Thursday, November 27, 2014

North Atlantic Right Whale Migrations

NOAA Fisheries recently issued a reminder to mariners that North Atlantic right whales are migrating along the Atlantic coast.

North Atlantic right whale calving season begins in mid-November and lasts through mid-April. During this time, right whales are on the move.

NOAA Fisheries estimates that North Atlantic right whale populations are less than 450 individuals.

source: NOAA Fisheries

Friday, November 21, 2014

2014 Delaware Hunting Photo Contest

The Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife is encouraging photography enthusiasts to take a photo of a Delaware hunter in action, and enter it in the agency's 2014 Delaware Hunting Photo Contest. The winning photo will be featured on the cover or inside of the 2015-2016 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide to be published next year.

A judging panel comprised of DNREC staff will be looking for photos that best portray this year’s contest theme, “Hunters in Action.” Judges also will look at technical criteria including resolution, clarity and composition.

The contest is open to Delaware residents of all ages, with a maximum of three entries per person. To be eligible, photographs must have been taken in Delaware. Portrait orientation is preferred; landscape photos, if chosen among contest winners, may be cropped for presentation.

Photos must be 8 x 10 paper prints, with no frames or mats and no markings or signatures on the front or back. Normal processing of RAW image files, minimal cropping and minor adjustments to color and contrast are acceptable. HDR and focus stacking are permitted as long as manipulation is disclosed upon entry. Nothing should be added to the image or, aside from dust spots, taken away.

The entrant must hold all rights to the photograph and must not infringe on the rights of any other person. Images that involve unlawful harm to wildlife or damage to the environment should not be submitted and will not be accepted. Entries will not be returned.

Entries may be mailed to the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, Attention: Rachel Weissenfluh, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901. All entries must be postmarked or delivered by Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015, and must include a completed and signed entry form. A photo release form signed by a parent or guardian also is required if a minor is in the photo.

Information and forms are available on the Division’s website or www.facebook.com/delawarefishwildlife. Information also may be requested by calling Rachel Weissenfluh at 302-739-9911, or emailing rachel.weissenfluh@state.de.us.

source: DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife