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Official Birding Classic Art Contest

The results are IN!

For 30 years, the Great Texas Birding Classic has celebrated the birds, habitats, and people that make Texas a world-class birding destination.

To mark this milestone, we launched our first-ever Birding Classic Art Contest, and wow, Texas artists did not disappoint!

We received 51 incredible entries from all over the state.
The talent was so outstanding it made judging incredibly tough.

Here are the artists who wowed our panel and won their categories!

Introducing Our Grand Prize Winner!

Congratulations, Townsend Keller!

Townsend’s spectacular original piece features the literal shape of Texas filled with 9 distinct native bird species:

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    Grand Prize artwork by Townsend Keller

    Burrowing Owl

  • Chuck-will’s-widow

  • Lucifer Hummingbird

  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak

  • Eastern Meadowlark

  • Cerulean Warbler

  • Golden-winged Warbler

  • Prothonotary Warbler

  • Plain Chachalaca

As our Grand Prize Winner, Townsend is officially named the Official Artist of the 2027 Great Texas Birding Classic!

The 2026 Category Winners

Artists could enter multiple categories but could only win once.

Single Species Category
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Single Species, Single Bird winning artwork

  • Evelyn Ferrero – Yellow-billed Cuckoo

  • Spencer Jeske – Great-tailed Grackle

  • Shelby McCay – Northern Mockingbird

Single Species Flock Category
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Single Species Flock winning artwork

  • Donna Dittman – Burrowing Owls

  • Jill D’Etremont – Great-tailed Grackles

  • Lindsey Sternberg – Painted Buntings

Multi-Species Flock Category

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Multiple Species winning artwork

  • Daphne Blevins – Burrowing Owls, Eastern Meadowlarks, & Lucifer Hummingbirds

  • Townsend Keller – 9-Species Texas Shape Masterpiece

Thank you to everyone who submitted their work and helped us celebrate Texas wildlife through art!

What's Next?

We are so excited to adapt Townsend’s artwork for next year's official event t-shirt and promotional graphics.
The design is going to look amazing and will be a beautiful addition to the legacy of Birding Classic art. Make plans to register a team next year so that you can score one for yourself!