Winners at Long Grove Park District "For the Birds" Weekend

  • Dona Blunt, taken at Reed-Turner Nature Center, Long Grove, on May 5, 2014Ken Wittig

    Dona Blunt, taken at Reed-Turner Nature Center, Long Grove, on May 5, 2014Ken Wittig

 
Jane Wittig
Posted5/8/2014 7:45 AM

The Long Grove Park District announces the winners of its 1st Annual Birdhouse competition, held as part of its "For the Birds" weekend, May 3 and 4. The contest attracted almost 50 entries in diverse and creative styles. Entries included both functional homes for the birds designed to withstand years of use as well as lovely decorative designs to brighten up the winning bidders' homes.

The Grand Prize winners:

 

Grand Prize for Functional Birdhouse - "Chickadee Condo" by John Clemetson, long term Long Grove resident and former Reed-Turner Nature Preserve Steward, now living in Harvard. John created a beautifully handcrafted multi-unit chickadee home.

Grand Prize for Creative Entry- "Being Long Grove" by Dona Blunt, Long Grove. Dona's entry was decorated with iconic scenes of Long Grove including the covered bridge and community church.

Category winners:

ADULT:

Folk Art - "The Red House" by Timmie Clemetson, long time Long Grove resident and former Trustee of the Reed-Turner Woodland Trust, now residing in Harvard.

Predator Proof -- "Bluebird House with Predator Guard" by Steve Keibler, Dundee

Imitation of a Tree -- "Chickadee Tube" by Mike Lawler, Vernon Hills

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Midwest Style -- "Horizontal" by Ann Lesciotto, Skokie

Foliage Decoration -- "The Leafy Wren" by Tori Trauscht, Mundelein

YOUTH:

"Bright Bird" by Chloe Riffer , Wauconda

"Feather the House" by Kaylee Riffer, Wauconda

TEAM:

"Reed-Turner Cabin" by Jim Southwell (Long Grove), Joyce Streff (Chicago), Jeremy Manley (Round Lake), and Mike Pfeiffer (Arlington Heights) of Packaging Corporation of America

Contest proceeds help support the non-profit Reed-Turner Nature Preserve, a local treasure house of animal and plant diversity located at 3849 Old McHenry Rd. in Long Grove. Trails are open dawn to dusk.

Other events of the weekend included live birds of prey, guided bird walks, and Q&A sessions with bird experts on bird watching and attracting birds to your back yard. Watch for announcements of next year's event in the spring of 2015.