2024 Summer Birding Challenge

July 1 - 15: July Juveniles 

Capture images of birds raising a brood of chicks or fledglings becoming active and independent.

July 16-31: Wings in the Wild 

Create an environmental portrait emphasizing birds in their natural habitat. 

August 1 - 15: Summer Shorebirds (and other Water Birds)

While enjoying visits to the ocean, Bay, lakes or rivers, capture images of birds that live in and near water. As a special challenge, look for summer migrants such as Least Terns, Elegant Terns or Phalaropes that make brief visits to the Bay Area.

May 27-September 2: Far-Flung Friends

Summer is all about vacations and travel. Submit your favorite vacation bird images from anywhere in the world. Here's a chance to show us that exotic tropical bird, or the lifer from Africa, or even an interesting backyard bird observed during a relaxing staycation.

To participate:

All participating photographers are expected to adhere to Audubon's Guide to Ethical Bird Photography and Videography:

Audubon’s Guide to Ethical Bird Photography and Videography

For the first three challenges, photos should be taken in the Bay Area during the challenge period and artwork should be inspired by birds seen in the Bay Area during the challenge period. For the Far-Flung Friends Challenge, images of birds from anywhere in the world should be created between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

The submissions for each challenge will be published in a Smugmug gallery. Photos may contain unobtrusive watermarks as long as they are not located in the lower left-hand corner since that area is being reserved for text including species name and photo credits. For an example of a previous gallery, see 2023 September Bird Celebration

Images will become part of the SCVAS photo archive and may be used in SCVAS's communications materials which include the website, social media posts, newsletters, presentations, and reports. Photo credits will be given.

For each challenge, you may submit up to five photos or photos of artwork in jpeg format to photos@scvas.org. Please include the species and the photographer’s/artist’s name to be used for credits. Submit early for a chance to be featured in SCVAS Facebook posts or Instagram photo carousels. Photos and artwork should be submitted by one week after the end of each challenge.

All participants will be entered in a drawing to receive a free SCVAS Learn Course.

Please contact photo@scvas.org with any questions.

Photo Credit: Red-necked Phalaropes by Jeremy Frank