Junior Birder Program
16th Annual Junior Birder Program 
Over the years, the Junior Birder program has inspired hundreds of youth and their families to get outside and learn the basics of birding. New Junior Birders can earn their badge and returning Junior Birders can win great prizes by participating in the Festival. Look for the many family-friendly birding events throughout the weekend, noted with the Junior Birder icon. FOR KIDS AGES 5-15.
Designed for those Junior Birders who have fledged and/or are 13+ years old – the Teen Birder program has lots of fun events!
Click here for a list of suggested activities for Jr Birders and Teen Birders. You can always substitute an activity!
There are plenty of opportunities to get outside with your family and we are encouraging all Junior Birders to incorporate a walk or other outside activity into completion of their badge requirements. If you want to color the Phalarope and take it around with you to photo document as you complete tasks and enjoy the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival – please do! You can upload your photos to the Google Drive link below.
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Click on this link to upload photos to a Jr & Teen Birder Google Drive
Other Jr. Birder Activities
Download the Viewing Station Bingo cards!
Beluga Lake Airport Platform Viewing Station Bingo
Explore some local trails with the family and find the hidden birds. Download the I-Spy Bird Identification Book and head to the trails!
Click here for the answer sheet.
Click on your Junior Birder Level to download the Junior Birder Badge Requirements. You can also pick up your Junior Birder Notebook, or any other hard copies of materials, at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center.
Junior Birder Badge Requirements:
First time Junior Birders must attend the Junior Birder Discovery Lab to learn the basics of birding.
If you can’t make it, you can also explore the 2021 Virtual Birding Discovery Lab to learn the basics of birding.
More Virtual Discovery Lab Worksheets:
Awesome Shorebird Activity Booklet
Finally, all Junior Birders are encouraged to attend the Junior Birder Badge Awards Ceremony May 12th at 12:30pm. To participate in the awards ceremony, bring completed notebooks to the IOVC by 10am Sunday May 12th.
Can’t make the awards ceremony?
Mail completed notebooks to: Kendra Bush, AK Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
95 Sterling Hwy. Suite #1, Homer, AK 99603 *Provide contact information for us to mail prizes to.
**Family-friendly events are customized for families and are offered throughout the Festival. Junior Birders can attend whatever field events (walks/stations) work best for their family’s schedule or can do outdoor activities with friends or family.
Jr Birder Requirements:
1st Year Junior Birders: 
- Attend the Virtual Junior Birder Discovery Lab.
- Attend a bird walk, a birding station OR a birding workshop during the festival.
- Complete TWO other activities of your choice found in your Festival Jr. Birder packet.
2nd Year Junior Birders:
You must have at least TWO facts OR one drawing/ sketch of what you learned from each station recorded within your notebook!
- Attend a bird walk during the festival or take a birding walk of your own. U
- Attend a Birding Station OR a Birding workshop during the festival.
- Attend at least ONE other Shorebird Festival activity of your choice. Upload picture of yourself participating with your “Flat Phalarope”
3rd Year Junior Birders:
You must have at least TWO facts AND one drawing/ sketch of what you learned from each station recorded within your notebook!
- Attend a bird walk during the festival or take a birding walk of your own.
- Attend a Birding Station OR a Birding workshop during the festival.
- Attend at least ONE other Shorebird Festival activity of your choice.
4th Year Junior Birders:
You must have at least TWO facts AND one drawing/ sketch of what you learned from each station recorded within your notebook!
- Attend a bird walk during the festival or take a birding walk of your own.
- Attend a Birding Station OR a Birding workshop during the festival.
- Attend at least ONE other Shorebird Festival activity of your choice.
- Draw or paint your favorite bird seen during the festival.
5th Year Junior Birders:
You must have at least THREE facts AND one drawing/ sketch of what you learned from each station recorded within your notebook!
- Attend a bird walk during the festival or take a birding walk of your own.
- Attend a Birding Station OR a Birding workshop during the festival.
- Attend at least ONE other Shorebird Festival activity of your choice.
- Draw or paint your favorite bird seen during the festival.
6th Year Junior Birders:
You must have at least THREE facts AND one drawing/ sketch of what you learned from each station recorded within your notebook!
- Attend the Kachemak Bay Birding Discovery Lab at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center on Saturday. Wear a badge to identify yourself as a 6th year birder and assist with one of the stations at the Discovery Lab.
- Attend a bird walk during the festival or take a birding walk of your own.
- Attend an “adult” bird presentation.
- Attend a Birding Station OR a Birding workshop during the festival.
- Attend at least ONE other Shorebird Festival activity of your choice.
7th Year Junior Birders:
You must have at least THREE facts AND one drawing/ sketch of what you learned from each station recorded within your notebook!
- Attend the Kachemak Bay Birding Discovery Lab at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center on Saturday. Wear a badge to identify yourself as a 7th year birder and assist with one of the stations at the Discovery Lab.
- Attend a bird walk during the festival or take a birding walk of your own.
- Attend an “adult” bird presentation.
- Accompany a researcher/ volunteer on one shorebird monitoring survey. Complete a journal entry within the note pages of your Jr. Birder Notebook reflecting on your monitoring experience, including a question that you have or a further investigation you would like to do as a result of your experience.
- Attend a Birding Station OR a Birding workshop during the festival.
Sponsored by:
