What is “Celebrate Birds” Month and the LWC Birdathon?
“Celebrate Birds” is our month-long celebration of the phenomenon that is spring migration in Loudoun County and an opportunity to spotlight World Migratory Bird Day on May 9. Celebrate Birds! happened in 2026 from April 18 to May 17.
At Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, we celebrate with a variety of inspiring bird walks, events, and our most anticipated fundraising event of the year: the Loudoun Wildlife Birdathon.
What’s a Birdathon? It’s like a walk-a-thon, but we count bird species instead of miles. It’s a fun, inspiring way to connect with nature while protecting it at the same time! All are welcome, whether you’re an expert birder or just love watching birds in your backyard! All funds raised support Loudoun Wildlife’s ongoing mission: to protect, preserve and restore wildlife habitat. See what previous participants have said about the Birdathon.
2026 Birdathon Winners
We’re so proud of all 54 of our amazing teams for participating in the 2026 Birdathon. Together, these teams identified a record 161 unique species and raised $26,000 for LWC! Thank you teams and supporters, and here are our winning teams for 2026:
“Most Species Observed by First Timers”
“Warble On,” featuring Leena McCluney and Adrin Andalib. Over two days, this team found 112 species of birds!
Prize: $50 gift certificate from choice of WildBirds Unlimited, Watermark Woods, or Loudoun Wildlife Wild Shop
“Most Species Observed by a Family”
“Flying Kites,” featuring Eric, Kiersten, Abby, Rua, Sadie, and Henry Anderson. The Kites identified 100 species and sent us a great report about balancing family life with the Birdathon, which you can read on our summaries page.
Prize: $100 gift certificate from choice of WildBirds Unlimited, Watermark Woods, or Loudoun Wildlife Wild Shop
“Most Species Found in 24 Hours”
“Gone Pishing,” featuring Allison Gallo, Bryan Henson, and Jane Yocom. This team is always among the strongest entries, and they beat their previous high this year by identifying 113 species in 24 hours.
Prize: $75 gift certificate from choice of WildBirds Unlimited, Watermark Woods, or Loudoun Wildlife Wild Shop
“Most Species Found in 48 Hours”
“Raven Loonatics,” featuring Bruce Hill, Larry Meade, Donna Quinn, and Gerco Hoogeweg. The Loonatics have always been top competitors in the unique species count, and this year they found 125 species!
Prize: $75 gift certificate from choice of WildBirds Unlimited, Watermark Woods, or Loudoun Wildlife Wild Shop
“Most Money Raised”
“Shrike Force,” featuring Joe Coleman, Mary Ann Good, and Pat Whittle. This team raised over $6,000, nearly a fourth of all money raised for this event. They also delivered an amazing find this year of a Black-necked Stilt, a county-first record.
Prize: $75 gift certificate from choice of WildBirds Unlimited, Watermark Woods, or Loudoun Wildlife Wild Shop
Raffle Drawing Winners:
Winner of Catoctin Creek Tasting for Two and signed bottle of Shenandoah Gin with two rocks glasses: Jody Sharp
Winner of $100 gift certificate from choice of WildBirds Unlimited, Watermark Woods, or Loudoun Wildlife Wild Shop: Al Van Huyck
Winner of Zeiss binoculars, donated by Rose Gentile of Avenue Wealth: Jane Yocom
Form a Birdathon Team
Team registration is NOW CLOSED for 2026, but will be open in the spring of 2027 for our 2027 Birdathon.
Birdathon teams can be made up of no less than two and no more than six. ALL are welcome, from beginners to experts. The Birdathon is all about fun, getting out in nature, and learning more about the birds of Loudoun County.
When you sign up, you’ll select either a 24-hour or 48-hour period that falls somewhere between “Celebrate Birds” month (a month-long period within April and May each year).
During that period, you and your team will identify as many bird species as you can wherever you can, and you’ll submit that information to Loudoun Wildlife. Your team will then look to enlist sponsors (family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, businesses, your employer), asking them to support your team with either a fixed amount or on a per species basis (e.g. $1 per species identified).
Data you collect is used in broaders studies related to bird populations and migration patterns in Loudoun County and nationwide. That makes you and your team community scientists!
Check out the “Resources” section below for much more info.
Support a Team
You can support a team (even your own) by making a flat donation OR making a pledge by species.
All money raised goes to support Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and our crucial Education, Community Science, Advocacy, and Habitat Restoration work in Loudoun County.
Rules and Resources
Here’s a helpful list of resources you can use to learn more about the Birdathon and its rules, the “Celebrate Birds” walks we’ll be offering during the Birdathon period (April 18-May 17), tips to have the best experience possible, and much more.
2026 Birdathon Sponsors
We’re so grateful for our 2026 Birdathon sponsors! Click on their logos to visit their websites and express YOUR support for THEIR support.
