Birdathon:

We’re happy to announce the 2024 Brooklyn Bird Club Birdathon, to be held in celebration of World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) on Saturday, May 11. #bkbigday

The annual Birdathon asks birders to form teams of up to 6 members and count bird species in Brooklyn in support of a cause that helps the birds we love. Everyone is welcome—hardcore birders, backyard feeder watchers, and beginners! Like a walkathon, participants collect pledges and donations from friends and family for finding and counting bird species on the day of the Birdathon. Instead of getting a pledge per mile walked, Birdathon participants ask for a pledge for each bird species seen by the team.

A note on pledges: You are free to make a lump sum donation at any time, but if you are pledging a $ amount per bird, please come back here to make your donation after your sponsee has told you how many birds they saw. Feel free to memorialize your pledge amount in the comment box. We thank you and the birds thank you!

Please register your team by sending team members, your day’s goal, a team name, and a team logo (optional) to Bobbi Manian birdathon@brooklynbirdclub.org by Tuesday, May 7.

If you’d like to be connected to a team, contact Bobbi Manian who will try to connect people with similar levels of commitment.

🏅 This year’s designated beneficiary is the The Foundation for the Conservation of the Tropical Andes (FCAT)

The Foundation for the Conservation of the Tropical Andes (FCAT)

FCAT has established a unique community-led nature preserve and vehicle for societal change in the Chocó, one of the world’s most biodiverse and endangered habitats. Here, top-tier scientists and experts in various fields are assisting local residents to develop and implement data-driven solutions for critical habitat for hundreds of bird species. They seek partners to help protect key habitats and watersheds critical for the well-being of local residents and endangered species alike. They protect nearly 400 species of bird including charismatic local species like Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Harpy Eagle and Banded Ground-cuckoo, and at least 28 Neotropical migrants, including three Birds of Conservation Concern: Bay-breasted Warbler, Canada Warbler, and Olive-sided Flycatcher.

Why It Matters

Urgency & Need: Over 96% of Ecuador’s Chocó has already been lost. Our reserve, about double the size of Central Park, protects some of the very last remnants of this exceptionally biodiverse habitat type.

Human Impact: We transform lives and livelihoods by providing opportunities to locals, including training, employment, a women’s art collective, and a youth Environmental Club. FCAT member Fernando Castillo says “I grew up in the forests, but I have watched them disappear. My father was forced to participate in deforestation–there was no other way to provide for the family. That’s why I have dedicated my life to preserving these forests.”

Return on Investment: FCAT features exceptionally strong community leadership, grassroots buy-in, gold standard accounting and administration, and over 20 years of proven success with recognition from Whitley Fund for Nature, National Geographic’s Buffett Prize, and Disney Conservation Fund’s Local Conservation Hero Awards (2x). We run lean and mean to maximize ‘bang for buck’. Also, two existing donors will provide a total of $15,000 in match for any donations from Brooklyn Bird Club members.

Birdathon Teams

Chips Ahoy!

Our lofty goal is 130 species. Heydi, Josh, Case and Michael will chase every chip, until sundown. Let the chips fall where they may.

Team members: Heydi, Josh, Chase, and Michael

Count Graculas

We aim to Count every bird we see, through the burning light of day-with capes off, no matter the stakes at hand blah.

Team members: Jeremy, Radka, Valerie, Crystal, Maggie, Michele, and Jeff

Cousin GREG

We’re going to see as many species as we can without leaving Prospect Park. Will we see 70 species? 80? Could we get lucky this year and see 100? In the immortal words of Gregory Hirsch, “If it is to be said, so it be—so it is.”

Team members: Forrest, Danielle, Gabriella, Ant, Joe, and Xinyi

Inglorious Bustards

The inglorious bustards will be carrying out an inglourious, uprorious thrill-ride of birding with a vengeance… and using the birdathton as an excuse to eat pizza somewhere new, but we haven’t decided where yet.

Team members: Ryan, Erin, Jim, Paul, and Jen

Intro to Birding

The Intro to Birdwatching walk will be participating in Brooklyn Bird Club's Spring Birdathon and World Migratory Bird Day this Saturday, May 11th. Come join us (and donate too!) as we take our usual routes around Prospect Park: the Boathouse and back in two hours.

Team members: Tina, Angie, et al.

Timberdoodlers

Join the Timberdoodlers as the BBC Migration walk becomes a bird-finding machine for the Birdathon. Our goal is to set a new record of 100 species for the day, just in the park! Meet 7:30 am at the “Pergola” entrance on Ocean and Parkside Avenues.

Team members: Dennis, Bobbi, et al.

Veery Excited Birders

We are a group of veery excited birders, who, despite being fledgling Bird-a-thon-ers, are looking to swift-ly climb the ranks. We will tackle this challenge with binoculars, strained bird puns, and snacks. Willet be enough to be victorious or will we find ourselves on a wild goose chase? Only time will tell. Hoping to see 60 species!

Team members: Ross, Ariel, Sophie, Zohara, and Bridget

The Wandering Warblers

The Wandering Warblers will meander over hill and dale, far and wide in Prospect Park and Green-wood Cemetery, zealously counting our feathered friends.

Team members: Janet, Alan, Steve, Heidi, and Ed

The Wood-Pewee Complex

We were too many Pewees for one team, so the AOS split us into two teams, the Eastern Wood-Pewees and the Western Wood-Pewees, but you can’t tell us apart without team-in-hand. Our goal is to birdwatch in all of Brooklyn, both east and west, at a relaxed pace. Our two teams will bird together, but we aren’t competing for first place, so we’re ok with breaking the rules a little bit.

Team members: Emily , Eleanor , Sara , Daisy , Peter , Mike , Max , and Dan

2024 Spring Birdathon - Brooklyn Bird Club

By Brooklyn Bird Club

2024 Spring Birdathon - Brooklyn Bird Club

Saturday, May 11