Here are some of The Herald’s best photographs of 2016

Ray Oliver, a volunteer for the Nature Conservancy, drills a bird box into a post at Port Susan Bay during a meet-up to restore bird boxes and gourds to the area on Feb. 13, 2016. The bird boxes will eventually house tree swallows and the gourds will bring in purple martins.

With her infant son Matias on her chest, Sandy Flores enjoys snow falling with her son Ray J. and daughter Sasha in front of their new home on Dec. 17, 2016, in Everett. Flores, her husband, Ray, and their three young kids became the new owners of Phoenix II, a house in North Everett from Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County and for which they contributed over 500 hours of sweat equity in the construction of the home. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

The AquaSox’s Kyle Lewis grabs his right knee after colliding with Tri-City catcher in the AquaSox’s lost to the Tri-City Dust Devils 8-6 at Everett Memorial Stadium on July 19, 2016, in Everett. Lewis, the Mariner’s No. 1 draft pick, did not return to play during the game. ( Andy Bronson / The Herald )

Ensign Tanner Roach takes a bearing from the bridge of the USS Gridley, the newest guided missile destroyer to be based at Naval Station Everett, as it begins heading toward Seattle for Seafair on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016. ( Andy Bronson / The Herald )

Washington State University’s Charleston White gets caught in the celebration after University of Washington running back Myles Gaskin scores a touchdown in the first quarter of the Apple Cup on Nov. 25, 2016, in Pullman. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

A referee hands over a flask to another referee after the object was thrown on to the field at the Apple Cup on Nov. 25, 2016, in Pullman. (AndyBronson / The Herald)

Amelia Carpenter, 3, runs to her father, Chief Travis Carpenter, during the USS Sampson (DDG 102) arrival at Naval Station Everett on Sept. 26, 2016, in Everett. The Arleigh-Burke Class destroyer is the second of four new destroyers to be based in Everett. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Jessie Pyles rides is his customary seat on the way home from the dentist’s office. The family tries not let Jessie ride in any other vehicles due the damage he causes and his ever-present black marker. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Sam, Cheryl and Jessie Pyles await a surgical consult at Children’s Hospital in Seattle. Due to Jessie’s various medical conditions resulting in many doctors visits, he is medicated and can have unpredictable behaviors. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Cheryl Pyles holds her phone while her son Jessie Pyles, 7, watches a video during down time at their home in Lake Stevens. Raising Jessie, who has autism with developmental delay, a sensory – processing disorder and various other medical conditions, a labor of love with often one step forward and two steps back. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Katie Dawson, occupational therapist, coaches Jessie to wash his hands with Cheryl Pyles, Jessie’s mother, looking on at the Providence Children’s Center in Everett. The sessions coach Jessie on hand-eye coordination, washing hands, putting on socks and shoes and much more. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

A Great Horned owl tries to fly away from Shaun Sears, of Cat Canopy Rescue, while being wrapped to a tree limb by fishing line at Everett Marina on Oct. 5, 2016, in Everett. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Winterhawks’ Alex Schoenborn catches air in the struggle to control the puck against Silvertips’ Lucas Skrumeda Friday night at Xfinity Arena in Everett, Washington of March 25, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Young Life Leader Josh Tremain smiles at Faith Fitch, who performed during the Snohomish County Capernaum’s Got Talent Variety Show hosted by Young Life on December 5, 2015. The evening showcased the talents of young people living with disabilities as they performed onstage in the Public Utility District building.

Sterling Johnson, 22 months, feeds seagulls with his visiting grandfather, Robert Johnson on the beach at the Mukilteo State Park Wednesday afternoon on March 23, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Anfernee Gurley atop Jackson Yost shoulders leads the rally after Archbishop Murphy wins the 2A Gridiron Classic at the Tacoma Dome on December 3, 2016. Archbishop Murphy defeated Liberty 56-14 for the state championship. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Washington defensive back Kevin King intercepts a touchdown pass intended for Arizona State’s N’Keal Haeey Saturday at Husky Stadium in Seattle November 19, 2016. No. 7 Washington rolls past Arizona State, 44-18. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Xeyneb Al’Azadi, sophomore at Monroe High School, walks off the field after providing water to the players Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Snohomish, Washington on September 30, 2016. (Kevin Clark/The Herald)

Javier Ramirez of the Aztec Indian Dancers Saturday afternoon during the annual Evergreen State Fair in Monroe. The 12-day fair runs through Labor Day and is one of the largest events held in the Pacific Northwest. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Mike Richardson and his girlfriend Celeah Norris pose for a portrait during day one of Summer Meltdown on Aug. 11, 2016, in Darrington. The annual music festival runs four days with live music, art installations, workshops and on-site camping for attendants. (Daniella Beccaria / For The Herald)

Jackie Sugita carries the now default tentacle display to the garbage Wednesday afternoon at Archie McPhees in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Ken Griffey Jr. grooves to the music before his speech of his number retirement ceremony Saturday afternoon at Safeco Field in Seattle on August 5, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

As his fellow crew heads to the mess hall to meet their families, Seaman Sean Tender and daughter Sydney, 2, hold each other after the USS Kidd docks at Everett Naval Station on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 in Everett. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Cascade High School graduate Commander Todd Zentner stands in front of an EA-18G “Growler” at Whidbet Island Naval Air Station on Nov. 23, 2016, in Oak Harbor. Zentner graduated from Cascade in 1993, attended the Naval Academy and now serves as the Commander of the VAQ-133 Squadron known as the Wizards. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Ray and Sandy Flores hug on their front porch after accepting the keys, earlier that morning, to their new home from Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016 in Everett. The Flores and their three young kids became the new owners of Phoenix II, a house in North Everett, which they contributed over 500 hours of sweat equity in its construction. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

During the reception for him at Shack, Chuck Close is surprised by a visit from Margo Monteiro of San Diego, who went to grade school through high school with him. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

On a gray spring-day, Lesya Dorofeev of Everett stops beneath pink clouds of cherry blossoms in Grand Avenue Park in Everett on March 15, 2016, to take a few photographs of her daughters, Sofia, 2, and Emma, 5 months. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

After removing the plastic bags, Ocean Jang, 12 (left) Treety Jang, 12, and Sheamin Kim, 12 (right) and a couple dozen more, go after donuts on a string with no hands Monday while competing in “The Hungry Games” outside Arlington Library. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Carrying 4-month-old Haven, Apryl Roberts chases 2-year old Charlee around the house Wednesday, to the delight of all three. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Morning sun and patches of blue shed their grace on the Olympics recently, as pigeons take flight along the east bank of the Snohomish River in Everett. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Makenzie Colby, a Kamiak High School senior, has gotten attention for her work in fashion and sculpture poses at her home on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 in Mukilteo.

Fellow Girl Scout Daisies react when Payton Camacho’s whip cream pie toss lands right on troop leader Tina Fish’s face in the parking lot outside New Life Church in Everett. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Frank and Nancy Roesier are celebratging their 65th wedding anniversary on Valentine’s Day at the Startup Gym, where they met so many years ago. The gym was being decorated for its first Sock Hop since the old days. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Dale Frisk runs an appliance repair shop on Broadway in Everett with a good sense of humor. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

During a pre-flight talk to the passengers, foundation president John Sessions warned that although no injuries have occured on previous flights, one possilble side effect can be facial strain, caused by excessive smiling. Preparing for take off, only moments after boarding, it appears that WWII pilots Elden Larson and Art Unruh, both 93, are already showing symptoms. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks with Clinton Todd Jessee, AKA Captain Hillster, during an event at the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District Lodge 751 building near Paine Field in Everett on March 22, 2016, in Everett. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Julie Sims models in a pilot’s uniform and scarf after her flight in Maid in the Shade, a B-25 Mitchell bomber that flew 15 combat missions during World War II, outside the Flying Heritage Collection, on Aug. 1, 2016, in Everett. ( Andy Bronson / The Herald )

Allium blooms in garden at the home of Deb Taylor and Ken Morrisonon on July 11, 2016, in Edmonds. ( Andy Bronson / The Herald )

Jack Perry, 7, of Edmonds, climbs along a piece of outstretched driftwood at Brackett’s Landing in Edmonds on Jan. 14, 2016. (Ian Terry / The Herald)

Snohomish Regional Drug and Gang Task Force commander Pat Slack and Sgt. David Casey arrest a woman with a warrant who fled upon seeing the officers on a forest road in the Mount Index Riversites community on Dec. 1. The private community has seen a recent spike in drug activity, squatting and other crime. (Ian Terry / The Herald)

Joe Godfrey is reflected in a mirror on his desk while working on a computer-mapping project of a section of the Pilchuck River near Snohomish while at work in Everett on Nov. 3, 2016. (Ian Terry / The Herald)

Monroe High School seniors, including Brian Pino (center in white), dance during a kickoff assembly Friday morning at the school to promote homecoming events scheduled for the upcoming week. To avoid the popularity contest that typically occurs to pick a homecoming king and queen, Monroe High School decided to change the traditional format by nominating 40 students total from all fall sports and clubs. (Ian Terry / The Herald)

Artist Iole Alessandrini’s public art project, “Luminous Forest”, is seen on 4th Avenue in downtown Edmonds. 177 LED lights are embedded in the pavement and are naturally triggered by changes in light to illuminate when dark. (Ian Terry / The Herald)

Kloe Gregory, 4, reacts with excitement with her parents Matt and Khyrsha Gregory while talking with Santa, 74-year-old Tom LaBelle, in the Everett Mall on Nov. 28. LaBelle began wearing the suit after his wife suggested he try it out. He’s now a regular each year as a mall Santa and has an entire collection of answers about Santa’s duties for his most inquisitive visitors. (Daniella Beccaria / The Herald)

Lake Stevens’ Lilly Eason, center, celebrates with teammate Melissa Stevens, left, looking on Thursday night in Monroe on October 20, 2016. Lake Stevens won 3-2. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson dives in for the touchdown as Philadelphia Eagles’ Nigel Bradham tries to hit the ball from his hands during the third quarter at CenturyLink Field on Nov. 20, 2016, in Seattle. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

While some of the girlhood friends tell stories at a picnic table further down, Glen Allen (facing) bends the ear of Hugh Minor, 91, as the Snohomish High School class of 1942 met Sept. 7, 2016, at Hill Park to have lunch and visit during a lively annual class reunion. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

She is an amazing multi-talent. An artist of many branches. A Yoga master and teacher. A business person. At 76, Karen Guzak is also the Mayor of Snohomish, which means she needs all the Zen she can get, and an egg timer. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

While a great egret hunts for food in the Snohomish River, one of his local Puget Sound relatives, a great blue heron, flies by to take a closer look. The great egret was spotted along the river Oct. 18, 2016, shortly after the big no-storm. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson makes a reception from Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin for a touchdown with Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham trailing at Century Link Field in Seattle on Nov. 20, 2016. Seahawks won 26-15. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Stacey Devina of Hong Kong competes in the ribbon portion of the 2016 Pacific Rim Championships rhythmic gymnastics at Everett Community College on April 9, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Bluewater Organic Distilling owner John Lundin (center) balances during a YogaMosa session on Saturday, Aug. 6. (Ian Terry / The Herald)

While their best friends sniff around, customers line up at a food truck in the parking lot outside Builders Exchange of Washington, on April 27, where Dawn Ford of The Seattle Barkery sells dog and human treats. Most of the early customers work at Builders Exchange, whose dog-friendly offices permit employees to bring small dogs to work with them. Four of them here are, from left, Doc, Zoey, Cleo and Zeus. (Dan Bates / The Herald)