The MOS is Going to the World Series ! ! ! The Maryland Ornithological Society is sponsoring a team to participate in the 1998 World Series of Birding. The 1998 team will be co-captained by Hal Wierenga and Lynn Davidson in their bid to break the 180-species mark in Cape May County this year. Hal and Lynn have been life-long Maryland birders and hold the current record for the Maryland Big Day. Hal leads birding trips all over the country for MOS and for the Audubon Naturalist Society and Lynn works in the Nongame Wildlife Program of the MD Department of Natural Resources. They have competed in 5 prior World Series of Birding events, sponsored by the Swarovski Optics Company. They will select the remainder of the team from among Maryland's finest birders to ensure that we have a team of contenders for the 1998 event! Why are we sponsoring this team? First, for the sheer joy of rooting for the home team in the premier competitive birding event in the U.S. Second, and just as critical, to raise money from donations and pledges to support the on-going Education, Research, and Sanctuary programs of the Society. Note that the Maryland Ornithological Society is a registered 501.c(3) nonprofit organization--your donations are fully tax-deductible. You can support our team in two ways. First, by pledging a fixed donation for each species tallied by our team on the day of the count, say 25 cents, for example. If they do check off 180 species, this would add up to a $45 donation on your part. Clearly there is some uncertainty in this approach. Hal and Lynn have had 150-species days but they could also break the magic 200-species level, as well! Ten-cent per species pledges are just as important as $1 or $2! The second way of showing your support is to make an outright contribution to the team effort. ------------------------------------------------------------- MOS 1998 World Series of Birding Pledge Form Name: _____________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________ City: ____________________ State: _______ Zip: __________ Telephone: ______________ E-Mail Address: ________________ ___ My outright contribution of $_________ to the MOS World Series of Birding Team is enclosed. ___ My pledge of $_________ per species seen (expected to range between 150 and 200 species, we will contact you with the actual count by May 25). THANK YOU!!!!!! Please mail this pledge form (and your check made payable to the Maryland Ornithological Society if you are making an outright contribution) to: Norm Saunders, MOS Vice President, 1261 Cavendish Drive, Colesville, MD 20905-7030. Pledges may also be sent via e-mail to Norm at: osprey@ari.net Please note that all pledges and or donations will be received in the strictest confidence. Should you require further information on the World Series of Birding, please contact Norm at osprey@ari.net.