2021-2022 Youth Contest Winners
Terry Kochert presented the awards for the winners of the youth Photo and Bird Count Contest at the November 14, 2022 meeting. Conococheague Audubon sponsors contests for Best Bird Photo and Longest Bird List for youth in two age groups: 5-15 and 16-18. We received several entries and these are the winners: From left to right: Gabe and Nick Putt in the back and Ethan and Dietrich Long in the front.
Best Bird Photo, 5-15 Age Group: Winner is Nick Putt, 12, for his photo of an errant Red-tailed Hawk Eating Meat, which was taken across the road from his place of residence. It was taken June 27, 2022. He used a Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80 camera to take his photo. He is the son of Terry and Marina Putt , Chambersburg.
Best Bird Photo, 16-18 Age Group: Winner is Gabe Putt, 16, for his photo of a Palm Warbler Eating a Bug, taken along the Ship Harbor Trail, Acadia National Park, Maine on June 7, 2022. He used a Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80 camera to take his photo. He is the son of Terry and Marina Putt, Chambersburg.
Longest Bird List, 5-15 Age Group: Winner is Ethan Long, 13, for having seen a total of 147 distinct species. He saw most of his birds locally, thirty-three in the Magee Marsh, OH area during our CAS field trip there, and two in Clarion County. Perhaps the best bird he saw was a Swallow-tailed Kite fly over his uncle’s property. He began his list April 22, 2022 and finished Oct. 7, 2022 with a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. He is the son of Elizabeth Long, Greencastle, PA.
Second Prize winner is Dietrich Long, 11, also the son of Elizabeth Long, Greencastle, PA, saw a total of 134 distinct bird species. Most of them were seen locally. He also managed to pick up 39 species on the CAS Magee Marsh field trip and two others in Clarion County, PA. Dietrich also began recording his bird list on April 22, 2022 and finished on Oct. 7, 2022 with the same Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
First-place winners earn $50 each; second-place winners earn $35 each; and third-place winners earn $25 each. If you missed this year’s contests, be sure to get started for the next round!
Start now! Conococheague Audubon Society invites local youth ages 5 – 18 to participate in either or both of these contests.
Longest Bird Species List of the Year: From December 1, 2022 through October 9, 2023, keep a detailed list of each different bird species you see. Note the date, the common name of the bird, and where you saw it. Some examples of entries might be:
12/12/22; Dark-eyed Junco; behind our house.
01/09/23; Tundra Swan; Bender’s Pond.
05/19/23; Great Egret; Dover, DE (Bombay Hook Wildlife National Refuge).
You only need to note when you first see the bird. On October 9, 2023, you will deliver your bird species list to Immediate Past President, Terri Kochert, at our regular CAS monthly meeting.
Best Bird Photo of the Year: This contest involves you taking photographs of any backyard birds, ducks, geese, etc., you see with your phone or camera. From December 1, 2022 through October 9, 2023, take a picture of any bird (hawk, owl, duck, songbird, etc.). On October 9, 2023, you will deliver up to three of your favorite photos (5” X 7” size) to Terri Kochert at our regular CAS monthly meeting. A CAS panel will determine which photos are the best.
Prizes: There will be first-, second- and third-place winners for each level of both contests. First-place winners will earn $50 each; second-place winners earn $35 each; and third-place winners earn $25 each. Awards will be granted on Nov. 13, 2023 at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2695 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, PA 17202.
Please note: We need your parent’s/guardian’s permission for you to enter the contest and for us to report selected information about you to our members and the public. Your parent/guardian must also affirm your entries comply with the rules.
For full details, see the contest information and permission slip files.
Longest Bird List of the Year 2022-2023
Addendum to Longest Bird List of the Year 2022-2023
Permission Slip for Longest Bird List of 2022-2023
Best Photo of the Year 2022-2023
Permission Slip for Best Photo of the Year 2022-2023
Contact Information for both contests for 2022-2023