Providing interpretive education on wetlands and wildlife, panoramic views, water quality, weather, natural resource management, trails, bird watching, recreation, exhibits, displays and an eagles nest, Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve is a treasure of the Hillsboro community.
Entries become the property of Jackson Bottom and will be sold
at the May 1st Tweet of Dweams fundraising auction.
Contest Information and Registration Form
Everyone can enter. Woodworkers, designers, students, artists, architects, clubs, schools and academic groups, service groups, businesses and corporations are all encouraged to participate.
Where and when to bring your entry
All contest entries must be delivered during the month of February to the Jackson Bottom Wetlands Education Center, 2600 SW Hillsboro Highway, Hillsboro, Oregon 97123. Entries will be accepted between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm each day.
Functional
A functional birdhouse is one that is designed and built to be placed outside with the purpose of attracting a particular species of bird. It must be built with measurements that conform to overall box dimensions and entry hole sizes. Functional birdhouses should not have a perch. Birds do not need it and it is a handy place for predators to perch while getting eggs or young birds. The guidelines for these specifications are available for download here or you may request a copy by calling (503) 681-6206.
Youth
All entries made by a person age 17 or younger will be placed in this category. For contest purposes no distinction will be made in the Youth Category between Functional and Ornamental.
Ornamental
We seek finely crafted, three-dimensional works in a variety of media in the category. Entries that do not qualify for the functional Category will be assigned to the Ornamental Category.
One $1,000 Grand Prize will be awarded to the entry judged best overall. Additional cash prizes will be awarded in each category:
First Place - $250
Second Place - $150
Third Place - $50
Prizes will be awarded based solely on the decisions of the judges. All decisions are final. A single contest entry may not win more than one cash prize – each person may enter as many entries as you like. Other prizes may include: memberships to the Preserve, sponsor choice awards, and gift certificates to local merchants.
Bird boxes help to replace habitat for birds in areas where nesting spots have been lost due to human activity. Cavity-nesting birds once built their homes in holes in standing dead trees (snags), but many of these ideal locations have been destroyed.
Bird species have different, but specific, ideas of where to build a safe, warm, and successful nest. Birds will not use boxes that do not conform to what they might find in nature. The size of the opening is important because it prevents non-native bird species like the starling and the house sparrow from using the box. The size and placement of a birdhouse may also prevent predators, which are sometimes larger birds, from eating the eggs.
The listed bird box dimensions are based on years of study. Birds want their eggs to be warm and secure. Large cavities in which their eggs might roll around or be exposed to cold are less desirable. Birds also want small spaces so that as their young grow up, they become uncomfortable and leave the nest. How’s that for a parenting technique!
Some entries from past years…
Photographs copyright Jason Kinch Photographic
2600 SW Hillsboro Hwy. Hillsboro, OR 97123|fax: 503-681-6277|phone: 503-681-6206