DNR’s Youth Birding Competition is a fun, statewide competition held during a nine-day period coinciding with the peak of spring bird migration. Teams of two to five youths each compete by age division to find the most birds. No experience is required. The event is aimed at encouraging an awareness and appreciation of Georgia’s birds and the outdoors.

2025 Event Calendar

Registration

Required Waivers

 

YBC How-To

YBC Rules

• Each team must have an adult chaperone/driver.
• Participants must identify birds on their own: Adults and others who are not team members cannot help find or identify birds.
  • If the team comes to a consensus on the identification of a bird, and the adult knows it is wrong, the adult can strike the species from the list. Teams cannot count that individual bird again, although if they encounter the species again and correctly identify it, it can go on the list. This procedure helps avoid the identification becoming a “guessing game” until they hit upon the correct identification.
  • Team participants can use field guides (book form, phone apps, etc.) to help them identify birds, but they cannot use automated bird identification tools such as Merlin’s Bird ID Wizard or devices that identify species based on photos or on recordings of songs and calls. The goals of this contest include developing skills needed to solve a mystery: in this case, the identification of a bird species the participants might not have seen before. Those skills involve learning how to read range maps, recognize general habitat types, categorize a bird as a member of a species group (such as sparrows, warblers, woodpeckers or sandpipers) and recognize and use field marks to single out a specific species from one of those groups. Using automated identification devices defeats the learning objective.
• Teams must have at least two participants and not more than five.
• Teams must compete within the age division of their oldest participant.
• Team members must stay within voice contact of each other at all times.
• All birds counted must be identified by at least two team members.
• Count only full species (as listed on official GOS State Checklist).
• Birds must be conclusively identified by sight or sound. A bird only identified to a group (i.e., scaup, either greater or lesser) may be counted as a species if no other bird from that group appears on the list.
• Birds counted must be alive, wild, unrestrained and within the state of Georgia.
• Participants must follow the American Birding Association (ABA) code of Birding Ethics (included in the next section).
  • These include adhering to all access rules for public lands and acquiring permission to access private land.
• Electronic or recorded bird calls may be used within ABA Code of Birding Ethics (i.e., not using the calls with rare or endangered species or in areas where the use is prohibited, such as on national wildlife refuges).
• Flushing birds from nests or cavities is not allowed.
• Teams can travel as much of the state as they want.
• Birds can only be counted during a 24-hour period selected by the team between 5 p.m. April 4 and 5 p.m. April 12. Teams can start and finish their count at any time as long as it is a single contiguous 24-hour period (ex., 5 p.m. to 5 p.m., midnight to midnight, noon to noon).
• The team must submit its checklist either digitally to tim.keyes@dnr.ga.gov by 5 p.m. April 11 or in person at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center before 5 p.m. April 12. Please note the different deadlines for checklists submitted digitally and in person.
• Species totals are considered final once a checklist is submitted.
• The judges’ decision in all rulings is final.

ABA Code of Birding Ethics

• Promote the welfare of birds and their environment.
  • Support the protection of important bird habitat.
  • To avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise restraint and caution during observation, photography, sound recording or filming.
    • Limit the use of recordings and other methods of attracting birds, and never use such methods in heavily birded areas, or for attracting any species that is threatened, endangered, of special concern, or is rare in your local area.
    • Keep well back from nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display areas, and important feeding sites. In such sensitive areas, if there is a need for extended observation, photography, filming, or recording, try to use a blind or hide, and take advantage of natural cover.
    • Use artificial light sparingly for filming or photography, especially for close-ups.
  • Before advertising the presence of a rare bird, evaluate the potential for disturbance to the bird, its surroundings, and other people in the area. Proceed only if access can be controlled and disturbance minimized, and permission has been obtained from the landowners (if on private land). The sites of rare nesting birds should be divulged only to the proper conservation authorities.
  • Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they exist; otherwise keep habitat disturbance to a minimum.
• Respect the law and the rights of others.
  • Do not enter private property without the owner's explicit permission.
  • Follow all laws, rules and regulations governing use of roads and public areas, both at home and abroad.
  • Practice common courtesy in contacts with other people. Your exemplary behavior will generate goodwill with birders and non-birders alike.
• Ensure that feeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird environments are safe.
  • Keep dispensers, water, and food clean, and free of decay or disease. It is important to feed birds continually during harsh weather.
  • Maintain and clean nest structures regularly.
  • If you are attracting birds to an area, ensure the birds are not exposed to predation from cats and other domestic animals, or dangers posed by artificial hazards.
• Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care. In addition to the obligations spelled out in items 1 and 2 above, each individual in the group has responsibilities as a group member. Those include:
  • Respect the interests, rights, and skills of fellow birders, as well as people participating in other legitimate outdoor activities. Freely share your knowledge and experience, except where code 1(c) applies. Be especially helpful to beginning birders.
  • If you witness unethical birding behavior, assess the situation and intervene if you think it prudent. When interceding, inform the person(s) of the inappropriate action, and attempt, within reason, to have it stopped. If the behavior continues, document it and notify the appropriate individuals or organizations.
• Group Leader Responsibilities (amateur and professional trips and tours).
  • Be an exemplary ethical role model for the group. Teach through word and example.
  • Keep groups to a size that limits impacts on the environment and does not interfere with others using the same area.
  • Ensure everyone in the group knows of and practices this code.
  • Learn and inform the group of any special circumstances applicable to the areas being visited (e.g., no tape recorders allowed).
  • Acknowledge that professional tour companies bear a special responsibility to place the welfare of birds and the benefits of public knowledge ahead of the company's commercial interests. Ideally, leaders should keep track of tour sightings, document unusual occurrences, and submit records to appropriate organizations.

Checklist

Species Checklist

Teams have two options for turning in their checklist.

• If you are birding early in the nine-day period, you can scan or take clear photos of the official three-page checklist and email them to tim.keyes@dnr.ga.gov before 5 p.m. April 11. Please make sure your team’s name is on every page and that the list also includes your age division, contact phone number for questions and general areas you visited (Mountains, Coast, Piedmont).
• Turn in your paper checklist at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center before 5 p.m. April 12. Please also make sure your team name and age division are on every page, and that the general birding areas the team visited are listed.

Things to Bring

• Bird book
• Binoculars
• Spotting scope (optional)
• Georgia map
• Raincoat (check local forecasts)
• Hat
• Sun block
• Insect repellent
• Snacks
• Drinks
• Bird checklist
• Pen/pencil
• Any medication required
• Smartphone or another playing device to play owl calls (optional)
• Camera/phone (we are always looking for good pictures of kids birding!)
• Hand sanitizer
• Masks
• Sense of humor

Contacts

YBC coordinator: Tim Keyes, Georgia DNR
912.222.0424   |   (fax) 912.262.3143   |   tim.keyes@dnr.ga.gov

YBC T-shirt Art Contest coordinator: Linda May, Georgia DNR
706.319.0211   |   linda.may@dnr.ga.gov 

Fundraising

Sponsor Form

Fundraising for a conservation organization of your choice is a voluntary part of the Youth Birding Competition. Here’s how it works:

• After registering your team for the YBC, select the conservation organization or effort you would like your fundraising efforts to support (ex., the Georgia Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund, which supports work done by Georgia DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section).
• Sign up sponsors who pledge to support your team with a fixed amount or, if they are courageous, a pledge per bird species the team identifies during the competition.
• Spend one 24-hour period during the competition finding as many birds as you can in Georgia.
• When you turn in your bird checklist after finishing your count, also contact coordinator Tim Keyes about the amount of money pledged to your team.
• After the competition, contact your sponsors and collect their pledges. We recommend having them provide you checks made out to the conservation organization the team chose to support.
• Once all your checks are in, send them to the conservation organization and contact Tim Keyes (tim.keyes@dnr.ga.gov) to let him know how much you collected.

Being a Mentor

Mentor Score Sheet

What is a birding mentor? 
A birding mentor could be a teacher, a parent or an interested birder who knows birds well enough to help a team of youth learn to identify birds. When mentors meet with their teams, a teacher or parent must be present.

What does a YBC mentor have to do?
Mentors must commit to meeting with their teams at least three times before the event. Depending on the ages and skill levels of the team members, this can involve helping with the use of optics, with basic bird ID and habitat associations, and with planning a route for the competition. 

What about during the competition?
It is not necessary for a mentor to join the team during its 24 hours of competition, although they can. During the competition, team members cannot receive any help finding or identifying birds from their mentor (or others).

What do mentors get? 
Mentors receive a free Youth Birding Competition T-shirt (bound to become a collector’s item) and a hearty thanks from the team and YBC coordinators. The mentor who commits the most time and energy to their team also will win a fantastic prize!  
If these material rewards don’t interest you, rest in the satisfaction that you are helping pass on your love of birds to the next generation.

 
Resources

Birding Resources

Local Audubon Societies

Local Audubon chapters and other bird clubs often lead bird walks open to the public of all ages. Some also have monthly meetings with interesting speakers. Several have regular newsletters. Birds Georgia teaches a Master Birder Class for those interested in delving more deeply into the study of birds.

Audubon Society chapters in Georgia:

• Augusta-Aiken Audubon Society
• Birds Georgia
• Coastal Georgia Audubon Society (Brunswick)
• Columbus Audubon Society
• Ogeechee Audubon Society (Savannah)
• Ocmulgee Audubon Society (Macon)
• Oconee Rivers Audubon Society (Athens)
• Southern Wings Bird Club (Lawrenceville)

For information on other birding clubs and birding in Georgia resources, visit the Georgia Ornithological Society website.

Participatory Science Projects

These projects generally require some basic bird identification ability, internet access and a place to watch birds. All are great ways to help collect data and learn birds in your area.

• Project FeederWatch
• eBird
• Great Backyard Bird Count
• Celebrate Urban Birds (Visit Cornell Lab of Ornithology or birdcount for more details.)
• Christmas Bird Count  
  • Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count is the longest-running participatory science project in the U.S. Dates and other details can be found on the Georgia Ornithological Society website.

Breeding Bird Survey
Taking part in the North American Breeding Bird Survey requires skill in identifying birds by sight and sound. Georgia DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section office in Forsyth can provide more information, (478) 994-1438. 

Bird Curricula

• Cornell Lab K-12 Education: K-12 materials and professional development for educators.
• Flying WILD: Bird curriculum designed to help middle school students implement school bird festivals and bird conservation projects. Includes many hands-on activities and events.
• Project WILD: The Project WILD activities listed below (found in the Project WILD K-12 Activity Guide) provide fun and educational bird programs. Each contains all information needed to conduct the activity, including objectives, method, background information, list of materials needed, procedures, evaluation suggestions, recommended grade levels, subject areas, duration, group size, setting and key terms. 
  • Changing the Land
  • Changing the Land Migration Barriers (deer not birds)
  • No Water off a Duck’s Back
  • Hazardous Links, Possible Solutions
  • Birds of Prey
  • Bird Song Survey

Birds Georgia LABS
Learning About Birds activities and materials provide educators with hands-on, interactive learning about birds, habitats and conservation. The curricula consist of student guides and accompanying lesson plans in English and Spanish. All units are aligned with Georgia Performance Standards in science and other subjects.

Create Bird Habitat at Home or School 

Several organizations offer tips for providing food, water, shelter and space for wildlife.  

• Birds Georgia
• Council of Outdoor Learning Toolkit
• Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division
• Georgia Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat Planning Guide
• National Wildlife Federation

Bird Conservation Organizations And Other Resources

American Bird Conservancy
Provides information on a wide range of conservation topics, including the Cats Indoors Campaign. Cats kill hundreds of millions of birds each year in the U.S. alone, as well as other wildlife species

National Audubon Society

Partners in Flight
International cooperative group of federal, state and private organizations working to protect migratory landbirds.

Hummingbirds.net
Provides information on attracting, watching, feeding and studying North American hummingbirds, with maps illustrating migration and tracking north and southward movements.

World Migratory Bird Day
World Migratory Bird Day celebrates the incredible journeys of migratory birds and highlights the need for conservation of these birds and their habitats. The event, which officially takes place on the second Saturday in May and October each year, encourages bird conservation and increases awareness of birds through hikes, bird watching, information about birds and migration, public events and a variety of other education programs.

Birding Georgia (Falcon Guide, 2000)
Author Giff Beaton’s guide to more than 100 places in Georgia to look for birds.

Annotated Checklist of Georgia Birds
Available from the Georgia Ornithological Society.  

Handbook of Bird Biology (3rd edition, 2016)
Excellent ornithology text from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

YBC Strategies

The main point of the YBC is to have fun outside while learning about the wonderful birds of Georgia. You can count birds in your yard or traverse the state. A team that successfully identifies 20 species in their yard and has a great time is just as important as a team that drives hundreds of miles and finds 160 species or more.

Because different teams will want to take different approaches, here’s some general advice and several possible routes. None of this information should be seen as the right way to do it: Most of the fun of birding is exploring on your own and finding good places and birds.

General Strategies

• Birds are creatures of habitat: The more habitats you visit, the more bird species you will find. Many species are only found in specific habitats, and if you don’t visit these sites, you won’t find those birds. Therefore, as you plan where to go, try to include as many different types of habitats as possible, such as ponds, lakes, streams, pine forests, hardwood forests, fields and wetlands. By understanding the basic habitat preferences of Georgia’s birds, you will know what to expect in each habitat. Tip: Edges between habitat types can be particularly good places to look for birds.
• Birds are also creatures of habit: It is helpful to know what to expect in spring in Georgia. Many songbirds and shorebirds will be in peak migration. A good reference is the bar chart section of Giff Beaton’s “Birding Georgia” book, which shows when each species can be found in Georgia.
• The more you know, the more you will find: It almost goes without saying that the more you know about birds, the more you will find. You will learn to make identifications with just a quick look, or even by the song alone. This type of skill takes time to develop, so don’t get frustrated. Instead, take advantage of your team mentor and training days designed to help you develop these skills. Just as important, get outside on your own with binoculars and a field guide, and practice. Don’t stop once you have identified a bird. Studying behavior can be a great way to learn more about a bird and will help you identify it more quickly the next time you see it.
• Take advantage of easily available birding resources: If you plan to travel throughout the state, Giff Beaton’s book “Birding Georgia” is invaluable. It shows more than 100 top birding sites in the state and includes birding strategies and species to expect. Most sites mentioned in this discussion are in the book, with detailed maps and directions. Also, there are many local Audubon chapters in Georgia with expert birders and monthly meetings where you can meet and learn from other birders. Another incredible resources is eBird. This online database managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology can help you learn about which birds should be at different locations and at what times of the year.

Specific Strategies

Since different teams may approach the YBC with differing levels of intensity, below are three possible routes based on a mellow, intermediate or hard-core approach. Teams take very different approaches depending on their age, experience and goals for the event.

Many teams of younger birders may want to spend most of the day around their houses and local parks. More ambitious teams may want to begin in north Georgia at a migrant spot like Kennesaw Mountain, where they could luck into large numbers of migrant songbirds. The most extreme approach may be to start on the coast of Georgia and find as many coastal species as possible before working your way back toward the mountains.

Whichever approach you choose, enjoy the time outside learning about Georgia’s amazing and diverse bird communities. 

T-shirt Art Contest

Learn more about the annual Youth Birding T-shirt Art Contest. While participation in that year’s Youth Birding Competition is encouraged, it is not required to submit entries for the T-shirt art contest. However, the deadline for entries is usually in January. Winners are honored at the Youth Birding Competition banquet.

YBC Sponsors