Birdathons, Big Sits, Big Days

Birdathons

Photo: USFWS

Every spring many individuals and organizations participate in birdathons organized by groups wishing to highlight their bird conservation programs and raise funds for conservation or education projects. Birdathons are typically made up of teams of birders who collect pledges of money for the number of birds they count in a specific time period. For example a team counts birds in a predetermined location and date and records the number of birds they see. Birdathons are a great way for organizations to raise funds for both small and large projects. Many birdathon teams or individuals that take on such an effort are rewarded through financial contributions and through the recognition they gain.

For example, in 2007 Houston Audubon’s birdathon team members raised over $42,000 (including $1,000 to support Cerulean Warbler conservation work by ABC and Colombian partner ProAves), with pledges coming in from as far away as Washington, Florida, and Michigan. Inspired to aim high in their birding and conservation efforts, they are already planning to break their record for their next annual Birdathon.

Amos W. Butler Audubon Society has been very successful at raising funds for a variety of projects thorough their birdathon efforts, raising over $362,000 since 1987. A portion of this was used to purchase 1,385 acres of threatened rainforest in Central and South America. The focus of their efforts since 2000 has been a partnership with American Bird Conservancy and Panama Audubon to protect El Chorogo, prime wintering grounds for several Indiana migrants.

Birdathons have been helpful in raising funds for the BCA 2007 International Appeal on Saving the Cerulean Warbler: Several BCA members conducted birdathons for which some funds were donated to the Cerulean Warbler Appeal. These efforts included: Maryland Ornithological Society at $2000, Wisconsin Society for Ornithology at $616, Peter Dorosh of the Brooklyn Bird Club at $2035.15, efforts by George M. Jett for the Southern Maryland Audubon Society annual fund raising birdathon raising $2,957.50 and efforts for the World Series of Birding by The Restarts (a PIF/IMBD team) resulted in just over $1,000.

Big days

Photo: USFWS

A big day is typically a 24 hour period in which a birder or birding group tries to see as many birds as they can in a given area. The reason for a big day is usually just a fun competition, but it can be used to raise funds for conservation. For example, ornithologists from the Smithsonian Institution get together for a big day in Washington DC that raises funds to help train the next generation of scientists at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. The competition of breaking their previous record makes it more of a challenge for the team members, and also makes it more interesting for the people donating money to support their efforts.

The Great Texas Birding Classic has a big day competitive birdwatching tournament held each spring that coincides with spring migration in Texas. The Gulf Coast Bird Observatory and Texas Parks and Wildlife organize the competition to increase the appreciation, understanding and conservation of birds along the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. Every year they raise over 50,000 dollars that goes to conservation restoration and land acquisition projects to benefit birds.

The World Series of Birding is a nationwide big day that started in 1984 when New Jersey Audubon Society challenged birders to participate in a bird watching contest to raise money for bird conservation. The birders sign up to compete and bird for 24 hours on the second Saturday each May. The World Series has grown to include many organizations outside of New Jersey raising millions of dollars for bird conservation. Each team that participates chooses which conservation project to donate their pledged dollars. Twenty-four hours of nonstop birding for a good cause: extreme, but worth it.

Big Sits

The Big Sit birding competition was a creation of the New Haven Birding Club in Connecticut. It started because the bird club wanted an alternative event to a big day. The object is the same, to tally as many bird species as can be seen or heard within 24 hours, but the big sit differs in that the geographic area is limited to just one place, eliminating the need for major transportation. Participants define a seventeen-foot diameter circle, and watch birds from this circle all day, counting the number of species of birds they see. Participants may leave the circle at any time, but birds will only be counted if sighted or heard from within the circle. These guidelines allow for almost any person of birding level or age to participate in the competition. Money can be raised for a bird conservation project, but the main idea is to have a friendly competition with other birders.