Eight-year-old Ryan Eakin likes birds and he likes to draw. So, it was a natural progression for the homeschooled Rimini resident to put pencil to paper recently, exploring his favorite subject matter while competing against other budding artists in the Montana Junior Duck Stamp contest.

"It's colorful," Eakin said, explaining why he decided to draw a Wood Duck to enter in the contest. "I like it."

Apparently the panel of judges in the contest liked Eakin's duck, too -- they awarded him the first place prize in the kindergarten through third grade category.

The Montana Junior Duck Stamp contest is part of a national competition that brings together the best in show winners from across the country, including the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories.

A grand prize winner will be selected in late April, and that artist's drawing will be featured on the federal junior duck stamp.

Eakin -- who enjoys bird watching in his back yard with his father -- was one of 517 entrants vying for that honor in this year's competition.

Money raised through the sale of the stamps goes to conservation education in the form of scholarships and awards for students, teachers and schools.

While Hardin resident Matthew Schreiner, 17, won the competition this time, Eakin is eager to match his skills against artists from across the state again.

According to Eakin's mother, Cathy, her son first became interested in participating in the contest a couple years ago when he saw several of the contest entries on display at the Lewis and Clark Library.

"I thought it looked pretty easy and thought I could do that," Eakin said.

So, he tried his luck and won an honorable mention in his age group.

Eakin set out this year with the objective of improving upon his last year's showing at the event.

He said it took him about two weeks to pencil in the outline of the bird using a picture from a book as inspiration, and to add the vibrant colors characteristic to this type of duck.

Eakin said it was particularly difficult to illustrate the reflection of the duck in the water in his picture.

"It took a long time," he said.

Eakin said he hasn't decided what kind of duck he will draw next year, but he's aiming high.

"My goal is a stamp," Eakin said.

For now, though, Eakin is excited to get this year's picture framed to hang on the wall with last year's drawing, along with his awards.

In addition to birds, Eakin said he likes to draw fish and moths.