Explore the outdoors, see birds and other wildlife, compete for fun, enjoy free food at Georgia’s Youth Birding Competition.

The 14th annual event is April 26-27, and youth from kindergarten to high school seniors can participate. Coordinator Tim Keyes of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said involving children and teens in birding, the outdoors and conservation has always been the motivation for the competition.

“The event is a great opportunity to learn, spend the outdoors in a fun, almost scavenger hunt atmosphere … and tap into a broader community of kids who are passionate about birds,” said Keyes, a wildlife biologist with DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section.

March 31 is the deadline to register for the 24-hour statewide birdathon. Register and learn more at www.georgiawildlife.com/YBC. Mentors are available for birding novices, but please sign up soon.

Teams of from two to five youth sign up and compete in one of four age divisions. (There is a prize category for first-year teams.) Participants can volunteer to raise money for conservation.

The contest starts at 5 p.m. Friday, April 26, and ends at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 27. Groups may use as much or as little of that time to count as many birds as possible anywhere in Georgia.

But teams must turn in their checklists at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center near Mansfield by 5 p.m. Saturday. The youth are then treated to an animal show and a prize-packed awards banquet.

The competition also includes a T-shirt Art Contest. Deadline to enter the T-shirt contest is March 13. Participation in the birding event is encouraged but not required to enter.

There is no charge for either contest, aside from the optional cost of overnight lodging at Charlie Elliott.

The Youth Birding Competition and T-shirt Art Contest are sponsored by the DNR Wildlife Conservation Section, The Environmental Resources Network Inc. (TERN) – friends group of the agency – and others, including the Georgia Ornithological Society and the Atlanta and Albany Audubon societies.

Started in 2005, the competition has built an impressive record of helping develop an interest in birds and wildlife among youth. Some competitors have gone on to study ecology and natural resources management in college. Some former birding novices are now veterans and mentoring younger birders. Over the past 13 years, teams have also raised more than $20,000 for conservation.

For details, including registering online, visit www.georgiawildlife.com/YBC. Tim Keyes can be reached at 912-222-0424 or tim.keyes@dnr.ga.gov. Information about the Charlie Elliott Conference Center, including lodging, is available by calling Robin Thompson at 770-784-3122.

For more on the T-shirt Art Contest, visit www.georgiawildlife.com/YBCTshirtArtContest or contact art contest coordinator Linda May at 706-557-3226 or linda.may@dnr.ga.gov.