DNR Announces T-Shirt Art Winners in Youth Birding Competition

Social Circle, GA

Eight budding bird artists have been selected as T-shirt Art Contest winners in Georgia’s 20th annual Youth Birding Competition, the state Department of Natural Resources announced today.

A drawing of a black-and-white warbler by Emma Lo of Sandy Springs led the statewide contest’s 147 entries from 34 public, private and home schools, as well as after-school programs. At 9 years old, Lo is the youngest participant to win the Youth Birding T-shirt Art Contest’s grand prize.

As the top winner, the fourth grader at SKA Academy of Art and Design in Duluth will receive a $100 Amazon gift card and have her artwork featured on T-shirts at the 2026 Youth Birding Competition.

The art contest is part of the annual birding event, in which children and teens try to find as many bird species as possible across Georgia in 24 hours. The fun, free bird-a-thon starts Friday, April 10, and ends Saturday, April 18. Teams of kindergarteners through high-schoolers will pick a 24-hour stretch during that span and compete by age group to find the most birds statewide. The competition ends in an awards ceremony and banquet April 18 at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield. Registration for the competition is open until March 15 at https://georgiawildlife.com/YBC.

The T-shirt art contest entry by Lo also led the Elementary Division. Other division winners and runners-up include:

  • Primary (pre-K through second grade): purple finch by Keira Lin, 8, an Alpharetta second grader at SKA Academy of Art and Design in Duluth. Runner-up: eastern towhee by Romi Kim, 8, a Johns Creek second grader at Wilson Creek Elementary and student at Jin Art Studio in Alpharetta.  
  • Elementary (third-fifth grade) runner-up: northern mockingbird by Misha Mehra, 9, an Alpharetta fourth grader at Lake Windward Elementary and a student at Jin Art Studio. 
  • Middle School (sixth-eighth grade): northern flicker by Finn Maier, 14, an eighth grader at The Waldorf School of Atlanta. Runner-up: white-crowned sparrow by Sarah Tan, 12, a Suwanee seventh grader and SKA Academy student. 
  • High School (ninth-12th grade): Ross’s goose by Aubrey Sulkowski, 14, a ninth grader at Effingham College and Career Academy in Rincon. Runner-up: snowy egret by Sophia Lin, 17, an 11th grader from Lawrenceville and SKA Academy student.

Each of the other division winners will be awarded $60 Amazon gift cards, with runners-up receiving $40 Amazon gift cards.

Art contest coordinator Linda May praised all competitors for their efforts. “By observing and researching potential birds to draw or paint, students connect with nature and discover Georgia’s amazing biodiversity,” said May, outreach coordinator for DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section. “Birds are a great focus for this art contest since they’re beautiful, entertaining to watch and easy to find.”

Georgia is home to more than 400 species of resident and migratory birds, ranging in size from the tiny ruby-throated hummingbird to the iconic bald eagle. To encourage wildlife conservation, both an awareness and appreciation of these animals and their habitats are essential. The contest helps form that foundation through art. Research shows that participation in nature art also promotes children’s well-being by developing confidence and supporting creativity.  

The birding competition and T-shirt Art Contest are sponsored by DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section, The Environmental Resources Network (TERN) – friends group of the Wildlife Conservation Section – and others including the Georgia Ornithological Society, Georgia Power and Birds Georgia.

For More

Help Conserve Georgia Wildlife