First place

Lee Ann Nolan, Graduate student, Dept. Geography

Brown Pelican Standing on the Sand, Bonita Springs, FL

 

The brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is standing on sand within a canal that was exposed during low tide. Brown pelicans are usually found along the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts. Their famous pouch serves as a dipping net and can hold up to 3 gallons of water and fish. Within a normal day, a pelican can eat 4 pounds of fish. Brown pelican populations dipped dramatically in the 1960’s and 1970’s due to the consumption of fish containing DDT and other pesticides. The populations have since recovered. Brown pelicans continue to be a beach crowd pleaser due to their acrobatic dives into the water to catch fish.

 

The beach at Bonita Springs lies across a canal from a series of islands that form Lover’s Key State Recreational Area. These islands guard the productive estuary of Hickory Bay.

 

Second Place

Heather Calaman, Undergraduate student, BMB

Snow on Spring Creek

 

The first snow of the year in State College blanketed the steam banks and tree boughs along the infamous trout stream, Spring Creek. This picture is taken upstream from the Houserville Road bridge. Few fish are found in this section of the stream, evidence of the 1956 Penn State University dumping of sodium cyanide and the 1976 Ruetgers-Nease Chemical plant kepone and mirex spills. Will the fish return?

 

Third place

Greg Haberstick, Undergraduate student, Arts and Architecture

Regenerating the Natural Shoreline

 

            My subject matter within this submission of an environmental photo spans several contexts. I am considered to be a well-rounded photographer with an incorporation of all genres of imagery. The work that I have submitted focuses upon three important situations and ideas found within our Eastern shoreline. I intended to present my perspective of current environmental improvement, the relationship of environment and human contact, and the enjoyment of our natural settings. Therefore, my vision of the New Jersey area surfs and sands are subtly displayed with during the winter of 2001-2002.

            This photograph was taken mid-December 2001 by myself at Spring Lake, NJ. This is a town along the central coast of New Jersey. The morning of this photo, the area had witnessed enormous rainfall until the storm continued northward up the coastline. A sudden clearing opened the area to an immensely blue lit sky.

            This central shoreline of New Jersey has rebounded with beauty since a decade ago in which the area was over used. The waters of the Jersey shore were once green and brown with an uninviting pollution. However, many organizations have strived to clean and preserve our coastline and have displayed a great improvement.

            Due to the efforts of Environmental protection programs and organizations, the New Jersey oceanfront is once again an incredible region to visit. Many wildlife have restored their roots and homes along this region. As well as many human inhabitants that help protect the area. My family has it’s roots set along the Central New Jersey Shoreline and is proud of the human ability to restore this prized region.

 

Honorable mention: Jody Gibson, Waterfall, Ricketts Glen State Park

Honorable mention: Aaron Jansen, Lava

 

Any comments about the photo contest can be sent to azerkle@geosc.psu.edu