Gone Wild winning photo was captured by Tony Everhardt for his second win. The photo depicts a red-tailed hawk tilting its head and looking into the camera with its mouth agape.