ABA Young Birders

2006 Young Birder of the Year Contest Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the 2006 ABA/Leica Young Birder of the Year Contest, and thanks to all who participated in the event!

Young Birder of the Year Grand Prize

10-to-13-year-old category

First Place:
Matthew Daw
Raleigh, NC

Second Place:
David Hollie
Ringgold, GA

Honorable Mention:
John Garrett
Pasadena, CA

14-to-18-year-old category

First Place:
Saraiya Ruano
Colorado Springs, CO

Second Place:
Benjamin Berkompas
Yacolt, WA

Honorable Mention:
Neil Gilbert
Beverly Hills, MI


Field Notebook Module

10-to-13-year-old category

First Place:
Matthew Daw
Raleigh, NC
- Notebook Sample 1
- Notebook Sample 2
- Notebook Sample 3

Second Place:
David Hollie
Ringgold, GA
- Notebook Sample 1
- Notebook Sample 2

Third Place:
John Garrett
Pasadena, CA
- Notebook Sample

Honorable Mention:
Zack Barrow
McDonald, TN
- Notebook Sample

14-to-18-year-old category

First Place:
Saraiya Ruano
Colorado Springs, CO
- Notebook Sample 1
- Notebook Sample 2
- Notebook Sample 3

Second Place:
Neil Gilbert
Beverley Hills, MI
- Notebook Sample 1
- Notebook Sample 2

Third Place:
Benjamin Berkompas
Yacolt, WA
- Notebook Sample

Honorable Mention:
Philip Chaon
Cleveland, OH
- Notebook Sample


Writing Module

10-to-13-year-old category

First Place:
John Garret
Pasadena, CA
- The Rose-throated Becard Adventure
- Identification of Selasphorus Hummingbirds

Second Place:
Dane Anderson
Grants Pass, OR
- Chasing the Pied-billed Grebe

Third Place:
Matthew Daw
Raleigh, NC
- Acadian Flycatcher: King of the Forest

14-to-18-year-old category

First Place:
Saraiya Ruano
Colorado Springs, CO
- Snow Angel
- The Eagle of Red Mountain

Second Place:
Jorge Cruz
Quito, Ecuador
- Milpe Magic Forest

Third Place:
Victoria Hotz
Lawrenceville, NJ
- Life and Times of a Brown Pelican

Honorable Mention:
Neil Gilbert
Beverly Hills, MI


Illustration Module

10-to-13-year-old category

First Place:
Luke Seitz
Falmouth, ME
- Semipalmated Plover
- Montezuma Quail

Second Place:
Matthew Daw
Raleigh, NC
- Black and White Warbler
- Chickadee

Third Place:
David Hollie
Ringgold, GA
- Swainson's Hawk

Honorable Mention:
Zack Barrow
McDonald, TN
- Magnolia Warbler

14-to-18-year-old category

First Place:
Benjamin Berkompas
Yacolt, WA
- Golden Eagle
- Wood Duck

Second Place:
Saraiya Ruano
Colorado Springs, CO
- Rufous Hummingbird
- White-crowned Sparrow

Third Place:
Jorge Cruz
Quito, Ecuador
- Shining Sunbeam

Honorable Mention:
Philip Chaon
Cleveland, OH
- Western Grebe

Nick Seeger
Green Bay, WI
- Gray Jay


Photography Module

10-to-13-year-old category

First Place:
David Hollie
Ringgold, GA
- Laughing Gull
- Common Tern

Second Place:
Luke Seitz
Falmouth, ME
- Great Gray Owl
- Mallard

Third Place:
Zack Barrow
McDonald, TN
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Honorable Mention:
John Garrett
Pasadena, CA
- Steller's Jay

Haynes Werner
Beaufort, SC
- Long-eared Owl

14-to-18-year-old category

First Place:
Neil Gilbert
Beverly Hills, MI
- Least Bittern
- Henslow's Sparrow

Second Place:
Michael Woodruff
Spokane, WA
- White-headed Woodpecker
- Song Sparrow

Third Place:
Benjamin Berkompas
Yacolt, WA
- Black-capped Chickadee

Honorable Mention:
Erik Enbody
East Lansing, MI
- White-tailed Ptarmigan

Back to the current winners »