“Mammal-ling” w/ Friends
Birders love birding contests, and we have had an assortment of those over the years. We are starting another one this month. But mammals are also fun to see. The suggestion came to us from a reader (sorry, we forget who) that we consider a mammal contest. We like that suggestion, and we are going to take him/her up on it.
- Choose a one-week period between May 1 and July 31 to record as many WILD mammal species as you can find. Invite your family and friends (around the world) to join your collective search during your chosen week. Anyone in the group who sees a new mammal may record the species—not everyone has to see it.
- We are looking for a delightful story sharing a highlight(s) from your week that the rest of us will enjoy. We are not looking for a diary that charts when and where each mammal was spotted.
An example of an interesting read might be the red fox den you spied under the old hen house. Tell us about that discovery, the playful antics of the pups, and such. The events might have occurred over several days—the story isn’t confined to one day. But a fun story about the fox den will always be more exciting than a diary that says, “we saw this…and this…and this…the end.”
We also want a numbered list of all the animals your group found within your chosen week. However, this list is to be separate from your story.
Please don’t list “deer.” Rather, list “whitetail deer,” “mule deer,” or “blacktail deer;” “house mouse,” “deer mouse,” or “field mouse;” “Eastern chipmunk,” “least chipmunk,” or “Colorado chipmunk,” and so on.
The Rules
- Who may submit: Families with an active subscription to Nature Friend. It is fine to invite friends who are not subscribers to join your group and to record the mammals they see.
- When: Choose one week between May 1 and July 31, 2026.
- Count the species of mammals which members of your group see or hear during this week.
- Send a story (and good photos, if you have them) of your experience and the list you compiled during your week to Nature Friend. Label with the names of those who participated, your subscriber number (found on the magazine mailing label), and your complete mailing address. A phone number is helpful. We want to receive the submission by August 15.
- Awards? Yes. Awards will be given to the winning person or family who made the submission, but not to all who joined the team.
Send submissions to
Birding w/ Friends Contest
4253 Woodcock Lane
Dayton, VA 22821
or
birdcontest26@naturefriendmagazine.com
1-540-947-1636
$5 required if return is requested.