Watch the birdie… SNH launches photography competition

Budding nature photographers in the Highlands and Islands are being invited to take part in a competition to celebrate Scottish Biodiversity Week which runs from 19-25 May.

The Scotland-wide photography competition for all ages and abilities is being held online on Scottish Natural Heritage's (SNH) website.

Its theme is 'Natural Inspiration' and entrants are invited to capture an image of nature on digital cameras and then email the photo.

First prize is an all-expenses paid day with top professional nature photographer Neil McIntyre. The second prize is a fabulous whale and dolphin watching trip from the Isle of Mull, kindly donated by Sea Life Surveys, and the third prize is a year's subscription to BBC Wildlife magazine.

Scottish Biodiversity Week organiser Zeshan Akhter said: "People use and take inspiration from nature in so many ways - to recharge their batteries, for art, literature, music, science and faith.

"We want biodiversity week and the nature photography competition to be an opportunity for people to express and share this inspiration. Let's hope people will dig out their cameras and visit the places where they feel connected to nature.

"This is the second year that the competition has been run and last year we received more than 400 entries and we are hoping for another great response this year."

Entrants should email their photos by 31 July as a jpeg attachment to bit@snh.gov.uk with 'photo contest' in the subject line. Entries must be original, have a title and include information about the Scottish location and the name and contact details of the photographer.

SNH will add entries to the website to create an online gallery of pictures which can be viewed at www.snh.org.uk/biodiversityweek.

The judging panel will be led by photographer Neil McIntyre. Winners will be notified by email by the end of August and the winning entries will be posted on the website. Winning images may be used on posters or postcards to promote biodiversity week next year.

Scottish Biodiversity Week is a week-long celebration of Scotland's wildlife, supported by Scottish Natural Heritage. Top events include street theatre in Perth, trips to see a puffin colony in Caithness, wildflower planting to create a wildlife haven in Glasgow, badger watching on Loch Ness side, an expert-led coastal walk in Fife to discover fossilised giant millipede tracks, hen harrier watching at Clyde Muirshiel Country Park and a Homes for Wildlife drop in session at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to discover practical steps that can be taken to attract wildlife to gardens and window boxes.

For details of competition rules and other details or further information on Scottish Biodiversity Week events go to www.snh.org.uk/biodiversityweek. The week is organised by the Scottish Biodiversity Forum, a partnership of organisations involved in promoting biodiversity, including SNH.

Scottish Biodiversity Forum is a partnership of all those interested in protecting and enhancing Scotland's biodiversity. It is open to anyone, from individuals to large public bodies, from non-government environmental organisations to business, from national government to local biodiversity action plan partnerships. For further information visit
www.biodiversityscotland.gov.uk

Scottish Natural Heritage is the Scottish Government's statutory advisor in respect to the conservation, enhancement, enjoyment, understanding and sustainable use of the natural heritage. For further information on SNH visit www.snh.org.uk