Great Texas Birding Classic

10/11/2026

Happy World Migratory Bird Day! How did you celebrate?

Happy World Migratory Bird Day!

Migratory birds make incredible journeys across borders and continents. Today, we celebrate them—and the people working to protect them along the way.

But celebrating birds is just the beginning.

This World Migratory Bird Day, take one action for birds:

🔭 Go birding and contribute observations to community science
🌱 Create or protect bird-friendly habitat
📣 Share what you’ve learned with your community
🐦 Support bird conservation
🤝 Get involved with a local program or event

Small actions, multiplied across communities, can make a difference for migratory birds.

Find ways to get involved: migratorybirdday.org

10/08/2026

Want a Fall Big Sit run while you wait for Spring’s Birding Classic? The international Big Sit! is Gree and going on this weekend! Be sure to register your circle at https://www.thebigsit.org/the-big-sit-circle-entry if your would like to promote your Big Sit! event.

If you are looking to participate in an established circle, check out https://www.thebigsit.org/display-circle-sheet
There are several planned throughout Texas. Join the fun!!

08/10/2026

Beyond honored to see our birding event featured in Cowboys & Indians magazine’s ultimate roundup of "51 Reasons To Love Sports In The West." To be listed side-by-side with legendary Western athletic events, historic rodeos, and major cultural traditions is an incredible privilege. It goes to show that the passion, dedication, and thrill of birding belong right up there with the best of Western sports. Thank you to everyone who makes this event so special year after year!

Read the full list here: https://www.cowboysindians.com/2026/07/51-reasons-to-love-sports-in-the-west/

07/31/2026

A record number of teams, a record number of participants, a generous $20,000 anonymous donation, our first art contest winners, a record $85,000 in conservation grants, 41 first-time teams, generous sponsors, and more made the 30th annual Great Texas Birding Classic extra special. Thanks to everyone who helped make this year a success.

Read more in this news wrap-up:
https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/?req=20260731a

(Slight correction to the release - winning Weeklong team name is Two Chats & a Chick, not Two Chicks & a Chat, as listed.)

06/16/2026

Birding Classic Art Contest GRAND PRIZE WINNER:
Townsend Keller!

Congratulations to Townsend Keller, whose original piece showing 9 species from across the state - literally! - is the winner of this year's grand prize!

We’re excited to work with Townsend on next year’s Birding Classic t-shirt design. It’s going to lend itself to so many color options for the shirt and will work well on all the graphics we use to promote the event. It’s going to be a great addition to the Birding Classic history of original artwork. Thank you, Townsend, for submitting this piece.

Artwork includes the shape of Texas with 9 species of birds: Burrowing Owl, Chuck-will’s-widow, Lucifer Hummingbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Eastern Meadowlark, Cerulean Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, and Plain Chachalaca

06/16/2026

Multi-Species Flock Category Winners
This year we had our first ever Birding Classic Art Contest. In this contest, we had three categories (Single Species, Single Species Flock, and Multiple Species Flock).

We have two winners in the Multi-Species Flock category:
- Daphne Blevins with Burrowing Owls, Eastern Meadowlarks, and Lucifer Hummingbirds
- Townsend Keller with Burrowing Owl, Chuck-will’s-widow, Lucifer Hummingbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Eastern Meadowlark, Cerulean Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, and Plain Chachalaca

Artists were invited to submit original work in as many categories as they wanted, but were only allowed to win in a single category. We had 51 total entries and are excited about all of the wonderful art that was submitted. While there can be only one grand prize winner, the caliber of the art submitted was really outstanding. Y’all made the selection very difficult for our panel of judges.

06/16/2026

Single Species Flock Category Winners
This year we had our first ever Birding Classic Art Contest. In this contest, we had three categories (Single Species, Single Species Flock, and Multiple Species Flock).

We have three winners in the Single Species Flock category:
Donna Dittman with Burrowing Owls
Jill D’Etremont with Great-tailed Grackles
Lindsey Sternberg with Painted Buntings

Artists were invited to submit original work in as many categories as they wanted, but were only allowed to win in a single category. We had 51 total entries and are excited about all of the wonderful art that was submitted. While there can be only one grand prize winner, the caliber of the art submitted was really outstanding. Y’all made the selection very difficult for our panel of judges.

06/16/2026

Single Species Category Winners
This year we had our first ever Birding Classic Art Contest. In this contest, we had three categories (Single Species, Single Species Flock, and Multiple Species Flock).

We have three winners in the Single Species category:
Evelyn Ferrero with a Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Spencer Jeske with a Great-tailed Grackle
Shelby McCay with a Northern Mockingbird

Artists were invited to submit original work in as many categories as they wanted, but were only allowed to win in a single category. We had 51 total entries and are excited about all of the wonderful art that was submitted. While there can be only one grand prize winner, the caliber of the art submitted was really outstanding. Y’all made the selection very difficult for our panel of judges.

06/15/2026

At this year's Awards Ceremony we tried something new for stories from the field. We asked teams to submit short videos on their tournament days and then put them together to share at the event. Thanks to all who submitted - love how this came out! Enjoy a little glimpse at some of the highs, lows, and best parts about the Birding Classic this year for our teams!

06/14/2026

Did you snap any photos at yesterday's Birding Classic Awards Ceremony? We'd love to see them!

The afternoon was filled with celebration, stories, laughter, and recognition of the incredible people who make the Birding Classic such a special event. If you captured any moments you'd be willing to share, please post them in the comments.
I'll get things started by sharing the few photos I have (thanks to Bill, Jen, and Martha for sharing theirs with me as well!,), but I'm hoping we can create a collection that reflects everyone's experience and captures the spirit of the day.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make it such a fun and memorable celebration!