I am a judge for the 2023 Nature Canada Photo Contest. Entries are now open for this Free Contest!

I am honoured to be chosen as a judge for the 2023 Nature Canada Awards. You can read about the full panel of judges HERE. You can read how to enter HERE and learn more about the prize to be won (a 5 day trip!), and the various entry categories. 

The contest runs from May 23, 2023 to Aug 13, 2023.  This contest is completely FREE to enter and the entry is very easy. You can use the form at the link above to submit, or enter via social media or email! It is open to all Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents.

A full list of RULES can be found HERE

Thank you to Nature Canada for asking me to be part of this awesome contest. This photography contest is only open to ethical photographers, practicing ethical photography.

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Dowitcher Identification

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Hawk Identification Tips from every angle (Sharpie vs Cooper and Red-tailed Subspecies)

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I get several questions about the difference between accipiters. The most common ones are between Sharp-shinned Hawks and Cooper's Hawks and between Cooper's Hawks vs Northern Goshawks (to a lesser degree). Next, I get many questions dealing with a certain race of buteos the Western Red-tailed Hawk and Harlan's. So I thought I would do a post on these to help answer those questions. I will deal with Cooper's and Sharpies and not Goshawks because they are much more common here and look much more alike. My friend John Reynolds inspired me to write this up. COOPER'S AND SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS EYE COLOUR - YELLOW OR ORANGE? RED? Normally a juvenile Cooper's hawk has a bright yellow eye and a Juvie Sharpie has a orange eye but some cooper's can have a dull yellow eye that looks a bit orangish. Cooper's Hawks usually only transition to the orange eye colour when they are sub adults, so in good light, it's a very very reliable feature. However you
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*Updated - The most famous Red-tailed Hawk is eating fish on the ground just like a Bald Eagle!

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My First Mother's Day Without My Mother

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