Deadline for Student Bird Art Contest and Student Nature Writing Contest has been extended from Friday, March 20 to Monday, April 13.

These two contests usually are held in conjunction with the Godwit Days Spring Migration Birding Festival, which has been postponed to a yet-to-be-determined date this fall. However, Friends of the Arcata Marsh (FOAM) and Redwood Region Audubon Society (RRAS) wish to continue their two contests this spring.

Festival postponement means that there will be no awards ceremony or opportunity to post all of the art and winning essays/poems in the Arcata Community Center. However, if the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center opens by May 1, copies of winning art pieces will be on display there during May and June. Winners of the art contest will be featured on both the FOAM and RRAS websites and in their newsletters, while writing contest winners will be posted on the RRAS website and, as space allows, be reproduced in the organization’s Sandpiper newsletter.

As of March 16, the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center – which serves as the drop-off point for entries – has been closed until further notice, so artwork cannot be turned in there. Call 707-826-2359 closer to the April 13 deadline, to find out whether the center has reopened and can accept art pieces. The other method to submit artwork is by mailing it to Sue Leskiw, 155 Kara Lane, McKinleyville CA 95519.