The Alaska Migratory Bird Calendar hangs in homes and offices across the state, showcasing avian-inspired student artwork. In 2013, three drawings produced by young Unalaskans will be featured in the calendar.

The Alaska Maritime Refuge released their regional contest results this month, and Mia McWilliams, Kiara Villamor, and Natalie Brown were among the 12 winners in the arts category.

McWilliams is in the fifth grade, and she says that she wanted to present birds in an unusual fashion in her drawing.

“I drew a picture of a bird wearing a hat and boots, and I split the paper in half with a line. On the other side, it was a bird wearing a hat and sunglasses and Skechers,” she says, adding that the bird dressed for cold weather was flying through Alaska and that the bird dressed for the beach was in California.

McWilliams says that her family was delighted when they learned her artwork was going to be included in the calendar.

“My grandma was really excited because she always wanted someone in there that was in our family, and my mom was excited, too,” says McWilliams.

Kiara Villamor says that her family is also proud of her. With her entry, she focused on the birds that hop around Unalaska’s beaches since the contest’s theme was “Spectacular Shorebirds.” She says that she couldn’t include her favorite bird in the drawing, though.

“I like the little song sparrows that come here during the summer,” says Villamor. “They’re so small and cute.”

McWilliams, Villamor, and Brown are now all finalists for the state competition. Additionally, sixth grader Ryu Kawada also won the "Refuge Manager's Choice" award in the poster contest. Unalaska also had six more local blue ribbon poster winners.