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explore the 2026 green & Seen contest photo gallery

Deer in Winter - Winner: Category - Hidden in Plain Sight

by Johannah DeVries

This photo was taken at Ojibway in Winter, the tree branches made it perfect to frame the deer.

The Vernal Shift - Winner: Category - Landscapes of Home

A photo captured on a rainy, cold day, at the Devonwood Conservation Area in Windsor, Ontario. This picture was captured during the transition from Winter to Spring and the melted upper layer of water highlighted the soil, creating a unique and very alien look when contrasted with the snow and ice below.

Great Blue Heron enjoying a snack : Winner - Category : Wings of Windsor-Essex

by Emily Knapp

I sat and watched this heron stalk his prey for nearly an hour at Ojibway Park. The patience paid off when he finally lunged and caught his dinner… though it still took him another 10 minutes to swallow the big guy

Reborn in Shadow

by Sebastien Gaspar-Woods

A beautiful shot of a fern captured during a walk through Black Oak Heritage Park.

Walking through Black Oak Heritage Park feels like stepping into another world far from that of city life. There are numerous winding paths that showcase varied and stunning environments, and there's a calm quiet in almost every area within it.

The fern surrounded in shadow captures the feeling of walking through the forest during a quiet, peaceful day.

Wing-ter view of the Ambassador Bridge

by Stefano Nicola

A fusion of winged friends and familiar landscapes in the Windsor Essex area.

Category: Wings of Windsor-Essex

Point Pelee marsh

by Haley Brennan

The marsh at point pelee

Beauty colours

by Fred Adair

This image is of a rare to see bird called the Summer Tanager. This bird migrates through Windsor/Essex County during the May migration. Photographers are very lucky when they see one of these as they are not that common. Luckily this one landed in front of me for a short period of time to afford me the opportunity to photograph it. I will probably not have this opportunity with this species like this again.

Category: Wings of Windsor-Essex

Macro in Micro

by Siddhi Jatania

Macro in Micro has been photographed in Ojibway Prairie Complex, Windsor, ON. Being able to see and feel the entire cosmos in a tiny insect was beyond my comprehension; completely mesmerized it was a gentle yet vital reminder of a small insect providing mighty ecological services for the health of an entire ecosystem.

Category: Hidden in Plain Sight

Earthly Constellation

by Siddhi Jatania

Earthly Constellation has been photographed in Ojibway Prairie Complex, Windsor, ON. Every summer as the fireflies emerge from the ground they spark moments of curiosity and wonder; a form of awakening, an invitation to know and learn about the interconnectedness of humans and more than human kins based on reciprocity, respect and kincentricity. Witnessing nature up-close empowers the land steward in me, understanding my role and relation within a balanced healthy ecosystem.

Category : Landscapes of Home

What is my name?

by Fred Adair

This image is of a beautiful Northern Parula which is a very colourful and photogenic bird. They are very fast and have a funny singing voice in. comparison to the other warbler type birds. This Northern Paula is here in the Windsor/Essex are for a short period of time during migration. Photographers love this species of bird due to its colours and unique look. Also sometimes hard to photography because they move around rather quickly.

Category: Wings of Windsor-Essex

Ojibway National Urban Park

by Lupita Amaya G.

Walking one afternoon light filled Ojibway Park with peace and quiet, birds sang softly while ducks glided across the still water where the trees and blue sky shimmered in gentle and amazing reflections.

Category : Landscapes of Home

Sunset across the river

by Adele Steinberg

View from Windsor across the Detoit River

Category : Landscapes of Home

Barn Swallow

by Jeff Hagan

This photo was taken by the Marsh Boardwalk in Point Pelee National Park in 2017. As I was climbing the lookout tower, this barn swallow posed for a photo near me, so I obliged.

Category : Wings of Windsor-Essex

Majestic Bald Eagle

by Lupita Amaya G.

Luckily so close to take this awesome photo, eagles are so elegant and regal.

This is a proud eagle who was gliding through the open sky with strength & grace.

Its powerful wings and sharp gaze reflecting the true spirit of freedom.

Category: Wings of Windsor-Essex

Glow in the Grass

by Karen Rockwell

Walking in our backyard grass, I spotted this where I was about to step!

Category: Hidden in Plain Sight

Baby cardinal

by Haley Brennan

A baby cardinal perching at ojibway

Category : Wings of Windsor-Essex

Baby Barn Swallows

by Jeff Hagan

This photo was taken near the tip of Point Pelee in 2018. The little barn swallow family was hungry and made sure that everyone around them knew about it.

Category : Wings of Windsor-Essex

Spring Snow?

by Karen Rockwell

April in Southwestern Ontario brings blooms and pollinators to our backyard!

Category : Hidden in Plain Sight

Red-Tailed Hawk

by Johanna DeVries

I found this red-tailed hawk outside my house during the winter. It was feasting on a squirrel. I ended up having to follow it away from my yard so my dog could safely go outside.

Category: Wings of Windsor-Essex

Sunset on the Detroit River

by Kimberly Hurst

Spectacular Sunset on the Detroit River from Alexander Park.

Category: Landscapes of Home

Tufted Titmouse Posing

by Emily Knapp

This little Tufted Titmouse followed me around my walk at Ojibway Park, stopping to pose every chance he got. Safe to say he’s a natural in front of the camera

Category: Wings of Windsor-Essex

Sunrise Over River Canard

by Kimberly Hurst

Sunrise on a foggy morning over River Canard from River Canard Bridge.

Morning Reflection, Oh Deer.

by Mark Whelan

Early Spring morning at Ojibway Shores. I walk by this pond often hoping to see a reflection of something, never expecting a deer. There were 3 of them. Only this one offered an almost complete reflection.

Gone Fishin

by Adele Steinberg

Local fisherman in his glory

The One and Only Dandelion

by Autumn Marin

The only dandelion in a small field of grass that looked really healthy and strong. Surrounded by only grass, no flowers or other weeds.

What are you lookin at?

by Jamie Lucier

Finch feeding at a birdfeeder

Miniature Mushroom Garden

by Autumn Marin

A group of small mushrooms in the middle of a tiny field of grass. Not easy to find in Windsor, but let alone out in the open.

Winter's Promises of Spring

by Mark Whelan

On a very cold, gray day. The promise of Milkweed and Monarchs. I thought the pod and stems resembled an American Bittern delivering spring and summer hopes.

Enter now

WILD ONES in windsor-essex

Blue Jay (*Cyanocitta cristata)*

The blue jay is an intelligent bird related to crows and other corvids and found only in North America. Male blue jays are slightly larger and a bit brighter in colour than females, which can be difficult to distinguish if only one blue jay is being seen. A better way to differentiate them would be to observe their behaviors in the wild during courtship and nesting (females incubate the eggs while males go out to find food to feed them). Blue jays like to eat insects, seeds, nuts like acorns, bird eggs (not often), and small animals like frogs. Their nesting season is from March to July, with one brood having 2- 7 eggs that can be bluish or light brown with brownish spots.

Fact: There is a scientific consensus that the Earth's climate is warming due to human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation.
Amongst individual scientists, 99% agree with the consensus. It’s important to note that this is far greater agreement than existed amongst medical doctors about the cancer-causing effects of smoking, when the first U.S. smoking laws first went into effect (BeforeTheFlood.org)
Fact: While the Earth's climate has varied naturally in the past, the current warming trend is happening at an unprecedented rate and is strongly linked to human activities.
Fact: While it is true that the Earth's climate has changed in the past, the current rate and magnitude of change are much faster and more severe than any natural climate change in the past.

UPCOMING EVENTS

the word around town

The Word Around Town

Nina Blagic

Love in The Time of Climate Change : Celebrate a Greener V-Day!

Nina Blagic

Valentine’s Day is a celebration of all things love, but the Earth is an often overlooked part of the festivities. Much of the consumerism that happens in the name of showing love and making memorable moments also makes a lasting negative impact on our environment. Make your special day eco-friendly by opting for mindful (and local!) date ideas. Check out our list for all the things you can do with your special someone!

Nina Blagic

Anna Karch

More Homes Built Faster... At What Cost?

Anna Karch

The More Homes Built Faster Act sounds like the perfect solution for a housing crisis, but is it really? Passed at the end of 2022, Bill 23 aims to build 1.5 million homes within 10 years in response to our current difficult housing situation... and will sacrifice our environment in the process. While some aspects of the Bill are positive, there are fundamental changes proposed that have Conservationists worried. What are these changes? How do they affect the environment? Why should we be worried? And what can we do?

Anna Karch

We Can't Wing It: Conserving Bird Habitats in Essex County

Anna Karch

Our Canadian wildlife is more diverse than we might realize, especially our avian friends - the birds. Though we're used to geese, ducks, chickadees, and the like, the species in Windsor-Essex County extend far beyond that. Besides being diverse and beautiful, birds are essential parts of the ecosystem and they have immeasurable value balancing the food chain. This Fall migration season, we shine a light on the importance of birds in our region, get wrapped in raptor-talk, and cue the drumroll for the upcoming Festival of Hawks at Holiday Beach!

Anna Karch

Cameron Fioret

How to protect the Earth's largest freshwater supply in a changing climate

Cameron Fioret

Most of us have grown up with the Great Lakes in one way or another—from colouring them in during geography class to swimming in them during the summer. It can be easy to take for granted bodies of water we’ve known for a lifetime. But where do the Great Lakes fit in on a larger scale and how do they function? How are they doing? And why do we need to concern ourselves with governing them? Read on to learn about freshwater access, water governance, how our Great Lakes fit into the system, as well as what we can do to shape their future in a climate change future.

Cameron Fioret

Dane Fader & Alley Biniarz

Growing Your Own Food : A Pathway From Consumption to Connection

Dane Fader & Alley Biniarz

How do we break the cycle of production, consumption, and demand in our communities? What do we do when we start losing our connections to each other, our relationship with nature and consequently, our time? Dane & Alley reflect on breaking their ties to systematic consumption by simply turning towards one thing connecting all of us right now : the soil.

Dane Fader & Alley Biniarz

Cameron Fioret

Community First: Addressing Climate Change in Windsor-Essex

Cameron Fioret

In this article, Cameron Fioret talks to us about taking a community-first approach to tackling the urgent climate impacts in our region, allowing for inclusiveness and equity amongst the people it affects the most.

Cameron Fioret

Windsor of Change is a non-profit that aims to empower the Windsor-Essex community, through education and engagement, to act and adapt to climate change and define its own unique climate action identity.

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popular reads

Blog

Niharika Bandaru

Highs and Lows: Windsor-Essex's Winter Rollercoaster—the Why and What’s Ahead?

Niharika Bandaru

Windsor’s warmest winter in 157 years… With snow scarce this season and Spring sneaking in as early as February, 2024 has been breaking significant weather records. While some have enjoyed the unexpected warmth, many have heard alarm bells ring. How unusual is this weather? Will it be our new normal? What is causing it? What can we do? Read on to find out!

Niharika Bandaru

Anna Karch

Climate Change: A Problem with a Palette of Solutions

Anna Karch

Art is often cited as a powerful tool with the ability to evoke emotion, inspire action, and educate onlookers. But can it do the same for the topic of climate change? Can it inspire us? Can it make a change? How? There is a plethora of eco-artists making a positive difference in the world, whether they're local or international. Join us in exploring their work and their impact, along with the overall effect of climate change art.

Anna Karch

Cameron Fioret & Niharika Bandaru

Lessons from COVID-19: Equity in Climate Action

Cameron Fioret & Niharika Bandaru

COVID-19 and climate change have one major thing in common: both are public health emergencies that exposed deep-rooted social inequities in marginalized communities around the globe. Though we're all affected by COVID-19 and climate change in one way or another, marginalized communities take the brunt of it. As climate change progresses, these equity gaps will worsen. How can we learn from the aftermath of COVID-19, and what can we do as a community to mitigate negative consequences as well as close the equity gap?

Cameron Fioret & Niharika Bandaru

Jeff Watson

The Tipping Point - From Anxiety to Action

Jeff Watson

Eco-dread and climate anxiety are becoming a fast reality for many who are direct or indirect victims of climate change. This can be counter-productive in the fight against the crisis and can have profound implications. In the second and final part of our series on climate change and mental health, guest author and Policy Planner at the Town of Essex, Jeff Watson, writes about the changes we can make in our daily lives that will help with both alleviating mental health issues arising from climate change as well as climate change itself.

Jeff Watson

Emma Bider

Age is only a number: Bringing seniors into the climate change movement

Emma Bider

The conversation surrounding Canadian seniors and climate change has a very consistent tone: seniors are vulnerable. While care for older Canadians is one of the areas that we must seriously continue investing in, the focus on seniors’ vulnerability, puts them squarely in the category of passive victims. Emma Bider, draws from her work with the seniors-led group Climate Legacy, and writes about why and how institutions and agencies would be wise to include this demographic as active agents of change.

Emma Bider