Wagner Farms Contest Seeks Birdhouse Builders

Let your imagination soar at the Second Annual Birdhouse Contest, hosted by the Wagner Farm Arboretum of Warren, and sponsored by Realtor Carl Day, of Coldwell Banker, Warrenville Hardware and Ciro’s Pizzeria. 

Advance registration and an entrance fee ($10 for individual Youth and Adult entrants  and $15 for Youth groups) are required by April 20. Contest rules and entry form are available at www.wfafnj.org.

Participants must create an original birdhouse to be entered into one of three divisions: youth (individual), youth (group) and adult. Within each division are two categories: functional and decorative/whimsical. They can be made of any material. However, functional birdhouses must meet specific requirements for the particular species of bird for which they are made. These must be constructed using non-toxic materials, and must have the ability to withstand the elements outdoors.

All birdhouses must not exceed 24 inches by 24 inches by 24 inches. Houses may be mounted on a stand or be able to stand upright on its own. Stands will not be included in the overall dimensions. Entrants in the youth category may decorate an unfinished birdhouse from a crafts store.  

Each entry must be a real birdhouse, not a structure (such as a box or a block of wood) painted to look like a birdhouse. It must look like a house made for birds, with round holes. Used birdhouses are not acceptable. Birdhouses entered in a previous contest are also not allowed.

Birdhouses must be delivered to WFA from 9 a.m. — 2 p.m. on May 6.

The public will have the opportunity to view the birdhouses on display on May 7 and May 13 during Spring Boutique hours, and on May 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each person may vote for the best overall birdhouse in each division which will win a Peoples’ Choice Award trophy.

Judges chosen by the WFA will examine the birdhouses and choose the first, second and third-place winners in each division. An awards ceremony for both this contest and the Peoples’ Choice Award will take place at WFA at 3 p.m. May 14 (rain date May 15). The first-place winner in each division will receive the following:  Adult:  $100 Gift Card to Warrenville Hardware; Youth (individual):  $100 American Express Gift Card and Youth (group):  pizza and ice cream party. Second and third place winners will receive a special gift. Participation ribbons will be awarded to all participants present at the ceremony.

The birdhouses will be for sale following the Awards Ceremony and on May 15 at the Spring Boutique.  Birdhouses not sold may be used by WFA for its own purposes or sold at its boutiques for fundraising purposes. All proceeds from the sale of a birdhouse shall become property of the WFA.

Send entry forms to: Birdhouse Contest,

c/o Alison Draikiwicz

21 Gregory Lane

Warren, NJ 07059

birdhousecontest@wfafnj.org

Phone: 908.647.2332