USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is inviting amateur and professional photographers to enter their best poultry or pet bird photos in the Biosecurity For Birds calendar photo contest.

APHIS is interested in photos of all kinds of poultry, gamebirds, wild birds, shorebirds, and pet birds shown in a clean environment and without people in the pictures. People of all ages are encouraged to enter.

The winning poultry or bird photo (or photos) will be featured in the 2011 Biosecurity For Birds calendar. Photos will be featured on the Biosecurity For Birds website, and some may be featured as screen savers on the site.

Those interested in participating can go to http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov for more information and the online entry form. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 31, 2010.

Biosecurity For Birds is a USDA education campaign designed to increase awareness of how poultry and bird owners can protect their birds from infectious poultry diseases.