The 2024 Shorebirds competition has now been judged. Congratulations to all of the successful entries and thank you to everyone who participated and sent in their amazing postcards.
2024 Shorebirds Competition results
An exciting opportunity for Term 3, the Shorebirds Competition addresses the 2024 theme for National Science Week, ‘Species Survival’ and provides unique cross-curricula learning for Australian primary students in Years 3 to 6.
The Shorebirds Competition introduces students to shorebirds that rely almost entirely on our wetlands and coastal areas for their survival. These very important birds connect places on a local and global scale. With shorebird numbers in fast decline, and many species now threatened with extinction, greater awareness of these special birds, and their amazing features, is essential for their future survival.
Offering over $3500 in prizes, both individuals and schools are invited to enter! Winning entries will go on display at ANSTO and in touring exhibitions.
It’s also a great activity for the Winter or Spring school holidays!
The competition opens Tuesday 18 June and closes Friday 18 October 2024.
Create a postcard!
Learn about shorebirds in a wetland or coastal area near your home, or one in your State or Territory. Choose a shorebird and create a 10.5cm x 15 cm postcard by hand. Tip: Check that your Shorebird is an Australian Shorebird (PDF, 3.73 MB) before you start designing your postcard.
On the front: Draw or paint the shorebird and write the name of the bird.
On the back: Tell us why you think your shorebird is amazing or an interesting fact about your shorebird.
Your postcard can also show its wetland or coastal home and the name of the area.
Artwork by Carla L, in Year 5, 2022
Have you finished your postcard and are ready to post it to us?
When you post your postcard, you will need to fill in an entry form, so we know your postcard is in the mail.
Individuals entering must fill in the individuals Entry Form below. For all school entries, teachers must fill in the Schools Entry Form. School entries can be posted in bulk.
How to Enter
How to Enter
Your postcard must measure 10.5 x 15 cm and be made from thick art paper or cardboard. Not sure how to make a postcard? See the information sheet below.
Only pencils, pens, textas, or paint can be used to create the postcard. No digital content is allowed.
The postcard must show one of Australia’s 54 shorebirds (PDF, 3.73 MB) on the front, and a message telling us why your shorebird is amazing or an interesting fact about your shorebird, on the back.
For individual entries the postcard must have a $1.20 stamp and be posted without an envelope. School entries can be posted in bulk by the teacher.
Post your entry to: ANSTO Shorebirds Competition, C/- ANSTO Discovery Centre (B65), New Illawarra Road, LUCAS HEIGHTS NSW 2234
There are separate categories for individuals and schools. You can only enter in one category.
Have you finished your postcard? Are you ready to post it to us?
When you post, individuals entering must fill in the individuals Entry Form, so we know your postcard is in the mail.
For all school entries, teachers must fill in the Schools Entry Form, so we know to expect your students' postcards in the mail. School entries can be posted in bulk.
Your postcard must be received by 18 October 2024. Please note: Postcards will not be returned.
How to create a postcard (PDF, 207.22 KB)
Prizes, terms and conditions
The 2024 Shorebirds Competition offers some great prizes for students and schools. In addition, for every postcard received a donation will be sent to Birdlife Australia to support their Shorebird research programs.
Please make sure you read the competition terms of entry before sending your postcard.
2024 Shorebirds Competition Prizes (PDF, 540.55 KB)
2024 Shorebirds Competition Entry Terms and Conditions. (PDF, 154.25 KB)
What is a shorebird?
Shorebirds make up 10% of Australia's bird species and are the world's most endangered group, with habitat loss and climate change being some of the major causes.
Commonly called 'waders' they are most often seen around wetlands, mudflats and intertidal areas where they gather to feed in flocks, often of mixed shorebird species, along the water's edge with their bills probing the sand. Many shorebirds also have long legs compared to their body size but, unlike seabirds such as Gulls, they do not have webbed feet so they cannot paddle on the water.
Australia has over 50 species of shorebirds. There are resident species, which means they stay here all year and breed on many of Australia's beaches, and 37 migratory species. These birds fly north every year, during our winter, to breed, many of them making a journey of over 12,000kms to the Arctic.
Shorebirds information for students (PDF, 427.67 KB)
Wetlands information for students (PDF, 309.39 KB)
Australian Shorebirds ID sheet (PDF, 3.73 MB)
2024 Shorebirds Competition postcard workbook (PDF, 763.67 KB)
Teaching shorebirds to your class
The Shorebirds Competition enables cross-curricula learning. The competition celebrates the National Science Week theme for 2024 - 'Species Survival'.
Involve your class/es in this learning opportunity with free lesson plans that link to the Australian Curriculum for Science, Geography and English. ANSTO also offers online Shorebird focussed opportunities for your classroom.
2024 Shorebirds Competition Year 3-4 Science Unit of Work (PDF, 1.84 MB)
2024 Shorebirds Competition Year 3-4 Geography Lessons (PDF, 694.11 KB)
2024 Shorebirds Competition Year 3-6 English Lesson (PDF, 171.15 KB)s
2024 Shorebirds Competition Year 5-6 Science Lessons (PDF, 823.69 KB)
2024 Shorebirds Competition Year 5-6 Geography Unit of Work (PDF, 960.75 KB)
Shorebirds 2024: Newsletter 1 - Introduction to Shorebirds (PDF, 250.32 KB)
Shorebirds 2024: Newsletter 2 - Postcard Activity for Students (PDF, 194.42 KB)
Shorebirds 2024: Newsletter 3 - Migratory Shorebirds (PDF, 306.27 KB)
Join us to learn about shorebirds
If you missed our online Shorebirds Information Session for teachers on Monday 29 July 2024, or would like to hear it again, we now have the recording of the session available.
ANSTO also has available a webinar and online incursion available for students Australia wide and a school-based incursion available for schools located in southern Sydney. Further information is available at Primary School Incursions | ANSTO or contact us directly at competition@ansto.gov.au.
Linking shorebirds across Australia
Thank you to everyone who has registered their interest in participating in the Shorebirds 2024 competition. Our Shorebirds participants are linking across Australia. Check out the locations of the participants on our map.
Do you have a question?
Please contact Stephanie McCready and Kim Whitbread at competition@ansto.gov.au if you have any questions about the Shorebirds 2024 competition.