Eleventh Annual TAS
April 6-21, 2013
Raise money for bird conservation projects in south Florida! Win prizes!
Birdathon 2013 will span April 6-21, a period of two weeks. You can count birds during any 24 consecutive hours during this period. You can even do your birdathon on any of the TAS bird and nature walks during this period. You don't have to be a hardcore birder to participate. You don't even have to be a birder. In fact you don't even have to leave your yard to have fun, compete for prizes, and help TAS. We see the birdathon becoming a major fundraising event for TAS, just as it is for Audubon chapters across the country.
A birdathon is like a walkathon. You collect pledges for bird species seen instead of miles walked (for example, $1 per bird, 25¢ per bird, etc.), or simply for a flat amount. Birds must be counted during a 24-hour period between April 6 and 21. Prize winners and high totals will announced at the TAS Wingding on April 28. Doing the Birdathon is a lot of fun and every single dollar raised stays right here in south Florida to support Tropical's work. We need your help to do it, so grab some friends, grab your binoculars, and get birding!
You don't have to count for an entire 24 hours (and you don't even have to leave the house). The important thing is to collect pledges. Birdathon sponsors can decide if they want their donations to be used to fund TAS conservation advocacy and education efforts, or to support two specific south Florida bird conservation projects:
- American Flamingo Satellite Monitoring Study — This long-awaited study, to last up to five years, will attempt to determine the origin and track the movements of American Flamingos wintering in Everglades National Park. The data collected will be incorporated into the park's management and conservation plan for this iconic species. The national park, in partnership with ZooMiami and the Avian Research and Conservation Institute, will capture and attach satellite transmitters to as many as three flamingos in Florida Bay. TAS has been asked to assist with funding for satellite data processing, estimated to cost about $3,600.00 per year.
- Dry Tortugas Removable Bird Fountain — For decades, a bird fountain on the grounds of Ft. Jefferson on Garden Key in Dry Tortugas National Park has provided a source of fresh water for untold numbers of migrant songbirds that found their way to the isolated islands; TAS was instrumental in the original construction of the fountain. In 2012, the national park determined that it could no longer repair and maintain the fountain; it was removed this past January. The park has asked for TAS assistance to replace the fountain with a seasonal, removable fountain. TAS has submitted a fountain design that is pending NPS approval. Construction and installation of the fountain is expected to cost about $800.00.
How to Birdathon!
- Get pledges from friends, neighbors, co-workers, strangers. See our birdathon tips page for ideas about how to boost your pledge totals. You can download the pledge sheet and sponsor pledge forms in pdf format.
- Count birds. The detailed counting rules are further down this page.
- Tell us how many species you saw and how many pledges you received. To be eligible for prizes, this info must be reported by 4pm Wednesday, April 24. Either email fieldtrips@tropicalaudubon.org. or call 305-667-7337. Leave your name, team name, number of birds species seen and total pledged amount. Prize winners will be announced during our annual meeting on April 28.
- Collect pledge donations and forward to TAS at 5530 Sunset Drive, Miami, Fl 33143 by May 4. Pledge money must be delivered to TAS by May 4, 2013 to receive a prize.
Doing the Birdathon is a lot of fun and every single dollar raised stays right here in south Florida to support Tropical's work. We need your help to do it, so grab some friends, grab your binoculars, and get birding!
Birdathon Prizes!
Collecting $30 nets you a choice of a coffee mug, baseball cap or metal TAS water bottle. Individuals that pledge $30 or more get a choice of a coffee mug, baseball cap or metal TAS water bottle too! Birdathoners win prizes for raising money and for counting the most birds. Prizes in the past have included a birding trip, binoculars, Audubon prints, restaurant meals, native plants and more. Check back for a list of this year's prizes or call the Doc Thomas House for info. Please contact us at 305-667-7337 or at director@tropicalaudubon.org if you or your business can donate a prize.
Prizes
- Most bird species seen by an individual or a team (minimum donation $500): Free passage for one on the TAS trip to Florida's Panhandle in January, 2014 (meals not included)
- Highest pledge total collected by an individual (minimum donation $1000): Free passage for one on the TAS trip to the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas in April, 2014 (meals not included)
Counting Rules
You may bird either individually or as part of a team. All members of a team must remain within earshot of one another (without using cellphones or radios, etc.) while counting, and all counted birds must be seen or heard by a majority of the team members (that is, at least 3 of 4, 2 of 3, or 2 of 2 members).
For the highest species total categories only, all bird-counting must be confined to the state of Florida (which, don't forget, includes the Dry Tortugas). Exotics, including all psittacids and the infamous Muscovy Duck, are countable as long as they are free and unrestrained. Bird collections of any sort, such as the one at Crandon Gardens, or birds belonging to local golf courses, do not count toward prizes, even if the birds are technically unrestrained. (Whether your sponsor will accept them is between you and your sponsors.)
For More Information
For more information, check the Birdathon Tips page. You can download the pledge sheet and sponsor pledge forms here or from the sidebar.
If you still have questions, email director@tropicalaudubon.org.