Brilliant light of autumn colors reflected in a northern wetland. Snow geese bursting into the winter air from fields in the Midwest. A sapphire damselfly struggles for survival in the sticky jaws of a sundew plant. Desert bighorn sheep stand proud and strong in the Arizona mountains. These rich images from the nation’s National Wildlife Refuges are part of a stunning wildlife photography exhibit to be displayed next month at Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge near McGregor, Minn.
The refuge and the Friends of Rice Lake Refuge will host the national photographic exhibit “Wild Sights” by renowned wildlife photographers John and Karen Hollingsworth from July 9 to September 9, 2005. The 34 framed images in the unique exhibit provide a glimpse of the natural variety and incredible beauty that exists on National Wildlife Refuges. The exhibit has traveled nationwide since 1988 and is currently showing at The Wildlife Experience Conservation and Art Museum in Denver, Colorado.
Karen Hollingsworth will be at the Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge Saturday, July 9 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. to open the “Wild Sights” exhibit. She will also present a half-hour multi-media program titled “Let’s Go Wild” beginning at 3 p.m. The event is free and wonderful for all ages. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of Rice Lake.
Hollingsworth photographs have appeared in national publications like American Birds; Audubon; Birders World; Birding; Bird Watchers Digest; Defenders; Ducks Unlimited; Field & Stream; National Geographic; National Wildlife; Nature Conservancy; Nature Photographer; Outdoor & Nature Photography; Southern Outdoors; U.S. News & World Report and Wilderness. The Hollingsworth photos are also showcased in the Smithsonian Book of National Wildlife Refuges and America’s National Wildlife Refuges: A Complete Guide.
The 18,300 acre Rice Lake NWR is located five-miles south of McGregor on Hwy 65 and is a two hour drive from the Twin Cities; one hour from Duluth, Brainerd and Grand Rapids. The refuge offers numerous public use activities including hunting, fishing, hiking, wildlife observation. More detailed description of the refuge is available on the Internet at: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/ricelake/index.htm Information is also available by calling the refuge: 218-768-2402.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
