Seventh- and eighth-grade students from Walnut Grove and Champlin were the top winners in the 24th annual Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) "Roadsides Are for the Birds" poster contest. Tara Kelley and Nolan Isaacson of Jackson Middle School in Champlin, and Maureen Yang of Westbrook Walnut Grove Middle School in Walnut Grove were selected as grand prize winners. Students from 23 schools entered works in this year's contest.

"The purpose of the contest is to help increase awareness of the growing importance of roadsides for wildlife, particularly for ground nesting birds," said Carmelita Nelson, DNR Roadsides for Wildlife coordinator in St. Paul. "As wildlife habitat continues to disappear, roadsides nesting habitat is becoming more critical." Roadsides can provide bird-nesting habitat if mowing and other disturbances of roadsides are delayed until after the nesting season, usually around Aug. 1.

In addition to the grand prize winners, special recognition awards in the contest went to:

" Arianna Hesemann, Southwest Star Concept Secondary School in Okabena, for biological accuracy

" Tara Kelley, Jackson Middle School in Champlin, for expression of theme

" Lucas Rorvick, Jackson Middle School in Champlin, for pen/pencil

" Erin Swendsen, Monticello Middle School in Monticello, for creative use of material

" Michelle Armstrong, Holy Spirit School in St. Paul, for humor.

" Nolan Isaacson, Jackson Middle School in Champlin, the Staff Choice Award.

Contest prizes and contributions were donated by Wildlife Heritage Association, Minnesota Pheasants Inc.-Steele County, Pheasants Forever, New Ulm Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, Minnesota Waterfowl Association, National Camera Exchange of Golden Valley, and the DNR Roadsides Program. Ross Frame Shop and Universal Framing, both of Minneapolis, and The Frame Gallery of New Ulm donated framing of the posters.

The work of the three grand prize winners will be displayed in the DNR Building during the 2008 Minnesota State Fair. Works of the top 40 winners will be displayed at the Minnesota Deer Classic and Sports Show at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds March 13-15, 2009.

Contest judges were Helen Owens, retired art instructor at Lake Crystal-Welcome Memorial Middle School; Paul Bremer of Arlington, a retired DNR wildlife manager; and Dona Larkin, a Renville artist.

For public water access maps, boating information and lake ice-out status, go to the DNR Web site www.mndnr.gov. Boaters who encounter problems should contact the local DNR office or call the DNR Information Center at (651) 296-6157 or 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367).