Barred Owl © Kent McFarland
If you want to get in on the action, we invite you to form a team or go out on your own, invite your family and friends to sponsor you, and conduct your own Birdathon+ for VCE anytime May 16–25!
While you observe birds and other winged wonders, you can also add bonus points for a few other fun elements: Having more than one generation of birders on the team (start recruiting your Gen Z birders now!), supporting your local general store, and birding carbon-free are just some of the add-ons that will garner you extra points.
You’ll note a special challenge from the VCE Goatsuckers: any team that beats our tally for a one-day quest will win a special prize! And for every $100 you raise for VCE, you’ll earn an exclusive VCE Birdathon+ t-shirt.
Step One: Sign Up as a Team Leader
Let us know you’re leading a Birdathon+ team this year by submitting the Team Leader Sign Up form or emailing Laura Prothero.
Step Two: Choose Your Team and Location
Recruit your birders. (Note: the more generations, the better.) Count in your backyard, neighborhood, or a favorite natural area. (Also note the bonus points for birding carbon-free!)
Step Three: Recruit Sponsors
Call or email your relatives, friends, or neighbors and ask them to support you by pledging a set dollar amount or an amount per species counted. Be sure to let them know you’re also counting all the winged things and getting bonus points. Download this form to help you track your sponsors.
Step Four: Get out, Count, and Upload Your Observations
Choose a 24-hour period between May 16-25 and head out to check off as many species as you can on our checklist.
Step Five: Collect Sponsor Pledges
Report to your sponsors with your count and collect their pledges. Checks should be made out to the Vermont Center for Ecostudies. Your sponsors can also pay their pledge online. Go to vtecostudies.org/birdathon, click the Donate button in the navigation bar on the left and follow the instructions. Please ask your sponsors to include your team name with their gift.
Step Six: Return your Count and Pledges
After you have done your count and collected all of your pledge payments that weren’t made online, send the completed sponsor form and collected contributions to the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, PO Box 420, Norwich, VT 05055.
