1st Place: Tracy Colson
Location: Chassahowitzka River, Crystal River, Florida

3rd Place: Heather Chappell
Location: Blue Spring State Park, Orange City, Florida

Honorable Mention: Hollynn Hale
Location: Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River, Florida

Apollo Beach, Florida: Patti Murphy Dohn from Maryland visited the Tampa Electric Company's (TECO) Manatee Viewing Area in early January. She sent this photo of a tagged manatee and wondered if we had any information on him. After contacting manatee researchers, we found out the manatee's name is Herman, and he was first documented at Crystal River in 1977. Herman has been known to make trips to TECO in the winter, but he is most commonly sighted in Crystal River and in the Wakulla/St. Marks Rivers in North Florida. Herman left the Wakulla River in mid-December and arrived at TECO just before Christmas. As you can see, he is an older male who likes to travel!

Orange City, Florida: See what goes on under the research canoe! SMC Manatee Specialist Wayne Hartley uses an underwater video camera to capture this great footage of adoptee Annie and other members of the Blue Spring population such as Audie (named for Audie Murphy) and first-time mom, Arwen. Swanney, Mica, and Sharkbite, as well an unnamed calf and a couple of juveniles, were also there. Listen closely and you will hear the manatees squeak as they communicate with one another. (5 min. 5 sec.)

Orange City, Florida: Here, Wayne uses the underwater video camera to film adoptee Whiskers, as well as Julie, Julie's calf, and Mona and her calf (both calves as of yet unnamed) as they enjoy the warm spring waters on a chilly day on December 31, 2012 at Blue Spring State Park. At one point, you will see Mona's calf trying to nurse from her. (5 min. 7 sec.)

Orange City, Florida: Watch Manatee Webcam video from Blue Spring State Park as a cute calf clings to mom's tail. Manatee Specialist Wayne Hartley tells us that Mom is a manatee named Lola and is the daughter of SMC adoptee Lucille. (2 min. 6 sec)

Orange City, Florida: See underwater closeups of manatees from the Blue Spring Webcam as they enjoy the spring in early January. This video features Mona and her calf. Near the end, a female named Volusia comes up, and then Duffy arrives and seems to ask Volusia to nurse. Volusia was born in 2009 and may be pregnant. Duffy was born in 2008. (9 min. 35 sec)

Giant Manatee Nebula: In January, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) released a new view of a 20,000-year-old supernova remnant that resembles our favorite aquatic mammal. Optically-bright astronomical objects are often nicknamed for their earthly likenesses, and an NRAO staff member saw the similarity to a manatee. Click on the link above to read more. Photo credit: NRAO/AUI/NSF, K. Golap, M. Goss; NASA’s Wide Field Survey Explorer (WISE)