News & Observer Birdhouse Competition at the JC Raulston Arboretum

Sponsored by the News and Observer, Pennington Seed, and the JC Raulston Arboretum

  • Thursday, March 29, 2007 – 7:30 pm–9:00 pm – FOA Lecture
  • Friday, March 30, 2007 – 7:30 am–6:00 pm – Entries Accepted
  • Saturday, March 31, 2007 – 10:00 am–5:00 pm – Show
  • Sunday, April 1, 2007 – 12:00 pm–5:00 pm – Show

Schedule of Events

March 29, 2007 (Thursday)

7:30 PM – Friends of the Arboretum Lecture – "Pleasant Surprises...Managing Wildlife in an Urban Environment" presented by John Connors, North Carolina Museum of Natural Science

March 30, 2007 (Friday)

7:30 AM-6:00 PM – Registration of entries. No birdhouse entries will be accepted after 6:00 PM.

6:30 PM-9:30 PM – Judging begins promptly and should take one to three hours to complete.

March 31, 2007 (Saturday)

10:00 AM-5:00 PM – Entries on display. Winners will be announced upon completion of judging and in the News and Observer.

10:00 AM – Tours of the JCRA highlighting plants that attract birds.

2:00 PM – Tours of the JCRA highlighting plants that attract birds.

April 1, 2007 (Sunday)

12:00 PM-5:00 PM – Entries on display.

2:00 PM – Tours of the JCRA highlighting plants that attract birds.

5:00 PM-6:00 PM – Entries may be picked up.

April 2, 2007 (Monday)

Entries may be picked up between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM on Monday. Entries not removed by 6:00 PM will become the property of the JCRA.

Birdhouse Competition Specifics

Categories

Adult (Ages 13 and above)


  • Professional

  • Serious

  • Flight of Fancy

Children


  • Ages 4-6

  • Ages 7-9

  • Ages 10-12

North Carolina Heritage (open to all ages)

Prizes


  • 1st – $100.00

  • 2nd – $50.00

  • 3rd – $25.00

Judges

John Dole, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University – adult categories
Vicki Dresser, Visual Arts Teacher, West Millbrook Middle School – children categories
Liz Driscoll, 4-H, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University – children categories
Beth Jimenez, Lasting Impressions and JCRA Volunteer – adult categories
Carol Norden, Junior Master Gardener Program, Wake County Extension – children categories
Elwood Peters, Outreach Coordinator, Centennial Middle School – children categories
Kathleen Thompson, Flower I and JCRA Volunteer – adult categories

Competition Guidelines

Professional (for those making and selling bird houses as a hobby or for a living)

Entries will be judged on:


  • Craftsmanship

  • Functionality for humans and birds

  • Mountability, ability to be raised or lowered, type of material, ability to be cleaned out, hole, roof, chamber (hole diameter, depth)

    • Aesthetics

Adult Serious

Entries will be judged on:


  • Craftsmanship
    • Functionality for humans and birds
  • Mountability, ability to be raised or lowered, type of material, ability to be cleaned out, hole, roof, chamber (hole diameter, depth)

    • Aesthetics

Flight of Fancy

Entries will be judged on:


  • Aesthetics

  • Imaginative theme or concept and exceptional use of form, texture, and/or color, composition, and execution

  • Craftsmanship

  • Functionality (for birds)

  • Hole, roof, chamber

Children (Ages 4-12)

Entries will be judged on:


  • Aesthetics

  • Imaginative theme or concept; use of form, texture and/or color

  • Craftsmanship

  • Functionality (for birds)

North Carolina Heritage

One or two prizes will be awarded to adult and children entrants in this category. The children category will be open to children ages 4-12. The adult category will be open to those 13 and above at any skill level.

Entries will be judged on:


  • Aesthetics

  • Imaginative theme or concept, form, texture, and/or color, composition, and execution

  • Craftsmanship

  • Functionality (for birds) hole, roof, chamber

All entries should be portable (by one person).

All entries should be able to stand alone when placed upon a display table. As much as possible, children's entries should be prepared by the entrant.

Entry Forms

If you are planning on entering a birdhouse in the show, please consider filling out the entry form prior to dropping off your birdhouse.

Friends of the Arboretum Lecture Specifics

"Pleasant Surprises...Managing Wildlife in an Urban Environment"

John Connors, North Carolina Museum of Natural Science

Tour Specifics

Tour will highlight feather friendly plants. Tours will run for approximately 45 minutes and will be led by JCRA volunteers.

Bluebird Film and Informational Seminars

March 31, 2007 – 10:00 AM-5:00 PM
April 1, 2007 – 12:00 PM-5:00 PM

Bill Satterwhite, JCRA volunteer and long-time member of the North Carolina Bluebird Society, will present a film on bluebirds and share information about the birds. Bill maintains a trail of approximately 65-70 bluebird houses in Raleigh including the bluebird houses at the JCRA. He was one of the 2003 recipients of the Annual Bluebird Conservation Award. Video showing bluebird houses, nests being built, birds hatching, etc. will be shown.

Cost
Free.
Registration
Advance registration is not available.
Location
Ruby C. McSwain Education Center at the JC Raulston Arboretum. Tours begin at the entrance to the Ruby C. McSwain Education Center at the JC Raulston Arboretum.
Directions
Need directions? Click here.
Parking
Free parking is available at the JC Raulston Arboretum and along Beryl Road.
Questions
Please call (919) 513-7005 for more information about this event.