Snowy owls are special winter visitors to our state. These enormous birds may appear in high numbers when food is plentiful at their arctic nesting grounds and they raise lots of young. Learn more about Mass Audubon’s efforts to rescue and track their movements and enjoy these five remarkable images from past editions of our Photo Contest.

2013 Photo Contest Entry © Bill Wakeham

2014 Photo Contest Entry © Diane Robertson

2015 Photo Contest Entry © David Morris

2015 Photo Contest Entry © Gary McPhee

2014 Photo Contest Entry © Nathan Goshgarian

View the winners of the 2015 Picture This: Your Great Outdoors photo contest.

When the leaves have fallen and the landscape looks drab, winterberry holly provides a splash of color. Unlike the familiar American holly, this plant loses its leaves in the fall, which makes the berries stand out even more. Only the female plants make fruit, and they’re much-needed winter fuel for mammals and birds. Enjoy these festive winterberry holly photos from past editions of our Photo Contest.

2014 Photo Contest Entry © Andy Eckerson

2011 Photo Contest Entry © Michael Neufeld

2013 Photo Contest Entry © Elizabeth Page Purington

2015 Photo Contest Entry © Amber Murphy

2012 Photo Contest Entry © Liz Pichette

View the winners of the 2015 Picture This: Your Great Outdoors photo contest here.