Folks 

As many of you know, I am doing a Big Photographic year fund raising effort to help protect the Blue-billed Curassow, a critically endangered bird in Colombia.   This project is supported by the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) which is located in The Plains, Virginia.  Go to their website and see some of the very useful efforts they are doing.  http://www.abcbirds.org/.  ABC is a fine organization, and they are doing some of the most useful conservation work in the Americas.  They deserve our support. 

My Big Photographic goal was to see if 300 species could be photographed in a single contender year - 2008 in Maryland.  I was told I was crazy for trying this but that did not deter me.   I think just identifying 300 species in a calendar year in Maryland is highly over rated, and  I wanted a real challenge.  Currently, with a lot of help, I am at 306 species photographed in 2008 in Maryland with images taken of a Eurasian Wigeon on Wednesday at Piscataway Creek.  So yes Dorothy it can be done.  

If you want to see some of the images I have taken as part of this fund raiser, I am adding images to my website as time permits, and you can look at what I have achieved at www.georgejett.net.  With the late year rush to clean up (Ring-necked Pheasant, Glaucous Gull, etc.), and the holiday activities,  I am behind in keeping the website up to date.  I plan to finalize the website shortly after the new year, and will announce when the folder is finished including the 2008 total species number.  Eventually all of the species photographed (only the best image for each species) will be in a folder titled the 2008 Maryland Big Photo Year.  I am also putting together a PowerPoint program titled The Big Picture, and will present this program to any organization that is willing to listen.  Since it is never too late to donate, I will also be soliciting support through out 2009 to provide protection for the curassow.   

As a bonus to get additional support for this project, I have a great friend, who wishes to remain anonymous, that has pledged to match every pledge up to $5000.  Yes $5000.  Any money raised up to that level will be doubled by this great conservationist.  He understands the value of protecting the Blue-billed Curassow, and I thank him for his support.  So your money can be doubled if you support this project. 

Many folks out there have already pledged and thank you for your support.  But I still have not come close to raising the $5000 to bring the total to $10,000 with the match donor.  Folks, $10,000 will go a long way in Colombia.  We are not talking Tyson Corner prices, so a huge section of land can be put aside, managed, and monitored to  protect these critically endangered animals.  Please help.  All the money will go to expanding and managing the current preserve in Colombia. All supporters will receive a photo report at the end of 2009 from American Bird Conservancy showing the progress at the reserve as a result of our support.  A great way to end the year - with good news! 

From my current donors, and hopefully some of you,  the most frequent question has been where do I send the money.  The answer is:  

Lindsay K. Shumate

Campaign Coordinator

American Bird Conservancy

P.O. Box 249 

The Plains, VA 20198

540-253-5780



All donations are fully tax deductible since the American Bird Conservancy is a 501(C)(3), non-profit, registered organization under the Internal Revenue Services code.  You will get a letter of acknowledgement from ABC thanking you for your support for tax purposes.  Write your checks to the American Bird Conservancy.   Write on the note section - For the Blue-billed Curassow project.  If you have questions about the project, please contact Lindsay

Thank you and happy holidays to all.

George M. Jett