First challenge in 2011 gave participants a chance to win the Bird Songs Bible! 

Photo of Great Blue Heron by Janie L. Ferguson, NY

View the poems, story, and video entries

View photo and art entries

Learn more about flight and feathers 

Go outside and notice the wonder of flight. How do you capture the way birds take off from a branch, fly in flocks, hover, dive, frolic, and land?

One of the classic sights of winter is an undulating flock of starlings dancing in the sky. The Mourning Dove's feathers make a twittering noise as it flies. How about that Canada Goose making a smooth landing on the water? Just like us, some birds are more graceful than others. Explore and have fun with the magic of flight.

Black-capped Chickadees in brief mid-air confrontation by Richard Leighton, MD

What is a 'challenge'? 

The challenge is to watch the birds around you, or just see them in your mind's eye, and let them inspire.  Participants write a poem or story, take a photo, draw, paint, sculpt, shoot video, then send us a copy of their work so we can post it on this web site to inspire others!  We might put it on the Celebrate Urban Birds Facebook page, so that's a great place to keep watching. We might also use entries in next year's 2012 Celebrate Urban Birds calendar!

We are more likely to use large file size photos for a project like the calendar that is printed on paper, so send big file size images if you want a better chance of being featured in next year's calendar!

Photo of female Northern Cardinal by Janie L. Ferguson, NY

Artists observe at the deeper level that scientists also aspire to.  Consider yourself both an artist and a scientist!  We want to see work from everybody; young/old, novice/expert.  There is so much more to know and understand about the birds in our world, and you can contribute! You can download the flier about the Flights of Fancy challenge, and share the challenge with your family, school, library, workplace, and community.

Photo of Bald Eagle by Janie L. Ferguson, NY

Prizewinners should be announced by February 15, 2011

Glaucous-winged Gull by Dawn Woodland, BC, Canada

Prizes:

The Bird Song Bible includes a built-in digital audio player, featuring songs and calls for  747 species. Just type in the number of the species you’re looking at and you’ll hear the bird sounds directly from our archives in the Macaulay Library. The Bird Song Bible book, edited by Les Beletsky, usually retails for $125.

      Feeders, nestboxes, bird CD's, bird DVD's, and more!  

  NestWatch posters!