Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife (CCFW) announced the winners of the 2026 Burrowing Owl Photo Contest.
There were 100 submissions representing 13 states.
Burrowing Owl photo contest: What they are saying
“We were deeply inspired by the creativity, beauty, and appreciation for wildlife captured in each photograph. Every entry reflected a unique perspective and a shared passion for celebrating and protecting these extraordinary birds,” Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife said in a press release.
Burrowing Owl photo contest explained
It’s an annual competition showcasing the talent of amateur photographers. It also celebrates Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife’s ongoing commitment to wildlife conservation.
The Adult Division Grand Prize-winning photo will be featured on the official T-shirt for the 2027 Burrowing Owl Festival.
The Youth Division Grand Prize-winning photo will be on the official T-shirt for 2027 Ground Owl Day.
This year’s contest was sponsored by Ascendium Education Group
Burrowing Owl photo contest winners
The awards were presented at a ceremony on May 30 at Rotary Park in Cape Coral. Beverly Saltonstall, one of CCFW’s founding members and author of “Cape Coral’s Burrowing Owls Don’t Hoot”, was on hand to congratulate the winners. Awards were presented in two categories: Youth (ages 7–17) and Adult (18 and up) Adult Category Winners:
Kristin Kozlow was the first-place winner in the Adult Division for the 2026 Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife Burrowing Owl photo contest.
1st Place: Kristen Kozlow (Naples, FL)
2nd Place: Stewart Ting Chong (Norwell, MA)
3rd Place: Richard Fortune (Sanibel Island, FL)
3rd Place: Meg Durshimer (Wimauma, FL)
Honorable Mentions:
Mark Gerlovin (Centerville, MA)
James Strohmayer (Palm Beach Shores, MA)
Sara Lopez (Sanibel Island, FL)
Youth Category Winners:
Kristina Grace Scavedra took first-place in the Youth Division for the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife 2026 Burrowing Owls photo contest.
1st Place: Kristina Grace Scavedra (Cape Coral, FL)
2nd Place: Joshua Michael Pilon (Littleton, MA)
3rd Place: Victoria Pfeffer (Cape Coral, FL)
Honorable Mentions:
Declan Hahne (Cape Coral, FL)
August Lambert (Cape Coral, FL)
Lillian Lovejoy (Cape Coral, FL)
Cape Coral Burrowing Owl photo contest: Did you know?
According to Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife, 43% of this year’s entries came from outside the City of Cape Coral, reflecting the wide appeal of these remarkable birds and the growing interest in photographing Cape Corals threatened burrowing owls. People continue to travel from near and far to experience and capture the beauty of a species that has become such an important part of the community’s identity and conservation efforts.
Stewart Ting Chong took second-place Adult Division in this year’s Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife Burrowing Owls photo contest.
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife: What to know
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing Cape Coral’s unique wildlife and natural habitats through education, advocacy, and community engagement.
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Is Cape Coral, Florida a good place to see burrowing owls?