Activities and Meetings: Bird-a-thon
What is a Bird-a-thon?
Bird-a-thon is an Audubon effort to raise awareness of our amazing birdlife here in Virginia and to raise funds to support many of our local conservation and education projects. It’s a 24-hour birding foray in May that’s undertaken by a team of birders to identify all the birds they can by sight or sound. RAS then collects pledges and donations from our sponsors to suport RAS projects.
Who Can Participate?
All RAS members are encouraged to form a team and join in the fun. There is no set size for a team; if you just want to solicit pledges and go birding on your own, feel free to do so! Teams of four to six birders are probably optimal.
Where can I bird? And when?
This year, in 2010, the Birdathon focus will be on Richmond’s fabulous James River. Find as many species you can at locations in the James River corridor including James River Park in the City of Richmond and sites in Richmond Audubon’s adopted Important Bird Area, the Lower James River IBA. Any birding area in close proximity to the James is fair game. Plan your route, choose any 24 hour period during the month of May, and go find as many birds as you can!
Where Does My Money GO?
Richmond Audubon supports local and regional conservation and education projects with Birdathon funds each year. This year, Birdathon proceeds will benefit Richmond Audubon’s outreach and conservation programs, including:
• RAS Kids youth outreach program
• James River Park System,
• MAPS banding stations,
• Prothonotary Warbler nest box banding project, and
• Lower James River IBA, including Presquile and James River National Wildlife refuges.
How Do I Raise Money?
• Get pledges based on a per species amount (eBird lists 141 species reported along the James near Richmond during the month of May. Seeing 100 species in a day should be feasible. $0.15 per species would amount to a $15 donation if you see a hundred species.) or a TOTAL dollar amount (suggest a $25.00 pledge?).
• Start by sponsoring yourself for $0.15 per species or a flat $25.00. PLEDGE FORM (PDF) - CLICK HERE
• Ask 5 co-workers to contribute.
• Ask a community organization to sponsor Bird-a-thon for $50.00
• Ask 2 small businesses, especially the ones where you shop, to sponsor you for $50.00. We will list commercial sponsors of the Bird-a-thon in the next Thrasher.
• All checks should be made out to Richmond Audubon Society.
• Use this suggested script or come up with your own “ask”: “Hi (name of person), this is (insert your name) calling. How are you? I’m calling to ask if you could sponsor the Richmond Audubon Society Birdathon, which will be held throughout May 2007. The Birdathon is held each year to support Richmond Audubon Conservation and Education Projects. [Past projects of include: signage and bird boxes in the James River Park, projects for the Lower James River Important Bird Area (Richmond Audubon’s Adopted IBA) including wildlife surveys and habitat restoration projects on Presquile National Wildlife Refuge, and support for the ARK Wildlife Rehabilitates.] I hope that you can make a pledge of $ (insert an amount you’re comfortable with here) to support local conservation. Thank you for your consideration!”
Join or Start a Group
Join an existing group, create your own group, choose a captain and a team name if you wish, contact other birders. Then contact the Bird-a-thon Chairperson and register your team and its members.
EMAIL: birdathon@richmondaudubon.org
LEADERS PLEDGE LOG (PDF) - CLICK HERE
Current Teams
CRAZY COOTS - RAS President Lewis Barnette, Kim Harrell, Pete Walker, Lori Kam and Bob Schamerhorn.
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Ducklings - Caroline Coe, John Coe, Pam Dummitt, Margaret Ebbs, Julie, Kacmarcik, Ben Saunders, Betsy Saunders and Grace Suttle.
The Fun Part, Birding!
Bird up to 24 continuous hours in Virginia on any designated Bird-a-thon day in May along the James River near Richmond.
Okay, I’ve done my 24 hours of birding, now what?
Tally our species and contact the Bird-a-thon Chairperson with your results. Send your list of birds sighted, pledge sheets and any checks (payable to the Richmond Audubon Society) given directly to you to the Bird-a-thon Coordinator: Richmond Audubon Society • Attn: Bird-a-thon Coordinator • PO Box 26648 • Richmond, VA 23261. The coordinator will be responsible for writing letters to sponsors to collect remaining pledges.
Who do I contact for more information?
Birdathon Chair: CONTACT INFORMATION • birdathon@richmondaudubon.org
Your past participation has supported these RAS projects:
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James River Parks: Interpretive sign at the Wetlands entrance to the park including a trail map and a list of plants and wildlife you might see.
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A panel display on the Floodwall walk overlooking the James River identifying common waterfowl.
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Presquile National Wildlife Refuge: Trail development and habitat restoration.
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Virginia Important Bird Areas: Supporting recognition and conservation of important bird areas in Virginia.
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