May is Bird-a-thon Month!

The 5th Annual BHAS Birdathon is coming this May! (2012)

Bird-a-thons are great for raising awareness of birds, promoting bird conservation, and raising money for conservation and education programs at the same time! Anyone can participate—as a sponsor, a birder or both!  See Birdathon brochure.

Here’s how it works: You decide where and when during May you want to go birding. Then you find some sponsors to pledge some cents per species. Now go find those birds! Afterwards, report back to your sponsors on how many species you saw, and collect the pledges.
 

Your birding day does not need to be an intense all-out effort. You would be surprised how many species will show up around your yard and neighborhood over the course of a day. Black Hills Audubon offers several guided Birdathon field trips to exciting destinations in Washington. Or, you can just go out on your own to a few local parks.

One key to successful birdathon fund raising is giving your sponsors a guess on how many species you may find. If you only expect 25 species, a pledge of fifty cents a bird is only a $12.50 pledge.
 

You don’t have to be an expert birder to participate! On guided Birdathon field trips, trip leaders will help you find the birds and rack up the number of species! Contact your friends, family, co-workers, and anyone else to pledge towards the number of birds you hope to see during a 24-hour time period. Sponsors can donate a lump sum in your name, but what is the fun in that? Talk up the drama of the search!
 

After your Birdathon day, write a short report on the great species you found, figure out the amount each sponsor pledged, and ask your sponsors for their pledges. 100% of the money raised through the Birdathon will be used to support the Black Hills Audubon Society and its education and conservation programs. (See Birdathon Pledge Sheet)
 

Guided Bird-a-thon trips:

The following are Guided Birdathon trips offered in May of 2012:

	May 2, Wednesday, 8am – 12 noon BIRDATHON Field Trip:  Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Leader: Phil Kelley Estimated species: 60 No sign up required.
	May 12, Saturday, 7am – 4pm BIRDATHON Field Trip: Thurston and Eastern Grays Harbor Counties Leaders: Kristin Stewart and Sue Danver Estimated species: 60 Reservation required. Call: 456-5098 or 402-1526.
	May 12, Saturday, 9am – 12 noon BIRDATHON Field Trip: Olympia’s Waterfront Leader: Sheila McCartan Estimated species: 30 Reservation required. Contact the Birdathon Coordinator
	May 16, Wednesday, 8am – 12 noon BIRDATHON Field Trip: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Leader: Phil Kelley Estimated species: 60 No sign up required.
	May 19, Saturday, 6:30am to afternoon BIRDATHON Field Trip: From Kennedy Creek to Capitol Peak Leader: Whittier Johnson Estimated Species 60 Reservation required. Contact leader Birdathon Coordinator
	May 20, Sunday, 9am – 12 noon BIRDATHON Field Trip: Woodard Bay Leaders: Meagan Thorn and Robin Shoal Estimated species 25 Reservation required. Contact the Birdathon Coordinator
	May 20, Sunday, 8:30am – 12 noon BIRDATHON Field Trip: Biking and Birding the Chehalis Western Trail Leader: Deb Nickerson Estimated species: 30 Reservation required. Contact ltrip eader at 754-5397
	Monday, May 21; 8am – 11am BIRDATHON Field Trip: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Leader: Woody Franzen Estimated species: 40 Reservation required. Call trip leader at 951-7152

For questions about the Birdathon, please contact the Birdathon Coordinator, Sheila McCartan, at schooleymccartan@comcast.net or call
(360) 951-7152. 

Birdathon brochure.