Birdathon: Social Distancing Edition

Birdathon: Social Distancing Edition

By Andy McCormick

The outbreak of Covid-19 has created a huge disruption of our expectations about life and thrown regularly scheduled activities off course. Yet, life goes on in nature and the birds are active and singing to remind us that Spring is here and that Eastside Audubon’s Birdathon is coming. With the coronavirus pandemic changing schedules all over the world—including right here in our community—Birdathon planning is changing too.

Birdathon takes place every Spring and is Eastside Audubon’s biggest fundraiser of the year. In years past, birders and nature lovers across our community join together during the month of May to support our chapter’s vital conservation and education programs through participation in guided field trips, generous gifts made in response to our annual letter, and fiscally sponsoring teams during Big Day trips. Birdathon 2019 took in over $32,000 from our generous members and their friends and family. That accounts for nearly 33% of Eastside Audubon’s annual operating budget!

In anticipation of this year’s event, The Melody S. Robidoux Foundation Donor Advised Fund at the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona will once again provide a $15,000 matching grant to challenge our supporters to give their most generous gift to help protect our natural ecosystems. We are thrilled to partner with the Robidoux Foundation for the ninth year in a row!

FIELD TRIPS: FAVORITES AND NEW ONES

To ensure we are putting the safety and wellbeing of our community first, Birdathon field trips will be moved to later this year and more information will be coming about the schedule for them. We are grateful that field trip leaders understand the need to postpone and have the following preliminary line-up of exciting trips to see birds:

  • Lincoln Park with Etta Cosey returning to lead this new trip to Seattle

  • A new trip to Tradition Lake at Tiger Mountain with Andy McCormick

  • An evening walk at the Stillwater Unit of the Snoqualmie Valley with Lori Danielson and Anne Wehrly

  • Discovery Park with Tricia Kishel leading in one of her favorite places to go birding

  • Billy Frank Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge with Nancy Hubly and Andy McCormick

  • A novice birders’ trip to the Union Bay Natural Area with Marlene Meyer

  • A return trip to Spencer Island with Lori Danielson and Antonio Montañana

  • A Roll and Stroll bird walk at Juanita Bay Park for those who enjoy leisurely birding with Katherine Voss.

  • A walk at Lake Sammamish State Park led by Stan Woods

  • Tracking the Kittitas County Hotspots led again by Andy McCormick

BIG DAY TEAMS

The Karismatic Kestrels, Whidbey Wingdings, and Eagle Eyes Big Day teams will be out looking for as many birds as they can find in hopes of getting sponsorship for the birds they see. Eastside Audubon thanks you for your generous support for birds and their habitat and your understanding regarding the changes to our schedule of activities due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Interested in forming your own Big Day Team or raising essential funds for Eastside Audubon individually? Contact the chapter’s Executive Director, Sheila Ritchie, via email at executivedirector@eastsideaudubon.org for more information.