Participants must draw or paint a native Georgia bird that has not been previously featured on a Youth Birding Competition T-shirt (more details at https://georgiawildlife.com/YBCtshirtArtContest). Georgia is home to over 400 species of wild birds, so options abound! Because the contest highlights birds that naturally occur in the state and were not brought here from other countries, artwork of non-native or domesticated species (such as European starlings, English sparrows, parrots, peacocks, Pekin ducks and rock doves) is not eligible.

Artwork must be flat (not 3D) and may be created on paper or canvas. Draw or paint the bird’s features as accurately as possible. A simple background that provides habitat context is good to include, but make sure the bird stands out well and is the focus of the artwork. Also keep in mind that deep, contrasting colors scan best for a T-shirt.  

To enter the contest, take a full-frame photo of your artwork using a camera or smartphone. Complete the online form at https://georgiawildlife.com/YBCtshirtArtContest and upload the photo of your artwork by Jan. 31, 2025. Only one entry per person is allowed, and it must be the youth’s original artwork. Participation in the Youth Birding Competition in April 2025 is encouraged but not required to submit artwork for the T-shirt Art Contest.

A winner will be picked from each of four age divisions: primary (pre-K through second grade), elementary (third-fifth grades), middle school (sixth-eighth) and high school. One winner will be awarded the grand prize: Their artwork will appear on the 2025 Youth Birding Competition T-shirt and they’ll receive a $100 Amazon gift card. The three other first-place winners will each receive a $60 Amazon gift card. Runners-up in each age division will be awarded a $40 Amazon gift card.

In the 2025 Youth Birding Competition, teams will try to see or hear as many bird species as possible throughout Georgia in a 24-hour period during the contest dates. Details, including timing and how to register a team, will be posted later this year at https://georgiawildlife.com/YBC. You can also contact competition coordinator Tim Keyes at (912) 262-3191 or tim.keyes@dnr.ga.gov.  

For more information on the T-shirt Art Contest and to enter, visit https://georgiawildlife.com/YBCtshirtArtContest. You can also contact art contest coordinator Linda May at (706) 319-0211 or linda.may@dnr.ga.gov.