Ready, Set, Snap!

Today marks the start of the 2026 Great Backyard Bird Count, and we are celebrating with the launch of our "Focus on the Flock" Amateur Photo Contest!

From now through Monday evening, your backyard becomes a gallery. Whether you have a professional camera or a trusty smartphone, we want to see the feathered friends visiting your neck of the woods.

🏆 The Prizes

Our staff will be huddled up to hand-select our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners based on personality, charm, and that perfect "backyard vibe." (We’ve got some fantastic prizes waiting at the store for the winners!) Winners will be announced on Monday, February 23rd.

 

📝 How to Enter

To keep things simple, please use this "Bird Bio" checklist for each entry you email to us.

Put this in the subject line: GBBC Photo Contest

Photographer Name:

Location (Town/City):

Species: (If you know it! If not, "Mystery Guest" works too.)

A Fun Fact or Story: Tell us a little bit about the moment you captured! (optional, but encouraged)

 

🕊️ Why We Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count isn't just fun—it’s important! By snapping these photos and participating, you're part of a global effort to help scientists understand bird populations. Want to learn more? Visit the GBBC website to get the scoop!

So, grab your coffee☕, head to the window, and show us your flock!

Happy Birding,

The Team at WBU Allentown

 

Please be sure to read the all of the following important information. 

 

⚖️ The Rules of the Roost: Official Contest Rules

1. Eligibility & Spirit

Amateur Status: This contest is for hobbyists. If more than 20% of your annual income comes from photography, please sit this one out and cheer from the sidelines!

Location: All photos must be taken in a "backyard" setting (your yard, a local park, or a community garden) during the official 2026 GBBC dates.

Technology: All photos must be taken using a traditional or mobile device camera. Photos taken with smart bird feeders or houses are not eligible for submission.

 

2. Ethical Birding (The "Golden Rule")

Respect the Subject: Photos of birds in distress, birds being baited with live prey, or birds on nests (which can cause abandonment) will be disqualified.

Keep Your Distance: Use your zoom, not your feet! If the bird changed its behavior because of you, you were too close.

 

3. Submission Guidelines

Original Work: You must be the person who pressed the shutter button.

Editing Limits: To respect the varying experience levels of participants, please submit raw, unedited photos only. Photos generated or manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI) technology or photo editing software will be disqualified.

Date Limits: All photos must have been taken and submitted between 9:00 AM on Friday, February 13, 2026 and 6:00 PM on Monday, February 16, 2026. 

Format: Submissions should be sent via email in high-resolution JPEG or PNG format.

 

4. Rights & Usage

Ownership: You keep the copyright to your photo!

Permission: By entering, you grant Wild Birds Unlimited permission to share your photo on social media and our website to celebrate the contest (with full credit to you, of course).

 

🌿 Ethical Birding: The "Bird-First" Promise

Wild Birds Unlimited loves bird photography, but we love the birds more! To keep our feathered friends safe and happy during the Focus on the Flock contest, we ask all participants to follow these simple ethical guidelines:

Distance is Key: If a bird changes its behavior—stops feeding, flushes (flies away), or starts making alarm calls—you are too close. Back up and use your zoom!

No Nesting Photos: Please avoid photographing birds on their nests. This can draw the attention of predators or cause the parents to abandon their eggs.

Natural Habitats Only: Please do not use "call-back" recordings to lure birds in, and never use live bait (like pet-store mice) to attract raptors.

Respect the Landscape: Stay on marked paths in public parks and always get permission before birding on private property.

The Golden Rule: A great photo is never worth stressing a bird. Let’s keep them wild and wonderful!