-By Sarah Cameron (Great Wisconsin Birdathon Coordinator)-
We are entering the final stretch of this year’s Great Wisconsin Birdathon, with less than $4,000 left to raise to reach this year’s $100,000 goal and several team Big Days still to be completed!
Organized by the Natural Resources Foundation, the Great Wisconsin Birdathon is an annual fundraiser that provides birders the opportunity to support bird conservation in our state while doing what they love – birding! Projects supported through the Great Wisconsin Birdathon include the state’s 2nd Breeding Bird Atlas, Kirtland’s Warbler research and habitat management, Bird City Wisconsin, and many more.
This year’s extended event has had an incredible turnout, with 65 teams featuring over 240 birders registering to participate. There were many returning teams from past years along with a great variety of new Birdathoners, including teams like the No Egrets and the Double Stuffed Orioles.
Teams participated across the state, traversing Wisconsin’s landscapes with the goal of finding as many species within 24 hours while raising funds for priority conservation projects. It was a year for breaking records with signature teams like Cutright’s Old Coots topping their fundraising record to raise over $13,500 and the Secretary Birds finding 200+ species in a single day this spring -- admittedly with an assist from social distancing!
For a year surrounded by many uncertainties, this year’s Great Wisconsin Birdathon has turned out to be an incredible success for the birds. But we are not done yet!
Birdathon teams have until Oct. 15 to take advantage of fall migration and conduct their Big Day and donations can be collected through the end of the month.
To learn more about the event, to make a donation or to register your own team (there’s still time left!) visit www.WIBirdathon.org.
You can also purchase your Birdathon shirt, mug, or tote bag featuring the Kirtland’s Warbler at https://www.bonfire.com/store/natural-resources-foundation-of-wisconsin/
A special thank you to the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology (WSO) for sponsoring the Great Wisconsin Birdathon, to WSO Communications Chair Jennifer Rutten for providing support on the Birdathon Planning Team, and to all the incredible teams featuring WSO members who participated this year!
-- This is one of several timely articles in this month's Badger Birder newsletter; don't miss out on the latest birding and conservation news. Become a WSO member today! --
