Kids Bird Art Contest Rules
Science and art come together in this fun contest! Share your work. Compete for prizes. Free! Register now!
Description: Kids ages 3-17 spend time outside recording information about birds in their neighborhood or nearby park/refuge and collect observations in a scientific drawing with notes, like a page in a field guide (see example at the left, and below for suggested guided questions). Artwork will be featured at current and future SFBBO events as well as displayed on website and social media. Category and Merit awards will be given. Contest Dates: Submissions due by Oct. 3, 2020. Winners will be announced in three age categories: ages 3-7 years (see modified guidelines), 8-11 years, and 12-17 years at the SFBBO Annual Membership Meeting in October 2020 (date and location TBA, attendance not required). |
Entry Guidelines by Age Category:
Ages 8-11 yrs & 12-17 yrs
Ages 3-7 years
This is a great opportunity to get your young child started drawing and observing in the outdoors! These guidelines are similar to those for the other age groups but expressly encourage adult involvement in the process. Mentors (parents, teachers, guides) can help young children learn to ask questions that give them a chance to look closer at birds in nature and around them.
How to Register: Please register by writing to outreach@sfbbo.org. Registration is FREE!
How to Submit Artwork: On back of artwork, please use pencil to legibly and clearly write artist name, age, hometown, and both artist and parent email (if applicable). Drop off or mail entries to arrive by October 3 to SFBBO, 524 Valley Way, Milpitas, CA 95035. Limit one entry per artist. All entries become the property of SFBBO and will not be returned. Entries may appear on the SFBBO website and social media, and at current and future events. Please contact us at 408-946-6548 ext. 2 or outreach@sfbbo.org with questions.
Guided Questions to Enrich Observations
These questions are intended to help artists (and mentors) work together to look and observe more closely. You don’t need to answer all of these questions to create a good field guide page, but the more questions you ask and wonder about, the more you will discover and see.
Questions: Please write to outreach@sfbbo.org or call (408) 946-6548 ext. 2 with questions
Ages 8-11 yrs & 12-17 yrs
- Submission must depict both bird(s) and habitat that the artist has seen and visited (see example on above).
- Submission must be an original (not copied, traced, or duplicated from any existing art/photo) and be completed by the artist with no or minimal adult assistance. The artist can work off of a self-taken photograph.
- Submission must include both common and scientific bird name, date, observation notes, and artist name. Other possible items for inclusion: map, microscopic views, labeled parts, behavioral notes, season, etc.
- Submission must be an original work created in traditional media (pencil, crayon, watercolor, marker, etc.). Please NO prints, copies, or digital submissions.
- Submission must be created on 8 ½ in x 11 in paper backing.
- One entry per individual.
Ages 3-7 years
This is a great opportunity to get your young child started drawing and observing in the outdoors! These guidelines are similar to those for the other age groups but expressly encourage adult involvement in the process. Mentors (parents, teachers, guides) can help young children learn to ask questions that give them a chance to look closer at birds in nature and around them.
- Submission must depict bird(s) and habitat that the artist has seen and visited.
- Submission must be original (not copied, traced, or duplicated from any existing art/photo) and should be completed by the child as much as possible.
- Submission must be an original work created in traditional media (pencil, crayon, watercolor, marker, etc.). Please NO prints, copies, or digital submissions.
- Submission must be created on 8 ½ in x 11 in paper backing.
- One entry per individual.
How to Register: Please register by writing to outreach@sfbbo.org. Registration is FREE!
How to Submit Artwork: On back of artwork, please use pencil to legibly and clearly write artist name, age, hometown, and both artist and parent email (if applicable). Drop off or mail entries to arrive by October 3 to SFBBO, 524 Valley Way, Milpitas, CA 95035. Limit one entry per artist. All entries become the property of SFBBO and will not be returned. Entries may appear on the SFBBO website and social media, and at current and future events. Please contact us at 408-946-6548 ext. 2 or outreach@sfbbo.org with questions.
Guided Questions to Enrich Observations
These questions are intended to help artists (and mentors) work together to look and observe more closely. You don’t need to answer all of these questions to create a good field guide page, but the more questions you ask and wonder about, the more you will discover and see.
- What colors did you see? Where were they located? (Eyes, brow, head, wings, tail, feet…)
- Are there any patterns in bird’s movements? How did it move? Where did it move?
- Where is the bird located? (Air, tree, on the ground, in water, near water…) Did you see it in more than one place? Is there a name for the particular habitat? (Marsh, forest, bay, river, slough, ocean…)
- What is the size of the bird? Compare the bird’s size to another object. (Golf ball, baseball, basketball…)
- Why does the bird choose where you see it? What do you think they might like about their chosen spot?
- Does the bird make any kind of noise (vocalization)? Can you describe or write out the song or noise? Does it remind you of anything?
Questions: Please write to outreach@sfbbo.org or call (408) 946-6548 ext. 2 with questions