JEFFERSON CITY, MO, FEB. 5, 2018 – The images of the 50 finalists in the second annual Missouri River Bird Observatory photo contest will be unveiled at the Arrow Rock State Historic Site Visitor Center on Friday, Feb. 9. The photographs will be unveiled for the first time at a reception to honor the photographers and contest sponsors from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
The reception will also provide the opportunity for guests to meet the observatory staff and learn more about the education and conservation projects the organization spearheads from its headquarters in Arrow Rock. The exhibit opening is free to the public and refreshments will be served.
The contest, which carried the theme "Hope is the Thing with Feathers," based on the poem by Emily Dickinson, attracted 38 amateur Missouri photographers who submitted 103 photos. The photographs all depict native Missouri birds and were submitted with a description of the photo’s conservation relevance. The photos were judged by a panel of professional photographers, artists and conservationists. The contest was sponsored by Wood & Huston Bank of Marshall and prizes range from $100 to $1,000.
The photographs will be on display at the visitor center from Feb. 9 through the end of March. The photos will then be sold during the Audubon Society of Missouri‘s spring meeting scheduled in early May in Arrow Rock. Proceeds from the sale will benefit both the observatory education program and the Audubon Society of Missouri’s conservation mission.
Arrow Rock State Historic Site is located 39521 Visitor Center Drive in Arrow Rock. For more information about the event, call the Arrow Rock State Historic Site at 660-837-3330. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
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