What is Birdathon?

Birdathon is an important annual fundraising event that involves all ASGD supporters – and their friends, family, co-workers, and others – in one of America’s most popular hobbies and the number one sport: bird watching! And the great part is you don’t have to be an expert birder to participate. Funds raised through Birdathon support our education programs for all ages.

All contributions to the Birdathon are tax deductible and support the Audubon Society of Greater Denver’s education programs. Donations can be based on the number of species seen, or they can be a flat amount.

3 Ways You Can Participate:

Form a Team

Count birds within a continuous 24 hour period – give or take – and collect pledges from sponsors: friends, family, coworkers, your auto mechanic, businesses, and anyone else you can think of. You don’t have to travel far and wide, and you don’t have to do the full 24 hours on your Birdathon. You can count birds at your feeders over the course of a day, or you can go all out and visit all the parks in Denver (which by the way has the most parks in the US: over 200!). You choose whether you want to do a marathon Birdathon or just a sprint.

Join a Team

Many teams are heading out in May to locations throughout Denver and beyond. Just give us a call to register for one of those listed below or to sponsor one of these teams. Each team member must raise at least $50 to support their team. Call 303-973-9530 or email info@denveraudubon.org for more team details.

Support a Team

Pledge your support to one of the teams that will be out in the field counting birds. Pledges can be based on the number of species you see, or you can pledge a flat amount.

Guidelines

• Get your pledges lined up before the day you select to conduct your outing. These may be either as dollars per species or a lump sum. Some donors may even seek to challenge you further, offering extra dollars for every species you find breeding!
• Plan your outing during any continuous 24 hour period in May for the best weather and to the habitats where you are likely to find a variety of birds.
• Conduct your tally (species seen or heard only, no need to count individuals) within any period during  May in Colorado.
• Let your supporters know how you did, and let them share in your excitement while you collect the pledged amounts. Let them know everything you saw, the surprises you found, including the missed “sure bets” you thought you had pinned down, and the excuses you generate en route (e.g “our navigator fell asleep so we were lost for an hour”, “we were so mesmerized by the Bobolink that we couldn’t tear ourselves away”. etc)

All pledges are tax deductible and donors will be given a receipt.

2016 Teams

Denver Urban Birding Urchins: May 21 (May 22 make-up day if bad weather)

Team Members: Kristin Salamack
Contact Information: ksalamack@gmail.com, 518-441-2827
Target: Anywhere between 1 and 100 birds
The Plan: Search Denver’s urban parks for birds. Start at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal and bird around City Park and Washington Park.

The Colorado Longspurz: TBA

Team Members: Amy Morton, George Mayfield, Chris Goulart, Karen Drozda
Contact Information: Chris Goulart cgoulart001@comcast.net
Target: 100-125 species
The Plan: TBA
DONATE to The Colorado Longspurz

4 Vets in Search of a Bird: TBA

Team Members: Mackenzie Goldthwait, Doug Kibbe, Jeff Dawson, Judy Henderson
Contact Information: 720-981-5689
Target: 172 birds
The Plan: TBA
DONATE to 4 Vets in Search of a Bird

Hypoxic Featherheads (aka High Altitude Birders): TBA

Team Members: Diane Hutton, Benita Mullis, Lanny Mullis
The Target: 100 birds
The Plan: TBA
DONATE to Hypoxic Featherheads

The Fanatic Fledglings (Staff & Volunteer Team): TBA

Team Members: Karl Brummert, Rhonda Shank, Emily Hertz, Kate Hogan, Carolyn Roark
Contact Information: 303-973-9530; kbrummert@denveraudubon.org
Target: Anywhere between 1 and 100 speices
The Plan: TBA
DONATE to The Fanatic Fledglings

Kingbirds: TBA

Team Members: Urling & Hugh Kingery
Contact Information: 303-814-2723; ouzels8@aol.com
Target: 100 species
The Plan: TBA
DONATE to the Kingbirds