The sixth annual “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” exhibition opens on the second-floor gallery of the Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center, 1001 Ryan St., with a reception from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday.

Every year wildlife photographers submit their bird photography to a juried competition. This year, more than 235 images from 37 entrants from 15 states were received. Bird Watcher’s Digest Magazine editors Dawn Hewitt and Bruce Wunderlich judged and selected the top 50 images.

An awards ceremony for best in show and top three in two categories — open and fixed-lens camera — will take place at the reception. Winners will receive cash prizes totaling $1,400.

This year’s exhibition is special because the competition was expanded to include bird species outside of the United States, said Dan Plummer, president of Gallery by the Lake, a non-profit organization made up of artists from Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas.

Guests can view exotic birds such as the long-tailed sylph, smooth-billed ani, resplendent quetzal, sunbittern, yellow-rumped cacique from Central and South America; the red-footed booby and frigatebird from the Tropical Atlantic; and the lilac-breasted roller from Africa, as well as familiar beaks from North America like herons, egrets and “the ever-interesting burrowing owls,” he said.

Including more species adds “visual variety” to the exhibition, but the main purpose of change was education, he said.

By allowing photos of birds from around the world, “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” can “show people what beautiful and unusual birds exist outside of the United States and maybe spark peoples’ curiosity about wildlife,” Plummer explained.

Plummer said they hope the exhibition can instill the spirit of conservation in patrons each year.

“Of course, we hope everyone viewing the exhibition will find beauty and experience pleasure,” he said. “But more than that, we’d like to create more interest in our special natural resources — habitats and all the flora and fauna they hold — for their protection, and for the public’s enjoyment.”

The exhibition is free and available for viewing through Nov. 20.

The Historic City Hall is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.