News & Observer Birdhouse Competition at the JC Raulston Arboretum

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

  • Thursday, March 19, 2009 – 7:30 pm–9:00 pm – FOA Lecture
  • Friday, March 20, 2009 – 7:30 am–6:00 pm – Entries Accepted
  • Saturday, March 21, 2009 – 10:00 am–5:00 pm – Show
  • Sunday, March 22, 2009 – 12:00 pm–5:00 pm – Show

It's that time of year again! The Great News and Observer Birdhouse Competition returns to the JC Raulston Arboretum with events scheduled March 19 through March 22. If making birdhouses is not your thing, then looking at them should be. The creations range from barrels of laughs to studies in craftsmanship and beauty. Pack up the whole brood and join the fun. A schedule of events follows:

Schedule of Events

March 19, 2009 (Thursday)

7:30 PM – Friends of the Arboretum Lecture – "This One's for the Birds: Attracting Wildlife to Your Garden" presented by Bryce Lane, Undergraduate Coordinator, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University

March 20, 2009 (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 21, 2009 (Saturday)

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

2:00 PM – Tour of the JCRA.

March 22, 2009 (Sunday)

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

2:00 PM – Tour of the JCRA.

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

March 23, 2009 (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 16 and above)


  • Professional

  • Serious

  • Flight of Fancy

Children


  • Ages 4-7

  • Ages 8-11

  • Ages 12-15

North Carolina Heritage Best-of-theme Award

Two best-of-theme awards will be given to the entries that best display North Carolina's rich heritage (one per all adults and one per all children). This is not a separate category. All birdhouses entered will be considered for this award.

Prizes

Various prizes provided by the News & Observer and Pennington Seed will be awarded to the first, second, and third place winners along with the best-of-them winners.

Judges

Liz Driscoll, 4-H, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University (children judge)
Suzanne Edney, Custom Landscapes and JCRA Volunteer (adult judge)
Kathleen Thompson, Flower I and JCRA Volunteer (adult judge)
Carolyn E. Wilson, Orange County Schools (children judge)

Competition Guidelines

Professional (for those making and selling birdhouses 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 4-15)

Entries will be judged on:


  • Aesthetics

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

  • Craftsmanship

  • Functionality (for birds)

North Carolina Heritage – Best-of-theme Award

Best-of-theme awards 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.

Most entries should be able to stand alone when placed upon a display table. Large birdhouses should be equipped with their own stand that can support the birdhouse in an upright position on a concrete floor. 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 an entry form (adults - children) prior to dropping off your birdhouse. Please fill out the form complete. Both sections in the individual forms are needed.

Friends of the Arboretum Lecture Details

"This One's for the Birds: Attracting Wildlife to Your Garden"
Bryce Lane, Undergraduate Coordinator, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University

March 19, 2009 (Thursday) – 7:30 PM-9:00 PM – Free

Looking for more action in your garden? There are numerous ways to attract wildlife to the home landscape. By gardening alone, we create environments that all kinds of critters are attracted to. There is a great group of plants that have a reputation of attracting birds, butterflies, and other kinds of interesting insects. There are also gardening principles we can employ to attract more desirable wildlife. Come and see a comprehensive approach to gardening with this goal in mind!

Tour Details

March 21, 2009 (Saturday) – 2:00 PM-3:00 PM
March 22, 2009 (Sunday) – 2:00 PM-3:00 PM

We invite you to join us for free guided tours through the Arboretum. Learn about the Arboretum's history, plants, and more.

Bluebird Film and Informational Booth

March 21, 2009 – 10:00 AM-5:00 PM
March 22, 2009 – 1:00 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. A video showing bluebird houses, nests being built, birds hatching, etc. will be shown.

Wake Audubon Informational Booth

March 21, 2009 – 10:00 AM-5:00 PM

Join Wake Audubon, winners of the 2007 Governor's Award for Conservation Organization of the Year, at their information booth. They'll also have T-shirts available.

Cost
Free.
Registration
Advance registration is not available.
Location
Ruby C. McSwain Education Center at the JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University, 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh, North Carolian. 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.