Media release from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources:
The start of registration for Georgia’s Youth Birding Competition points to the soon-coming fun and excitement of this popular birdathon, now in its 20th year.
Held by the state Department of Natural Resources and partners during the peak of spring bird migration, the 2026 Youth Birding Competition is set for April 10-18, with an awards ceremony and banquet held the last evening at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center near Mansfield. Teams of kindergarteners through high-schoolers will pick a 24-hour stretch during the nine-day span and compete by age group to find the most birds statewide by 5 p.m. April 18.
Competition founder and DNR Program Manager Tim Keyes said it is hard to imagine the event is 20 years old – until he considers “the many young birders who took part and are now adults, some well into professional conservation careers.”
“My hope,” Keyes added, “is that the YBC continues introducing young people to the magnetic wonder of birds and fueling passions for the outdoors and conservation for another 20 years.”
One thing the event is also still doing is inspiring people, even outside of Georgia. “Most recently we consulted with wildlife officials in Louisiana who are considering a similar program there,” Keyes said.
As it has the past three years, the 2026 Youth Birding Competition includes a week-plus window for teams to bird and an option to submit checklists early via email, allowing judges to review them before teams check-in at Charlie Elliott conference center, about an hour’s drive east of Atlanta.
The 2025 competition drew 37 teams and some 130 youth, including first-year teams in each of the four age divisions. The strong interest in birds is reflected nationwide, with four-in-10 Americans taking part in birdwatching in 2022. Keyes is encouraging families and organizations, from Scouts and schools to nature centers and birding groups, to enter or sponsor a Youth Birding Competition team this year.
Teams can register at https://georgiawildlife.com/ybc. The deadline to enter is March 15.
The event is free and no birding expertise is required. There is also a companion T-shirt Art Contest (https://georgiawildlife.com/YBCTshirtArtContest). However, the deadline for art entries was Jan. 31.
Youth Birding Competition sponsors include The Environmental Resources Network or TERN – friends group of DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section – the Georgia Ornithological Society, Birds Georgia and Georgia Power Co.
COMPETITION/AT A GLANCE
- What: Fun, free event engaging youth in the outdoors and learning about birds. Participants will receive a T-shirt and (most likely) prizes!
- When: Bird during a contiguous 24-hour period between 5 p.m. April 10 and 5 p.m. April 18. The banquet and awards ceremony is 5:30 p.m. April 18 at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (Mansfield).
- Where: Bird anywhere in Georgia but check-in at the Charlie Elliott conference center by 5 p.m. April 18. (Teams submitting lists digitally must email them by 5 p.m. April 17.)
- Registration: Sign up at https://georgiawildlife.com/ybc by March 15. The website includes event instructions and helpful birding resources for teams and leaders.
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