Attention all parents, children, teachers, youth clubs, birders and outdoor adventurers: Georgia's Youth Birding Competition needs YOU! The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (DNR/WRD) and The Environmental Resources Network, Inc. (T.E.R.N.) will be hosting the second annual Youth Birding Competition at WRD's Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center on Sunday, April 29, 2007, and interested participants can begin registering youth teams as soon as today.

"Inspired by the World Series of Birding event in Cape May, New Jersey, this bird-a-thon/conservation fundraiser is a great opportunity to get kids excited about birds and the natural world while helping support a nongame wildlife project or conservation organization of their choice," says WRD wildlife biologist and contest coordinator Tim Keyes.

Georgia's second annual Youth Birding Competition is open to teams ranging in age from elementary to high school (participants compete against other teams their age, in three age divisions). Fundraising is a voluntary compo-

nent of this event where teams could raise money on a per-bird or lump sum basis to support their chosen organization.

The competition will start at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 28 and end at 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 29, 2007. Participating groups may use as much or as little of that time to count as many birds as possible throughout Georgia. Although teams may start birding anywhere in the state, they must arrive at the "finish-line" at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield, Georgia by 6 p.m. on Sunday. While judges examine and score the final checklists, the participants will enjoy a live animal show followed by an awards banquet with amazing prizes including new binoculars for each member of the winning team.

To help the participants learn the birds of Georgia, the contest organizers will pair pre-registered teams with experienced birding mentors to meet throughout the year to participate in birding programs, workshops and other bird related events (Flying Wild curriculum, Backyard Bird Counts, Christmas Bird Counts). By organizing and registering youth teams now, this precompetition program will help the participants develop the knowledge needed to make the competition a success. The registration deadline is March 31, 2007 and is free to all participants.

Georgia's first Youth Birding Competition was held April 23, 2006, resulting in 180 species identified by sixteen teams, which were comprised of 68 youths ranging from 7 to 17 years old. Many of the participating teams crisscrossed the state, some starting the count at the beginning competition hour, while many others stationed themselves in one area of the state counting birds throughout the day. Two teams tied for the grand prize, each counting 100 species within the state.

"The First Annual Youth Birding Competition was the most fun I have ever had, and a life-changing experience," said Tim White, member of the award-winning Savannah Sparrows team. "To all you birders out there, consider being mentors or helping in some way. Wonderful times like this are contagious, and you should all participate!"

Many of the participants were awarded binoculars, field guides, bird feeders, posters, bird CDROMs and other door prizes donated by Eagle Optics, the Atlanta Audubon Society, the Georgia Ornithological Society, the Droll Yankees and T.E.R.N.

For more detailed information on Georgia's Youth Birding Competition and how you can register a youth team for this exciting event, contact the contest coordinator Tim Keyes at 478-994-1438 or Tim_Keyes@dnr.state.ga.us or visit WRD's website at www.georgiawildlife.com, and click "Nongame Animals & Plants."