To enter you need to answer some questions so we can find out about you and your birding, but first here are the rules and information on how the final works:

To be eligible for the award you need to be 16 or under on Saturday 13 September 2025. Entries must be submitted by midnight Sunday 20 July 2025. Previous winners are not eligible to enter for a second time in the same age category.

Our judges will assess all entries and select up to six finalists. Only the judge organising the applications will know the names of the applicants, so final choices will be made anonymously by the remaining judges.

If there are enough applicants under 14, awards and prizes will be given out in two age categories. The final will take place at the Spurn Migration Festival (MigFest) held at Spurn Bird Observatory 12–14 September 2025. Entrants must be available for the final on Saturday 13 September 2025 and for the presentations that evening.

Migration is a fantastic phenomenon! Finalists will visit four locations around the Spurn area where they will be met by a judge and introduced to the site. Each location will provide a different birding setting (farmland, estuary, sea and migrating overhead). At each location, the judge will ask the finalist to identify a number of birds, depending on the species present on the day. They will also be asked some supplementary questions about birds, such as migratory species likely to be found at Spurn in autumn. There will also be a theory element to the day where a judge will use props to ask additional questions, for example relating to taxonomy or bird calls, etc. The assessors are very friendly and finalists will also get lots of useful tips on bird identification and information on bird migration and Spurn.

The whole assessment will be carried out on a one-to-one basis, switching from one judge to the next. All finalists must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to the final assessment briefing at the observatory at 9.30am on Saturday 13 September. Parents and guardians are encouraged to come along to these and must remain passive throughout. The assessment takes approximately 2–3 hours to complete and a free light buffet lunch is provided afterwards for the finalists and their parent or guardian. Here, there are a selection of questions to answer for your opportunity to become a finalist for our Martin Garner Spurn Young Birder 2025 award and win some great prizes too. MigFest entry is free for under 18s and one parent or guardian will also receive free MigFest admission ticket for the weekend.

Please complete this entry form by the 20 July 2025. Good luck!