Loudoun County IMBD Birdathon

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy People and Wildlife Living in Harmony

Make the LWC Birdathon a Success!

Citizen Science Environmental Monitoring

“A flash of harmless lightening, a mist of rainbow dyes, the burnished sunbeams brightening from flower to flower he flies.”

- John Bannister Tabb

What is a Birdathon?
A Birdathon is a fundraiser. Form a team with some friends and select a day between May 2-10 to count as many bird species in a 24 hour period as you can. Prior to your count day, each member of your team asks people to sponsor them through pledges. People generally pledge either a flat amount or an amount per species.

Who Should Participate?
Expert, novice and backyard birders. We have prizes for different skill levels too. Worried that you are not very good at identifying birds and won’t be able to participate? This is no problem! Anyone can help with the Birdathon because you pick a level of participation that’s comfortable for you. Beginner birdwatchers are most welcome! You’d be surprised - most beginners already know 25 or more common species. So, if you ask for a pledge of $1 per species, you could secure donations of $25 per person, which can really add up.

Black-and white Warbler, which winters in the southern US and northern South America

Willow Flycatcher, which lives with us through the summer but winters in areas from Mexico to Argentina

Why Participate in the Birdathon?
The Birdathon is a fun way to get outside and identify birds while raising money for our local birds and their habitat. The Birdathon is a crucial source of funding for Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. This Birdathon has been used to raise funds for our Bird Atlas project which will generate data to help protect bird habitats. To thank you for your efforts, you'll also be eligible to win some great prizes.

Participate in the Birdathon:

Be a counter and collect pledges. You can count any way you like, from sitting and watching a feeder to visiting a variety of habitats or joining us on one of our IMBD Bird Walks. Just follow these simple steps:

First, form a team. This is a great activity for families, scout groups and other youth groups as a way to teach children about birds and their habitats while also raising funds for a great cause.
Select a day for your count between May 2 and May 10. You can do your Birdathon at any time and at any place within Loudoun county during that window and you can count species for as many hours as you like during the 24 hour period that you select.
Sign up for the Birdathon via our web form. Once we receive your registration, we will post your team name on the pledge form so people can sponsor you online. We'll email you any sponsorships that come in for your team so you can follow up with the donor.
Download the birdathon materials from the drop-down menu below. They include the pledge form, the bird checklist and more.
Enlist your sponsors (family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, businesses, your employer), asking them to make a pledge. Don’t be shy. You’ll be surprised how many people will contribute. Some people may pledge a flat sum amount and give you a check on the spot while others may sponsor you on a per species basis (e.g. .25 cents per species). All pledges are tax deductible.
On the day of your counting, find as many species as possible and mark off the checklist. Refer to our Birdathon Rules for specific guidelines.
After the count, fill in your totals, collect your pledges and mail your sponsor sheet, money raised and bird checklist to LWC no later than June 12.

Birdathon Materials: