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BirdSpotter is our way of rewarding all of you who help Project FeederWatch learn about birds in your backyard Sign up for Project FeederWatch and help us reach this year's goal of 25k active FeederWatch participants!.

Visit: Wild Birds Unlimited - Feed the Birds

See all the 2016 winners!

Category 2: Judges’ Choice

Grand Prize Winner

Bluebird bath time

Steven Liffmann

Salem, NH, United States

This bluebird had a ball splishing and splashing in the bird bath. He took a moment to look right at me as if to say “Do you mind, I’m bathing”.


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Category 7: Judges’ Choice

Second Place Winner

Waiting for the early bird special.

Lynda Murtha

Tamworth, Ontario, Canada

A friend has been feeding peanuts to a flock of bluejays and without fail they arrive at 8 every morning for their breakfast special. Even in a snowstorm…


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Category 4: Judges’ Choice

Third Place Winner

Blue Jay in the snow

Harry Foster

Breckenridge, QC, Canada


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Category 8: Judges’ Choice

American Marten on Suet Feeder.

Bob Steventon

Prince George, BC, Canada

This Marten had no trouble making the jump from the trunk of a large Douglas Fir to the feeder hanging from one of its branches. We load the feeder with chunks of fat and fatty bones. The Marten was a frequent visitor in the winter of 2015-16


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Category 8: People’s Choice

Finch

Larry Keller

Lititz, PA, United States

An late spring snow storm in Pa and the Finch returns to our yard for the second year


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Category 7: People’s Choice

Bottoms Up!

Linda Roy Walls

Galestown, MD, United States

The Tundra Swans chose the Galestown Millpond as a winter stopover for about a month on their migration north. Every night about 800 Tundra Swans would descend upon the pond. In the mornings before they ascended back into the sky, they would tip upside down to tug at underwater plants (for food) along the pond border. I was fortunate to get a shot of five swans tipping simultaneously.


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Category 6: Judges’ Choice

“Grace”

David Brislance

Lutsen, MN, United States


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Category 6: People’s Choice

“high five”

Robert Mirault

Ontario, Canada


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Category 5: Judges’ Choice

Bark Butter Battle

Shirley Donald

Oro-Medonte, ON, Canada

Your birds may be ‘sweet on suet’ but mine are besotted with bark butter.


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Category 5: People’s Choice

Bushtits Galore!

Chelsea Lincoln

Hillsboro, OR, United States

Bushtits attracted to homemade vegetarian suet on apartment balcony. Such a delight!


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Category 4: People’s Choice

Blackberry Robin.

mark landis

Girard, PA, United States


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Category 3: Judges’ Choice

Male Anna’s Hummingbird

Sandra Schulze

Bellingham, WA, United States

Overwintering Anna’s have apparently been increasing in numbers here in Bellingham WA over the past decade. No doubt they get the choice of nesting sites, worth the price of population attrition through freezing. I maintain a small population of 4 or 5, also increasing in number each year.


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Category 3: People’s Choice

Feed Me!!

S Beebe

Show Low, AZ, United States

This Bullocks Oriole family was hanging out at the jelly feeders and the young one got impatient as it yelled to Dad for food.


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Category 2: People’s Choice

Enjoying a Dip in the Pool

Eileen Chorba

Beach Lake, PA, United States


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Category 1: Judges’ Choice

Tufted titmouse at the window feeder.

Robyn Newman

Hampton, GA, United States

This Tufted titmouse was one of many birds to come to our window feeder.


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Category 1: People’s Choice

That’s A Mouthful

Diane Marshman

New Milford, PA, United States

A female Eastern Bluebird with a colorful capture.


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How the Photo Contest Works

  1. 1Every other Monday will have a BirdSpotter photo challenge, telling you what kind of photo we want to see that week.
  2. 2Upload your best pic and start voting! Each contest category runs from Monday through midnight the following Thursday.
  3. 3There will be two photo winners every other week: one photo that received the most votes and one "Judges' Choice." Winners are announced every other Friday and will be entered to win the Grand Prize!
One entry per person per challenge, please.
Contest runs November 7th through March 2nd.

See official rules >


See all the 2016 contest categories!!

Most Recent Entries

Vote now for your favorite photos!

More ways to win!

Data Entry Awards

Registered FeederWatchers can win BirdSpotter prizes by simply entering data and sharing their best tips, stories, and bird-watching memories. When participants submit bird counts, they will see a "Share your story" prompt and an "Enter to Win" button on their Count Summary page. Four different prompts will be advertised throughout the contest and winners will be randomly selected. Not a FeederWatcher? Join now!

A stocky, metallic green hummingbird with a straight bill hovers under a yellow flower as it drinks the flower's nectar.

Latest Winner!

Data Entry Contest: Backyard Bird Havens

| Anna’s Hummingbird by Jessica McConahay | For the sixth season in a row, Project FeederWatch and our sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited are rewarding registered FeederWatchers with the chance to win prizes. After entering bird counts (data) into the FeederWatch website, participants have the opportunity to share a story, memory, or tip by clicking the […]

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Suggested Prizes from Wild Birds Unlimited

Gift Card winners will need to go into their nearest WBU store to redeem.

  • WBU EcoTough Classic Hopper Feeder with bag of No-Mess Blend 5lbs

    $100 Prize Range
    EcoClean Tube Feeder with bag of No-Mess Blend 20lbs.

    • EcoClean Medium Tube Feeder - Wild Birds Unlimited was the first to launch EcoClean® product protection to the hobby of backyard bird feeding. EcoClean products includes antimicrobial product protection.
    • No-Mess Blend 20lbs - Our No-Mess Blends include a mix of sunflower chips, hulled white millet and shelled peanuts, foods which appeal to birds that eat at the feeder or on the ground. No shells. No mess. 100% edible!
  • WBU EcoTough Classic Hopper Feeder with bag of No-Mess Blend 5lbs

    $100 Prize Range
    WBU EcoTough Classic Hopper Feeder with bag of No-Mess Blend 5lbs.

    • EcoTough Classic Hopper Feeder - EcoTough Classic Bird Feeder. Imagine a wood-free bird feeder that actually looks like wood! Our EcoTough® Classic won't crack, fade or rot and has a lifetime guarantee.
    • No-Mess Blend 5lbs - Our No-Mess Blends include a mix of sunflower chips, hulled white millet and shelled peanuts, foods which appeal to birds that eat at the feeder or on the ground. No shells. No mess. 100% edible!
  • WBU The Eliminator Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

    $100 Prize Range
    Eliminator

    • Eliminator - The Eliminator Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder. Protect your bird seed bounty from squirrels with our Eliminator™ bird feeder. When a squirrel touches the perch ring, its weight closes the seed ports, foiling its seed-stealing plot.
  • WBU The Eliminator Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

    $100 Prize Range
    Exclusive WBU foods

    • WBU Bird Food - Try an array of bird foods available exclusively at Wild Birds Unlimited. No bird food attracts more species of birds than Jim's Birdacious® Bark Butter®. Created by Jim Carpenter, founder of Wild Birds Unlimited.
  • WBU APS Basic Setup with a Baffle, EcoClean Seed Tube & EcoClean Finch Feeder

    $200 Prize Range
    APS Basic Setup with a Baffle, EcoClean Seed Tube & EcoClean Finch Feeder

    • APS - Our patented, exclusive Advanced Pole System®. Poles stay straight, looks great! Additional pieces are available to customize your bird feeding station. Add the perfect bird feeder to your station to attract your favorite birds. Attach a baffle to deter nuisance critters like squirrels.
  • WBU APS Basic Setup with a Baffle, EcoClean Seed Tube & EcoClean Finch Feeder

    $250 Prize Range
    APS Basic Setup with a Baffle, EcoClean Seed Tube & EcoClean Finch Feeder, with one 20lbs. bag of seed

    • APS - Our patented, exclusive Advanced Pole System®. Poles stay straight, looks great! Additional pieces are available to customize your bird feeding station. Add the perfect bird feeder to your station to attract your favorite birds. Attach a baffle to deter nuisance critters like squirrels.
    • No-Mess Blends - Our No-Mess Blends include a mix of sunflower chips, hulled white millet and shelled peanuts, foods which appeal to birds that eat at the feeder or on the ground. No shells. No mess. 100% edible!

Weekly Prizes

From the Cornell Lab of Ornithology & Wild Birds Unlimited

Weekly Prizes from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  • Gift Card from Wild Birds Unlimited
    • $100 for Photo Contest and Data Entry Contest winners
    • $200 to Lifetime Awards winners
  • Lab Cedar Waxwing Mug
  • Lab Field Notebook
  • Lab Tote Bag
  • Lab Magnetic Note Pad
  • Lab Pen

Grand Prizes

First Place

First Place Prizes
  • $250 gift certificate to Wild Birds Unlimited
  • Your choice of a series of 5 webinars
  • Framed Charlie Harper print
  • 2 bags of Birds & Beans Bird Friendly coffee
  • Lab Sweatshirt
  • Lab T-shirt

Second Place

Second Place Prizes
  • $250 gift certificate to Wild Birds Unlimited
  • Lab sweatshirt
  • One bag of Birds & Beans Bird Friendly Coffee
  • Framed Charlie Harper print

Third Place

Third Place Prizes
  • $250 gift certificate to Wild Birds Unlimited
  • Lab t-shirt
  • One bag of Birds & Beans Bird Friendly coffee
  • Framed Charlie Harper print

2016-17: Weekly Winners Announcements

Want to plan your photo submissions and see when contest winners are announced? Here's a peak at the contest schedule for this season.

November 18

Photo Contest

Birds with Food or at the Feeder

Show us your hungry birds!

Accepting submissions:
November 7 - 17

November 25

Data Entry Contest

Count Birds + Share Stories = Win!

Squirrels and chipmunks can gobble seed and scare off birds at the feeder. Share your tips for discouraging and/or distracting these cute marauders.

Accepting submissions:
November 13 - 23

December 2

Photo Contest

Bathing Beauties

Keeping feathers clean is important and refreshing.

Accepting submissions:
November 21 - December 1

December 9

10-Year Participant Winner

No photo submissions

December 16

Photo Contest

Nectar & Fruit Feeders

What birds enjoy the sweeter side of life?

Accepting submissions:
December 5 - 15

December 23

Data Entry Contest

Count Birds + Share Stories = Win!

Did that really just happen? FeederWatch is full of eye witness moments when we cannot believe our eyes. Share your stories of unexpected encounters and interesting bird behaviors.

Accepting submissions:
November 24 - December 21

December 30

Photo Contest

Everyday Feeder Friends

Show us your "regulars."

Accepting submissions:
December 19 - 29

January 6

20-Year Participant Winner

No photo submissions

January 13

Photo Contest

Sweet for Suet

Those extra calories are delicious and nutritious. What birds enjoy a suet feast?

Accepting submissions:
January 2 - 12

January 20

Data Entry Contest

Count Birds + Share Stories = Win!

What makes your count site special? Do you have a bird feeding station that draws in a crowd? Native plants that make your birds sing? Share what makes your count site a bird-friendly haven.

Accepting submissions:
December 22 - January 18

January 27

Photo Contest

Birds in Flight

Let's take off — show us some flying birds!

Accepting submissions:
January 16 - 26

February 3

30-Year Participant Winner

No photo submissions

February 10

Photo Contest

Birds of a Feather Stick Together

What birds enjoy company?

Accepting submissions:
January 30 - February 9

February 17

Data Entry Contest

Count Birds + Share Stories = Win!

Feeding birds can be a practice passed down from generation to generation, and for others it is a newly discovered interest. Share your FeederWatch "origin" story.

Accepting submissions:
January 19 - February 15

February 24

Photo Contest

The Not-so-usual Suspects

Show us some uncommon visitors to your backyard.

Accepting submissions:
February 13 - February 23

March 3

Photo Contest

Grand Prize

Voting open:
February 25 - March 2