Anchorage, AK—In the dead of winter, the arrival of spring and the return of Alaska’s migratory birds seem like a long time off. But don’t despair; a colorful reminder of our departed feathered friends, the 2016 Alaska Migratory Bird Calendar, will soon be available for free at 13 participating U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices and in more than 45 villages across the state.

This year’s calendar is a celebration of Alaska’s migratory birds, “colorful and camouflaged,” and showcases winning artwork and literature submitted during the 2016 Alaska Migratory Bird Art and Literature Contest. More than 1,300 entries were submitted from 45 rural communities across Alaska. Judging of the submitted artwork and literature occurs at the local and statewide levels. Winners of the statewide contest are featured in the calendar.

Works by the grand prize winners, home-schooled eleventh grader Icey Lyman of Crooked Creek and sixth grader Ivory Lyman of McGrath, are displayed on the cover. In addition to the student artwork and literature, the pages of this year’s calendar include interesting facts about the birds that the kids drew and camo clues and color cues for other birds. Thanks to all of the students who entered the 2016 Alaska Migratory Bird Calendar Contest and the teachers who supported them.

The Alaska Migratory Bird Calendar Art and Literature Contest is an annual, statewide poster and literature competition that engages youth from across the state in art and learning about migratory birds. The contest and calendar were initiated in 1987 as part of an outreach and education campaign to restore and maintain populations of cackling, emperor, and Pacific white-fronted geese, and Pacific brant. At that time, only the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge held the contest. Twelve additional U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices are now participating.

This year’s contest and calendar publication was supported by: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Alaska Department of Fish and Game; Audubon Alaska, Ducks Unlimited—National and Fairbanks Chapter; 59th Parallel Productions, Inc.; Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges; and ConocoPhillips.

See the list of 2016 statewide winners below and view their art and literature on Flickr: https://bit.ly/1S8NLgm.

The 2017 Alaska Migratory Bird Calendar Art and Literature contest is currently underway. To find out if you are eligible to participate and how, visit:https://www.fws.gov/alaska/external/education/calendar.htm or contact Laura Whitehouse at (907) 786-3373 or laura_whitehouse@fws.gov.

2016 STATEWIDE WINNERS

See a list of 2016 local winners by visiting: https://www.fws.gov/alaska/external/education/local.htm

Source: USFWS [xyz-ihs snippet=”Adsense-responsive”]

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