Feathered Friends Photo Contest

Winter is coming, and it’s time to fill your bird feeders for the long, snowy months ahead. It’s also time to snap some photos of the many feathered friends that brighten our cold, gray months with their visits to the backyard feeding stations.

To make things more interesting, we’re introducing a Feathered Friends Photo Contest so bird-lovers can compete for valuable prizes. All you have to do is register online and upload your favorite bird photos.

Readers at SouthCoastToday.com will choose their favorite pictures and a panel of judges will select other winners.

Here’s what you could win:

• FIRST PRIZE (Most online votes) and SECOND PRIZE (Judges' Choice)  – A family membership to the Lloyd Center for the Environment in Dartmouth, with a Lloyd Center gift packet including a poster of 15 backyard birds; Sibley’s Backyard Birds of New England (waterproof folding guide) and a Lloyd Center tote bag and informational booklets ($100 value). PLUS two tickets to Trinity Repertory Company theater in Providence ($50 value).

• HUNGRY BIRD AWARD (Judges’ choice): A private wine-tasting for up to 10 people at Travessia Urban Winery in New Bedford ($150 value).

There are a few simple rules:

You can enter up to three photos in the contest, but there will be only one winner allowed per household.

Photos can be from any season of the year, and even previous years. But all photos must be outdoor birds – not caged pets.

Deadline for submitting photos is noon on Dec. 28, with voting from noon on Dec. 28 to noon Jan. 7. Winners will be announced Jan. 9.

See our official rules page for more details.