An official website of the State of Georgia.
The 2023 Youth Birding Competition is set for April 14-22, with the awards ceremony and banquet that last evening at Charlie Elliott Conference Center. The deadline to register is March 31.
FAQ
What is the YBC?
It's a fun, 24-hour birding completion held during a nine-day period that coincides with peak spring migration. In the YBC, teams of two to five youths compete against others by age division to find the most birds in Georgia. A banquet and awards ceremony follows on the last day at Charlie Elliott Conference Center near Mansfield.
When is it?
In 2023, teams will choose a contiguous 24-hour period between 5 p.m. April 14 and 5 p.m. April 22 to bird. All teams must arrive at the conference center by 5 p.m. Saturday, April 22, to turn in checklists and join the banquet. (Teams can submit their checklist digitally by 5 p.m. April 21 but check-in at the center April 22 is required.) The deadline to register is March 31.
Where is it?
Statewide! Visit as much or as little of Georgia as you want. There are no restrictions on where you can bird. Just make sure you have permission or the licenses/permits needed to access the sites you bird. And that your team is at Charlie Elliott Conference Center near Mansfield by 5 p.m. April 22.
Do you need to be an expert?
No! We can pair your team with an experienced birder (mentor) to help you learn about the birds before the competition. Please note that during the competition, only youth participants can identify birds.
Who does it benefit?
Your team can use the Youth Birding Competition to raise money for the Georgia Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund – the main fund for DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section – or for the conservation organization of your choice.
Are there prizes?
Of course! For each age group (K-2, 3-5, 6-8 or 9-12), teams will compete for most birds reported, most money raised and the top first-year teams. Grand prizes include new binoculars for the team finding the most birds. There also will be door prizes for almost all participants who attend the awards ceremony.
How much does it cost?
Participation is absolutely free (including the coveted YBC T-shirts).
How can you register?
Sign up here. The deadline to register is March 31.
Participation Booklet
Details on registration, rules, ethics, resources, becoming a mentor and more are included in the 2023 Youth Birding Competition booklet (view the booklet or download a copy). The booklet includes a bird species checklist but you can also download one separately.
Enjoy Drawing?
Learn more about the related Youth Birding T-shirt Art Contest. Participation on a birding team is encouraged but not required to submit artwork. The deadline for entries to be emailed is March 13, 2023.
Funding
Georgia's Youth Birding Competition is primarily funded by The Environmental Resources Network Inc. (TERN), friends group of the Wildlife Resources Division's Wildlife Conservation Section. For more information on TERN, including how to become a member, call (478) 994-1438 or visit TERN’s website. Donations are also provided by Georgia and Albany Audubon societies and Georgia Ornithological Society.
