[Maryann Corbett]

My local birding buddy has sent me this notice, with a request to share widely. The deadline is coming up soon, April 24. Here's the whole deal:

April 15, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact Anastasia Shartin, Visual Arts Director

715/386-2305, ext. 103.



APRIL 24 DEADLINE FOR POETRY CONTEST CELEBRATING

NEO-TROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRDS

ORGANIZED BY THE PHIPPS WITH TROPICAL WINGS



Tropical Wings, a gathering of citizens dedicated to celebrating and sustaining the migratory birds shared between the Upper Midwest and Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, seeks original poetry reflecting on themes related to migratory birds and their remarkable seasonal journeys, the connections between birds and people, the role of birds in the community of life, and the nature of flight. All forms of poetry are welcome. Entries must be received on or before April 24. Awards in youth and adult categories include an opportunity to be featured in a public reading on Friday, May 8, at The Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, Wisconsin; a scholarship to be used as partial fee for an art and science Phipps Summer Art Camp class; field guides to the birds; and other prizes to be announced.

To participate, submit up to 3 poems of any form and any length, via e-mail to ashartin@thephipps.org with the subject heading “Tropical Wings Poetry Contest,” or by regular mail, Attention: Tropical Wings Poetry Contest, The Phipps Center for the Arts, 109 Locust Street, Hudson, Wisconsin, 54016. Include a cover sheet with name, address, phone, and e-mail. If older than 21, indicate Adult Category. If younger than 21, indicate Youth Category and provide age.

Winning entries will be selected by poet and National Park Service Ranger Dale Cox and environmental author/poet Laurie Allmann. Participating poets will retain all rights to their works, granting permission for noncommercial use of the submitted poetry by the sponsoring organizations (below), limited to educational efforts promoting the value of migratory birds and their habitat. Submissions will not be returned.

The 2015 Bird Migration Celebration, of which this poetry contest is a part, is a collaborative project of The Phipps Art Bench Trail (www.artbenchtrail.org), Rotary District 5960, the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (National Park Service), and Tropical Wings. Tropical Wings formed in 2011 as a Sister Park arrangement was being developed among thirteen national park units in the Upper Midwest and seven parks around the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica.

For further information, contact Anastasia Shartin, visual arts director, at 715/386-2305, ext. 103.



###

[Julie Steiner]

I'll flip 'em a couple of birds. Thanks, Maryann.

[Martin Elster]

I flipped them 3 birds, but they sent me an email about eligibility. I’m not eligible, because I don’t reside in the region. But they said they’ll keep my email in case the rules change in future years, and to notify me of the winning poem.

[Julie Steiner]

Thanks for the report, Martin. Sorry it didn't work out.

I ended up not flipping them any birds at all because I realized that my bird poems are actually about depressingly human topics (e.g., child abuse), and thus wouldn't have been of a feather with the other submissions.

But thanks for letting us know, Maryann.

[Maryann Corbett]

Very sorry about the frustrating restrictions, friends, and for my failure to read more closely. I hope those bird poems find comfortable nests soon.

[David Anthony]

That's what I call specialised.

[Martin Elster]

It’s not a big deal really, since there’s no monetary prize:

Awards in youth and adult categories include:
• Two tickets to an upcoming play at The Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson
• Publication
in St. Croix Valley
-
area media
• Opportunity to be featured in a public reading on May 3 in Somerset, WI
• Tuition
-
free pass to a Summer Art Camp class at The Phipps Center for the Arts
• Field guides to the birds

The artistic director, Anastasia, was very nice about chatting with me and apologizing, as she realized that it was actually her fault for not having that info about eligibility in her press release. And, as you said, Maryann, those birds may find other nests.