Allright, time to announce this month’s ID Challenge! winner. First, the answers:

Picture 1; Dallas, TX

Picture 1 is a Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus), photographed at White Rock Lake, in Dallas, Texas. This one and several others were hanging out with the pelicans.

~

Picture 2; Dallas, TX

Picture 2 is a Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor). This photo was also taken at White Rock Lake – in November! It seemed extraordinary to me to see such a big, pretty butterfly so late in the year.

~

Picture 3; Richardson, TX

The growths in Picture 3 are commonly known as Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus). Yes, they are edible! No, I didn’t eat any of them.

The winner of this month’s ID Challenge is AJ – the second win for AJ! The prize for this month’s contest is one of the two 2009 Birder’s Lounge Calendars. AJ has requested that instead of the prize, I contribute the value of the calendar to Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation. If you have not heard about WRR, please read this post about my visit with the founder, Lynn Cuny.

Please also remember that I have pledged to match one dollar to your one (or more) dollars as a year-end donation to this non-profit organization. If you decide to donate, please let me know via the pledge form below, so that I can keep a talley of the amount of my matching check!

cforms contact form by delicious:days

I am going to adjust the timing of the monthly ID Challenge contest slightly, by posting it on or about the first day of every month, instead of the last day of the month. The contest will always feature pictures of birds, plants, bugs,  and/or animals who were photographed in the previous month.

Next ID Challenge! Contest – January 1, 2009!