Bloomin' Birdathon redux
scordle (scordle@tidalwave.net)
Tue, 14 Apr 1998 23:16:13 -0400
I was asked to post this for your information.
Steve Cordle
Audubon Naturalist Society BLOOMIN'
BIRDATHON, April 17-May 17, 1998
Be a counter yourself, or sponsor someone
else--CHAN ROBBINS, for example
Help support the Audubon Naturalist
Society's many environmental, educational,
and birding programs by taking part in this
year's Bloomin' Birdathon! Remember-ANS
brings you the Voice of the Naturalist each
week; sponsors free birding trips year-round,
both in the D.C. area and farther afield; and
keeps you posted on birding news and events
through the "Audubon Naturalist News". ANS
also works to preserve our environment so
there will be birds, blooms, and butterflies
to see in the future, and teaches young
people about the environment.
You can participate as a counter of
birds or blossoms, either in the field or in
your own yard, or you can sponsor someone
else. How about pledging your support to
Chandler Robbins, renowned ornithologist and
chief author of the "Birds of North America:
A Guide to Field Identification" (widely
known as the "Golden Guide")? Chan is in his
twelfth year of counting for ANS and is the
Society's reigning Backyard Birder champ. On
last year's count, Chan tallied 56 species on
his 2.5acre property along the Patuxent
River, in Prince George's County, MD. What's
his secret? "[P]ick a date when migrants are
moving through; and be at the right place at
the right time to detect as many of them as
possible.[T]he majority of the species
encountered are detected only once or twice
during the day. Imagine how many others
escape detection."
People of all ages and skill levels are
welcome to participate in the Bloomin'
Birdathon. If you count, select one 24 hour
period between April 17 and May 17, 1998, and
count all the bird or flower species you
find. Ask friends, families, and co-workers
to sponsor you by pledging a donation to ANS
based on your species count. Sponsors also
donate prizes and awards and can do a count,
too.
Kicking off the event will be an
orientation on Thursday, April 16, 1998, at
7:00 p.m. at Woodend. Registration packets
and information will be available. Stay for
Audubon's monthly membership meeting at 7:30,
when Cris Fleming, co-author of FINDING
WILDFLOWERS in the WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE AREA,
will take us, through her slides, to some of
her favorite local wildflower spots.
Counters compete for prizes in c categories
including first timer, back yard, field,
junior, and team. Sponsors receive gifts
based on their contribution level. This year,
prizes will include Audubon thermo-zipper
pulls, denim B'B caps, free tickets to
Audubon activities, complimentary
memberships, and nature books.
The event's finale, the Tally Rally, is set
for Thursday, June 18, 1998, at 7:30 p.m.
This festive evening at Woodend will include
a dessert reception, prizes, and stories from
the field. Sponsors, counters, friends, and
family are invited!
New birders are welcome to count on one
of ANS' regularly scheduled, FREE birdwalks,
held every Saturday morning, September
through June. Meet at Woodend in front of the
Audubon Bookshop at 8:00 a.m.; walks last
approximately 1 hour. Or go afield with
award-winning birder Marcia Minichiello to
Chincoteague, Virginia, and nearby eastern
shore sites, on Saturday, May 9; or with
ANS Naturalist Cliff Fairweather to prime
spots in northern Virginia--ANS' new refuge
in Clifton, Mason Neck, and Woodbridge--on
Friday, May 1.
To sign up for one of these trips, or
for more information about the BLOOMIN'
BIRDATHON, please call 301652-9188, or
email birdathon@AudubonNaturalist.org
-------------------------------------------
---1998 ANS Bloomin' Birdathon,
Counter and Pledge Form
Name:______________________________________
Address:___________________________________
City:_____________State:__________Zip:_____
Phone:_____________________________________
Counter:___Birds(or)___ Flowers(or)___ Both
___Team _____________Team name
___Veteran___First timer
___Backyard ___Junior (16 & under)
Sponsor: I pledge ______ per species for
____________ (counter's name), or
_______direct to ANS.
-------------------------------------------
THANK YOU!
Please mail this form (and your check
made payable to the Audubon Naturalist
Society if you are making an outright
contribution) to: Audubon Naturalist
Society, Bloomin' Birdathon, 8940 Jones
Mill Road, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815.
You may also email your pledge to
birdathon@AudubonNaturalist.org
-- Sarah Jane Rodman, Special Events
Coordinator, Audubon Naturalist Society