Wildlife Habitat Canada is thrilled to congratulate 14 year old Carson Visser from Burlington, Ontario for being selected as the winning artist for the third annual Canadian Youth Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp. The Youth Stamp has been created in partnership with the Robert Bateman Get to Know Contest, which is a program designed to encourage youth to get outside and ‘get to know’ their wild neighbors.

Carson Visser’s entry, entitled “Curious Visitor”, depicts a Barred Owl in its native habitat. In addition to having his artwork featured on the stamp, Carson’s painting is also featured on the cover of the 2012 Robert Bateman Get to Know Contest Calendar.

Carson had this to say about his painting and the owl:

“Seeing a Barred Owl while hiking in its natural habitat was very special for me. I’ve often heard owls in the distance but this was the first time I’ve seen and heard one up close in the wild. My family and I hushed at the sound of the owl’s hoot. Everything was quiet – even the songbirds were silent. We stopped, our eyes captivated by the owl’s dark, mysterious eyes that seemed to be sizing us up. The owl didn’t seem bothered by our presence as it let out a haunting “Who-Cooks-For-You!” song that rang through the forest. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that moment and I knew I just had to try and capture it in a painting. I was so intrigued by the owl’s call and dark eyes that I wanted to make the forest foliage reflect the same mystery.”

Wildlife Habitat Canada is continuing its partnership with Robert Bateman’s Get to Know Program to create this stamp that is being sold across Canada. Proceeds from the sale of the stamp will support youth-driven wildlife conservation projects.

By purchasing the Canadian Youth Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp you will help youth to understand the importance of the natural world to all of us, while ensuring that this exquisite resource is conserved for years to come.