Bird Photo Contest

Part of Welcome Week 2026 and hosted by the CoSEE, Outdoor Wellness, and the Office of Sustainability, we invite the campus community to participate and share their bird photography!

Send questions to uwbsust@uw.edu.

Contest Goals

The intended impacts of this contest are to:

  • Encourage the campus community to practice the skill of observation.
  • Foster an appreciation of the natural world, particularly bird life.
  • Inspire creativity and artistic expression through photography.

Eligible participants

This contest is open to UW Bothell and Cascadia College students enrolled in Fall 2026. We welcome:

  • All levels of birders and photographers!
  • Photos taken with any camera.

Submission Criteria

Participants may submit up to one photo per category. Submissions must include:

  • A photos that clearly features bird life (no pets).
  • A caption for the photo (creative captions encouraged!)

Photos must be taken between September 23rd and October 7th, 2026. Photos may be taken anywhere.

Submission Categories

  • Birds being birds: Catch a bird doing its bird thing! Maybe it’s carrying nest materials, foraging for food, in flight, or in song.
  • Birds & non-birds: Catch a bird interacting with a non-bird animal.
  • Unexpected bird moments: Capture a funny, perfectly timed, or unusual bird moment.
  • ‘Best in Show’ bird photo: Submit a bird photo that stands out for its visual appeal, creativity, or artistry.

All submissions will be entered in the “People’s Choice Award” category to be voted on by campus.

How to Participate

Submissions are accepted through Google Forms only, submit your entries here.

Awards

$10 Visa gift cards will be awarded to the top two participants in each category, and to the winner of the People’s Choice Award.

Participants may only win in one category, even if they submit photos in multiple categories. A participant may win a category award as well as the People’s Choice Award.

Timeline

Submissions will open on September 23rd and close on October 7th at 11:59pm. Winners will be contacted and announced before the end of Fall Quarter.

Judging Criteria

Submissions will be judged based on the following criteria:

  • Quality of the moment captured (50%)
    • Does the photo capture an interesting, engaging, or memorable bird behavior or interaction?
  • Creativity and originality of photo/caption (50%)
    • Does the submission present a unique perspective, story, or observation? Does the caption add meaning?

Accessibility and Accommodations

The University of Washington is committed to providing access and accommodation in its services, programs, and activities. To make a request connected to a disability or health condition contact uwbsust@uw.edu.

Academic Honesty

For the sake of academic integrity and honesty, photos, captions, and artist’s statements must be the submitter’s original work. The use of AI or computer-generated work is prohibited. If this policy is violated, the submission will be disqualified.

2025 Animal Photography Contest

Find submissions and winners of the 2025 Animal Photography Contest here.

NOTE: the 2025 contest had different guidelines and judging criteria than the 2026 Bird Photo Contest.