Small world winner: California Poppy

BIRDS WINNER: Common Buzzard

Photographer: Zsolt Kudich

Location: Kiskunság National Park, Hungary

Narrative:

In the United States the name "buzzard" refers to vultures, but in Europe the name refers to hawks in the Buteo genus. Ranging throughout Europe and extending into Asia and Africa, the Common Buzzard typically breeds in woodland habitats near open countryside, where its loud, clear call can be heard. These robust, medium-sized birds of prey measure about 1.8 feet in length with 4-foot wingspans. Buzzards have a habit of jumping up and down in open fields, making a noise that sounds like rain to lure worms to the surface to be eaten. It is not unusual for groups of buzzards to perform this "dance" at the same location-up to 40 birds have been seen in a single field.

"The new year brought significant snowfall to the Hungarian plain. Common Buzzards lurk over snow-clad fields where food is rather scarce and hardly visible. They cannot afford to lose even a little nibble, especially not to another buzzard. This photograph depicts the birds' instincts for survival and also for power."

SMALL WORLD WINNER: California Poppy

Photographer: Robert knight

Location: Sinkyone Wilderness, California, USA

Narrative:

Sixty miles of wild shoreline comprise the "Lost Coast" in northern California. This rugged countryside forced engineers to route the highway many miles inland, which has left the region sparsely settled and unspoiled. Its grand vistas and varied terrain-dense forests, prairies, coastal bluffs, and beaches-reward the hardy explorer. One of the spectacles found there are vast fields of California poppies. This species is said to be a "drought escaper" because it lies dormant as seed for what might be years. When a good rain comes, seeds rapidly take root, suddenly washing the land in a golden hue.

"I chose to backpack along the Lost Coast because the remote location is known for its dramatic beauty. On this day, I was hiking along the ocean through rolling hills of wildflowers when a brief sun shower passed overhead. As the gentle rain fell, I moved inland and noticed the petals of the flowers had remained open from the warm spring sun and droplets had begun to form. I positioned the tripod and camera close to the ground and, searching through the macro lens, composed the photograph to include this pair of spring poppies, accentuating the compelling reflections of flower fields in dewdrops between them."