We firmly believe that art is one of the most effective tools for learning about and connecting with nature and all the living beings around us. In the recent Festival of the Sky Islands in Moctezuma, Sonora, we were delighted to see so many drawings and to have the participation of many children, youth, and adults.
During the festival, girls, boys, and young people from different schools in the region were awarded for their participation in the drawing contest, where they shared their vision about the beauty and value of the birds that inhabit our grasslands and other ecosystems.
The works were evaluated considering creativity and technique, highlighting those that best conveyed the essence and physical characteristics of the birds and their natural habitat.
Winners of the 2025 Drawing Contest
Adults
1st place — Karla Vázquez, “Little Heartbeats”
In the midst of a celebration for the arrival of a new life, a mother hummingbird incubates her little eggs. Two hopes under the same sky.
2nd place — Kevin Monje, “Heart of the Matorral”
Montezuma´s quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae), a small bird with striking plumage. The title’s name comes from its inhabiting grasslands and semi-arid areas.
3rd place — María Durazo, “Guardian of the Forest”
A red cardinal perches on a pine tree. Its bright plumage contrasts with the green of the surroundings, highlighting the strength and beauty of nature.
Adolescents
1st place — Jesús Cuevas, “Cardinal of Light”
A vermilion flycatcher perches on a slender branch. Its intense plumage stands out against the background of green leaves.
2nd place — Eliza Yánez, “Catch Me If You Can”
A Sonoran roadrunner in the desert, with a lizard in its beak, showing the strength and skill of its wild life.
3rd place — Brian Gutiérrez, “Red-tailed Hawk”
A representation of this bird’s natural habitat, where the beauty of nature and vibrant colors can be seen.
Kids
1st place — Argelia Arellano, “Northern Cardinal Existing”
2nd place — Valentina Mendívil, “My Perfect Landscape”
Two broad-billed hummingbirds (Cynanthus latirostris) meeting in a field of flowers. Hummingbirds are birds that extract nectar from flowers.
3rd place — Ana Mendívil, “The King of the Roads”
A roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) runs among dry trees through the Sonoran desert.
Additionally, honorable mentions were awarded to participants whose works met the specifications required and conveyed great effort. The participating and winning works were presented during the main festival event in the central plaza of Moctezuma, where visitors, artists, students, and families were able to enjoy them.
Subsequently, the works were integrated into the exhibition “Appreciating What Surrounds Us: Diversity of Fauna in the Sky Islands Region,” displayed at the Museo de Sitio in Naco, Sonora, as part of FotoSeptiembre 2025.
Through this contest, Sky Island Alliance seeks to continue inspiring communities and new generations to observe, value, and protect their natural environment. We deeply thank all the participants, teachers, families, and others who made this activity possible. And we thank our partner organizations and volunteers for sponsoring some of the prizes and for making this possible.