Falcon photo competition winners announced

BEAUTIFUL BIRDS: The winning photo from the Rotorua Museum's Capture the Raptor competition was "Watching You" taken by Jill Wong.

After a summer of photographing the Rotorua Museum's three karearea the winning images of the Capture the Raptor photo competition have been announced.

More than 50 entries tracked the karearea (New Zealand falcons) as they grew from fluffy chicks in to soaring predators as part of the On the Wing project by the Rotorua Museum and Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre.

The judges selected four finalists in each of three categories - falcon portrait, falcon action and falcon/human interaction - and these were then opened to the public for voting.

The public chose the top photograph in each category following more than 860 votes.

The judges also selected their favourite three images and awarded a supreme award to the best overall photograph.

Wingspan director Debbie Stewart said she wanted to give a prize to all the entries as the whole project was so rewarding.

"However, we think the top six photographs chosen capture the beauty of the birds, great photographic skills and the uniqueness of this community project."

Supreme award winner and winner of the public vote for the Falcon Portrait category, was Jill Wong.

Rotorua Museum deputy director Pamela Lovis said the wining picture, Watching You, was an exceptional photograph which showed Hatupatu resting between flights.

The supreme award winner receives a lifetime membership to Wingspan, family passes to Wingspan and Rotorua Museum and a $100 voucher for the Museum Shop.

The falcon portrait public vote category was won by Jill Wong while Gary Jenkins won the judges choice award.

In the falcon action category Gary Jenkins won the public vote with David Gatley winning the judges choice award.

The falcon/human interaction category was won by Chris Parkin with the judges choice award going to Aroha Wade.

All category winners receive prizes from the museum and Wingspan. The six winning images will be on display at the Museum Cafe from Friday April 18 to July 22.

The three falcons are all still entertaining visitors around the Museum and Government Gardens area, but are taking trips further afield as their confidence grows.

The museum also has a special display, called On the Wing, about karearea, the urban release project and the work Wingspan does.