A few weeks back I sent the following message to the list.  So far
we've gotten pledges that will amount to about a $600 donation to
MOS in support of the Breeding Bird Atlas.  That's a good start but
I'd like to do better than that.  The Atlas is an absolutely
invaluable tool in determining the health of breeding bird
populations in the state.  Without this data to compare with the
first Atlas, it will be a lot more difficult to argue the
conservation cause with our local lawmakers.  In other words,
donations to the Atlas will likely be repaid many times over!

It's now only three weeks until the World Series!  Let me hear from
you in support of the Yellowthroats and the Atlas!

Norm


Great news for MOS! 
Matt Hafner (team captain, Harford County), Hans Holbrook (Howard
County), and Jim Brighton (Talbot County) will be representing the
Maryland Ornithological Society at this year's World Series of
Birding. The team name will once again be the MOS MD Yellowthroats
and they will compete in the single-county division, electing to
focus their attention on the difficult but birdy Cape May County. 
Matt describes his team as having never before competed in the World
Series. What he neglects to mention, however, is that he has now
competed three years running in the grueling 6-day Texas Birding
Classic and has, at least twice, been on the winning team there!
Hans tallied 327 species last year in Maryland and his birding buddy
Jim Brighton was over that 300 mark as well last year. 
If you've not heard of the World Series of Birding before, it is a
24-hour, midnight-to-midnight New Jersey Audubon-sponsored attempt
to list more species than the other teams also competing, either in
the single-county or in the statewide New Jersey competition. The
World Series this year will be held May 14 and the team would
appreciate your support. 
How do you support a team like this? Simple! Make a pledge in
support of their efforts tied to the number of species you think
they will see on May 14th. Pledge a dime a species or a dollar a
species or whatever you feel comfortable with. The money collected
will go 100% this year in support of the Maryland Ornithological
Society's Breeding Bird Atlas work. 
Pledging is easy! I will be keeping track of the pledges this year
for the team. Simply drop me an e-mail and let me know how much you
want to pledge in support of the MOS Yellowthroats! They will aim
for 200 species in Cape May County this year and this is the team
that could do it! Keep that in mind as you decide how much you would
like to pledge. 
Remember, send your pledge, in cents per species, to me at
, and I'll let you know after the World Series is
over how much you owe to MOS and to whom you should send your
checks. 
Thanks, all of you! 
Norm Saunders 
MOS World Series of Birding Pledge Manager  


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Norm Saunders
Colesville & West Ocean City, MD