It’s time for young birders to begin honing their bird-identifying skills as they prepare for the 11th annual Georgia Youth Birding Competition, set for April 22-23.
Registration is open and, for the first time, online at www.georgiawildlife.com/YBC.
This fun, free competition has been connecting young people with wildlife and having a positive impact on conservation for more than 10 years. The reach extends even beyond Georgia, with Race 4 Birds Foundation (www.race4birds.org) using the event as a model for youth birding competitions nationwide, including in Illinois, North Carolina, Florida and Pennsylvania.
Coordinator Tim Keyes of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is enthusiastic about the future.
“We will continue growing an enduring passion for birds and the outdoors with every year’s event in Georgia, and inspire a growing number of events around the U.S.,” said Keyes, a wildlife biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Nongame Conservation Section.
He noted that the Youth Birding Competition has developed “amazing competitors” who have gone on to study biology in college. Some former birding novices are now veterans, and bringing younger children under their wing in birding. The event has inspired a young birders club, a growing network of young birders connected through social media and participation in American Birding Association and Audubon Society camps for youth.
The competition also continues to set state records for birding youth. The top team in 2015 identified 167 species, an all-time high for the event.
The fun gets going April 22-23 when the 24-hour statewide birdathon for teams varying in ages from kindergarteners to high school seniors returns. The deadline to register is March 31. Complete information, including online registration, is at www.georgiawildlife.com/YBC.
The competition and an accompanying T-shirt Art Contest are sponsored by DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division, The Environmental Resources Network Inc. (TERN) – friends group of the Nongame Conservation Section – and others including the Georgia Ornithological Society and the Atlanta and Albany Audubon societies. A banquet and awards ceremony will be held April 23 at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center near Mansfield.
Teams register online in one of four age divisions and compete against other groups their age. Participants can also volunteer to raise money for conservation organizations.
The Youth Birding Competition is designed for youth of all skill levels. Those new to birding can take advantage of mentoring opportunities offered through the competition.
As a voluntary part of the competition, teams also raise money for conservation. This year’s pledges pushed past $20,000 the total raised over the event’s 10 years.
The 2016 contest starts at 5 p.m. Friday, April 22, and ends at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 23. Groups may use as much or as little of that time to count as many birds as possible throughout Georgia.
Although teams can start birding anywhere in the state, they must turn in their checklists at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center by 5 p.m. that Saturday. While judges examine and score checklists, participants are treated to a live animal show followed by an awards banquet packed with prizes.
The Youth Birding Competition also includes a T-shirt Art Contest. Deadline to enter is March 4. Participation in the birding competition is encouraged but not required to enter the T-shirt Art Contest.
There is no charge for either contest, aside from the optional cost of overnight lodging at Charlie Elliott.
For details about the competition, including registering online, visit www.georgiawildlife.com/YBC. Tim Keyes can be reached at (912) 262-3191 or tim.keyes@dnr.ga.gov. Information about the Charlie Elliott Conference Center is available by calling Amy Glass at (770) 784-3122.
For more information on the T-shirt Art Contest, visit www.georgiawildlife.com/YBCTshirtArtContest or contact art contest coordinator Linda May at (706) 557-3226 or linda.may@dnr.ga.gov.
