Virtual Gallery for the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival
Text is an excerpt from the article in the 4.21.2021 issue of the Burns Times Herald
Each year, the bird festival’s membership dues and the Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge fundraising efforts support the AiR program, that ultimate reaches every elementary school classroom in Harney County!
In addition to the AiR program, the festival hosts a Youth Wildlife Art Contest which encourages students in kindergarten through high school to create a unique art entry for competition. Students are provided an opportunity to artistically express their knowledge of the diversity, interdependence, and beauty of wildlife.
This year, a total of 50 entries were submitted for the contest.
“The artwork submitted portray native North American bird species most likely to be seen in Harney County,” said Carey Goss from Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
The contest was judged in four grade-level categories: K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. First, second, and third place entries were selected from each group by a voting process within the bird festival committee, local government, and non-profit groups, using elements of art such as visual components of color, form, line, shape, space, texture, and value. Scholarships were awarded to the 12 winning artists, including a $100 gift certificate for each first place finisher.
