Audubon members and friends will use their birding skills to raise much-needed funds which go to Audubon's sanctuaries, science, environmental research, education, habitat rehabilitation, and activist programs at the local chapter and national level. Thousands of birders, serious, casual, and first time, take to the fields nationwide to count the millions of birds migrating through North America. We believe that 1997 will be the most successful among our 15 years of conducting national Birdathons. Birdathon participants meet in groups across the country and scan the skies, identifying as many bird species as possible within a one-day period, with dates for local events coinciding with peak spring migration times in those areas. Birdathon participants may see as many as two-hundred species.
Pledges range from a quarter up to ten dollars or more for each species spotted.
Individuals and Audubon chapters also compete for prizes based on the most species seen and the greatest amount of money raised. Awards and donated prizes include books, field guides, binoculars, videos, cameras, sporting goods, and trips. Birdathon funds help finance local and national Audubon conservation projects and programs. Birdathon have helped to purchase wildlife habitat, conserve wetlands and ancient forests, and involve hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren in Audubon's education programs. Anyone can participate in Birdathon by getting in touch with their local Audubon Chapter and press can find local chapters through the contacts below.