FeatherFest Photo Contest
Grand Prize Winner Announced
It’s an exciting time for birders on Galveston Island!
Our migratory friends from Central and South America are beating wings across the Gulf of Mexico for a stop on the island while area birders just participated in the annual FeatherFest Birding & Nature Photography Festival that happened April 18-21.
The birding festivalwas preceded by a Photo Contest, where serious and casual photographers show off their best shots and compete for the Grand Prize. The Grand Prize winner was just announced. For more contest details, click here
The 2024 winning photos plus more are below, if you are looking for some inspiration.
If you are heading to the island for some of the action, check out our Birding Guide for information on What You Might Find, Where To Look, and When To Come.
2024 Winners
Migrating Baltimore Oriole
This Baltimore Oriole photo was taken by Anthony Louviere in Galveston County. It won the Grand Prize and 1st Place in the 2024 Week 4 contest.
Mockingbird on a Fence Post
This Northern Mockingbird photo was taken by Julie Chapa in Galveston County. It won 2nd Place in the 2024 Week 4 contest.
Marbled Godwit Photobomb
This Marbled Godwit photo was taken by Emily Neale in Galveston County. It won 3rd Place in the 2024 Week 4 contest.
Spring Time Bay Breasted
This Bay Breasted Warbler photo was taken by Anthony Louviere in Galveston County. It won Honorable Mention in the 2024 Week 4 contest.
Sunset Songs
This Red-winged Blackbird photo was taken by Mike Pantaleo in Chambers County. It won Honorable Mention in the 2024 Week 4 contest.
Rising Ruby
This Ruby-throated Hummingbird photo was taken by Dan Lotan in Harris County. It won Honorable Mention in the 2024 Week 4 contest.
Rough Water
This Pied-billed Grebe photo was taken by Steve Schuenke in Harris County. It won 1st Place in the 2024 Week 3 contest.
Mmmm Crab Cakes!
This Yellow-crowned Night-Heron photo was taken by Karl Hoeffner in Harris County. It won 2nd Place in the 2024 Week 3 contest.
Party Time!
This Scissor-tailed Flycatcher photo was taken by Karl Hoeffner in Brazoria County. It won 3rd Place in the 2024 Week 3 contest.
Can You See Me Now
This Short-eared Owl photo was taken by Jim Stough in Brazoria County. It won Honorable Mention in the 2024 Week 3 contest.
In the Surf
This American Golden Plover photo was taken by Greg Lavaty in Galveston County. It won Honorable Mention in the 2024 Week 3 contest.
Feeding Time
This Forster’s Tern photo was taken by Karl Hoeffner in Brazoria County. It won 1st Place in the 2024 Week 2 contest.
Migrating Yellow Warbler
This Yellow Warbler photo was taken by Anthony Louviere in Brazoria County. It won 2nd Place in the 2024 Week 2 contest.
Cape May Warbler
This Cape May Warbler photo was taken by Mike Zarella in Brazoria County. It won 3rd Place in the 2024 Week 2 contest.
Harrier Hunting
This Northern Harrier photo was taken by Roy Freese in Galveston County. It won Honorable Mention in the 2024 Week 2 contest.
Look Behind You
This Ruby-throated Hummingbird photo was taken by Dan Lotan in Chambers County. It won 1st Place in the 2024 Week 1 contest.
Cooper’s Hawk Staring at Me
This Cooper’s Hawk photo was taken by Joseph Smith in Harris County. It won 2nd Place in the 2024 Week 1 contest.
Watching Patiently
This Great Horned Owl photo was taken by Karl Hoeffner in Brzoria County. It won 3rd Place in the 2024 Week 1 contest.
Great Horned Owl on Nest
This Great Horned Owl photo was taken by Andrew McCullough in Fort Bend County. It won Honorable Mention in the 2024 Week 1 contest.
2023 Winners
Green Heron Fishing
This Green Heron photo was taken by Andrew McCullough in Fort Bend County. It won Grand Prize and 1st Place in the 2023 Week 4 contest.
Mockingbird Gathering Nesting Material
This Northern Mockingbird photo was taken by Stan Bravenec in Brazoria County. It won 2nd Place in the 2023 Week 4 contest.
Escape Hatch
This Brown Pelican photo was taken by Jeffery Schaberg in Harris County. It won 3rd Place in the 2023 Week 4 contest.
Kingfisher with Breakfast
This Belted Kingfisher photo was taken by Ray Bednar in Galveston County. It won Honorable Mention in the 2023 Week 4 contest.
Breakfast of Champions
This Cooper’s Hawk photo was taken by Julie Chapa in Brazoria County. It won 1st Place in the 2023 Week 3 contest.
Morning Lookout
This Burrowing Owl photo was taken by Scott Meyer in Chambers County. It won 2nd Place in the 2023 Week 3 contest.
Coneflower Snack
This Ruby-throated Hummingbird photo was taken by Dan Lotan in Harris County. It won 3rd Place in the 2023 Week 3 contest.
Cedar Waxwing Profile
This Cedar Waxwing photo was taken by Steve Schuenke in Harris County. It won Honorable Mention in the 2023 Week 3 contest.
Don’t Bee Late for Dinner
This Summer Tanager photo was taken by Kevin McDonald in Galveston County. It won 1st Place in the 2023 Week 2 contest.
Young Black-necked Stilt
This Black-necked Stilt photo was taken by Andrew McCullough in Fort Bend County. It won 2nd Place in the 2023 Week 2 contest.
Neotropic Portrait
This Neotropic Cormorant photo was taken by Scott Meyer in Galveston County. It won 3rd Place in the 2023 Week 2 contest.
Hunting Least Bittern
This Least Bittern photo was taken by Andrew McCullough at Brazos Bend State Park. It won 1st Place in the 2023 Week 1 contest.
Catch of the Day
This Reddish Egret photo was taken by Mike Williams in Montgomery County. It won 2nd Place in the 2023 Week 1 contest.
Lola
This Great Egret photo was taken by Deborah Repasz in Chambers County. It won 3rd Place in the 2023 Week 1 contest.
Crested Caracara in the Rain
This Crested Caracara photo was taken by Ed Ferrin in Galveston County. It won Honorable Mention in the 2023 Week 1 contest.
2022 Winners
Finding Balance
This Willet photo was taken by Julie Chapa in Galveston. It won Grand Prize and 1st Place in the 2022 Week 4 contest.
A Little Peak
This Chuck-will’s-widow photo was taken by Scott Meyer at High Island. It won 2nd Place in the 2022 Week 4 contest.
Fresh Catch
This Great Egret photo was taken by Dan Lotan in Cypress. It won 3rd Place in the 2022 Week 4 contest.
Picking Up Some Breakfast
This Snowy Egret photo was taken by Karl Hoeffner at Exploration Green in Clear Lake. It won Honorable Mention in the 2022 Week 4 contest.
Coneflower Dip
This Ruby-throated Hummingbird photo was taken by Dan Lotan in Cypress, Texas. It won 1st Place in the 2022 Week 3 contest.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
This Ruby-throated Hummingbird photo was taken by Joseph V. Smith at Kleb Woods Nature Center, Tomball, TX. It won 2nd Place in the 2022 Week 3 contest.
Still Life in Camo
This Great Horned Owl photo was taken by Lea Safley at Brazos Bend State Park. It won 3rd Place in the 2022 Week 3 contest.
Soaring
This Bald Eagle photo was taken by Debbie Stuck in Webster, TX. It won Honorable Mention in the 2022 Week 3 contest.
Experience Life
Eco-Art Kayak Adventure
Emerging from the Nest
This Brown-headed Nuthatch photo was taken by Scott Meyer in Kingwood, Texas. It won 1st Place in the 2022 Week 2 contest.
Blue Grosbeak
This Blue Grosbeak photo was taken by Karl Hoeffner in Crosby, Texas. It won 2nd Place in the 2022 Week 2 contest.
Roseate Spoonbill in Flight
This Roseate Spoonbill photo was taken by Stephen Mayeux at Smith Oaks. It won 3rd Place in the 2022 Week 2 contest.
Hungry Humming Bird
This Rufous Hummingbird photo was taken by Janet Chung in Tomball, Texas. It won Honorable Mention in the 2022 Week 2 contest.
Three Amigos
This Great Horned Owl photo was taken by John Phillips in Jefferson County. It won 1st Place in the 2022 Week 1 contest.
Open Wide
This Prothonotary Warbler photo was taken by Stephen Mayeux in Sabine Woods. It won 2nd Place in the 2022 Week 1 contest.
Morning Glory
This Ruby-throated Hummingbird photo was taken by Dan Lotan in Cypress, Texas. It won 3rd Place in the 2022 Week 1 contest.
Bluebird Out On A Limb
This Eastern Bluebird photo was taken by Karl Hoeffner at Exploration Green in Clear Lake. It won 3rd Place in the 2022 Week 1 contest.
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2021 Winners
In Flight Snack
This Ruby-throated Hummingbird was taken by Dan Lotan in Cypress, TX. It won the Grand Prize and 1st Place in the 2021 Week 1 contest.
Speed Walking
This Lesser Scaup waw taken by Gary Seloff at Armand Bayou. It won 1st Place in the 2021 Week 4 contest.
Enduring the Great Freeze of ‘21
These Cedar Waxwings were taken by Mark Doing at Copperfield, Harris County. It won 2nd Place in the 2021 Week 4 contest.
Getting Some Sun
This Prothonotary Warbler was taken by Janaki Wallooppillai at Cullinan Park Conservancy. It won 3rd Place in the 2021 Week 4 contest.
Touch of Yellow
This Yellow Warbler was taken by Anthony Louviere at Galveston. It won Honorable Mention in the 2021 Week 4 contest.
Green Arrow
This Green Heron was taken by Gary Seloff at Galveston. It won 1st Place in the 2021 Week 3 contest.
Hummer Hover
This Ruby-throated Hummingbird was taken by David Rassin at Lake Madeline, Galveston. It won 2nd Place in the 2021 Week 3 contest.
Spring Time Arrival
This Yellow Warbler was taken by Anthony Louviere at Galveston. It won 3rd Place in the 2021 Week 3 contest.
Chomp
This Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was taken by Dan Lotan at Galveston. It won Honorable Mention in the 2021 Week 3 contest.
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Vermilion Brilliance
This Vermilion Flycatcher was taken by Mike Zarella at the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge. It won 1st Place in the 2021 Week 2 contest.
Go Fish
This Green Heron was taken by Dan Lotan at Brazos Bend State Park. It won 2nd Place in the 2021 Week 2 contest.
Roseate Spoonbill
This Roseate Spoonbill was taken by Stan Bravenec at Smith Oaks Rookery. It won 3rd Place in the 2021 Week 2 contest.
Selfie
This Tricolored Heron was taken by Gary Seloff at Horsepen Bayou. It won Honorable Mention in the 2021 Week 2 contest.
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In Flight Snack
This Ruby-throated Hummingbird was taken by Dan Lotan in Cypress, TX. It won the Grand Prize and 1st Place in the 2021 Week 1 contest.
Catbird in Retama
This Gray Catbird was taken by Anthony Louviere in Galveston, TX. It won 2nd Place in the 2021 Week 1 contest.
Construction Delivery
This White-faced Ibis was taken by Brian Fesko at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. It won 3rd Place in the 2021 Week 1 contest.
Statuesque Great Egret
This Great Egret was taken by Mark Doing at High Island Smith Oaks Rookery. It won Honorable Mention in the 2021 Week 1 contest.
2020 Winners
Sitting Pretty
This Orchard Oriole photo was taken by Anthony Louviere on Galveston Island.
Partial Coverage
This Long-billed Curlew photo was taken by Gary Seloff on Bolivar Flats.
Lafitte’s Petite
This Indigo Bunting photo was taken by Barry Hatch at Lafitte’s Cove.
Pelican Portrait
This Brown Pelican photo was taken by Scott Meyer at the Mosquito Fleet Docks in Galveston. It won first place, week three.
Singing Catbird
This Gray Catbird photo was taken by Anthony Louviere in Galveston. It won second place, week three.
Holding Tight
This Red-winged Blackbird photo was taken by Rose Pool at the Anahuac Wildlife Refuge. It won third place, week three.
First Date
This Foster’s Tern photo was taken by Deborah Repasz at the Texas City Dike. It won Honorable Mention, week three.
I Spy with My Little Eye
This Reddish Egret (White Morph) photo was taken by Carlos Guzman at the East End Lagoon Nature Preserve. It won first place, week two.
Lunch is Delivered
This Mississippi Kite photo was taken by Lynne Hughes in Sante Fe, Texas. It won second place, week two.
We'll Get You Hooked Up!
Experience Life
We are Family
This Cattle Egret photo was taken by Deborah Repasz at Resoft Park in Alvin, Texas. It won third place, week two.
Flyby
This Blue-winged Teal photo was taken by Gary Seloff at Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge. It won honorable mention, week two.
Looking Sharp
This little Green Heron photo was taken by Lynne Hughes on Galveston Island. It won first place, week one.
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Feather Duster
This Great Egret photo was taken by Gary Seloff at Horsepen Bayou in Harris County. It won second place, week one.
Taking a Drink
This Red-tailed Hawk photo was taken by Sandra Kroeger at the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge. It won third place, week one.
Magnolia Raindrop
This Magnolia Warbler photo was taken by Barry Hatch at the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. It won honorable mention, week one.
I hope those photos helped brighten your day. If you are heading to the island for some of the action, check out our Birding Guide for information on What You Might Find, Where To Look, and When To Come.