Bird-a-Thon Team Holds Fundraiser for Feathered Friends

Starting before sunrise and bracing against sub-freezing temperatures, a binocular-wielding group of four piled into a car with an Idaho license plate reading "BIRD ON." In celebration of International Migratory Bird Day on May 8, the team of Poo Wright-Pulliam, Jean Seymour, Dave Spaulding and Kathleen Cameron, going by the handle "Bird Fanatics," set out on a 15-hour bird-a-thon that logged 111 species, trekked 500 miles, and generated more than $800 in proceeds to support bird conservation programs, including Idaho Fish and Game's Conservation Sciences Program. The Bird Fanatics have birded together since 2004, when they enrolled in a Master Birding Class. The intense, science-based curriculum pushed them to a new level of birding and engagement in bird conservation work. They were instrumental in successfully nominating Magic Reservoir and Silver Creek Preserve as Audubon Important Bird Area sites. For the past six years, they have conducted monthly monitoring of bird populations at the Silver Creek Preserve. The bird-a-thon was another expression of their spirit of volunteerism and passion for birds. "We thought the bird-a-thon would be a creative and enjoyable way to raise funds for bird conservation," Cameron said. "It's also a great way to raise awareness of migratory birds and the need to conserve their habitats across the Western Hemisphere." Friends, family and birding colleagues were asked for a small donation for each species observed on bird-a-thon day. The team imposed a stringent rule that all four members had to see or hear a bird before it was counted toward the final tally. The Bird Fanatics cut a swath from the Wood River Valley to the Silver Creek Preserve, from Magic Valley Reservoir to Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge, where by 2 p.m. they counted their 100th species-an orange-crowned warbler. Cameron posted the team's progress on her Facebook page, keeping friends informed and cheering from afar. "The Facebook aspect was really fun, knowing we had 'virtual participants' out there supporting us," she said. From Minidoka, the team headed to American Falls Reservoir via Register Rock, where they got caught in a big downpour. A few more species were picked up before they turned south to search the juniper habitat at Mink Creek and Cherry Springs, south of Pocatello. The area was oddly lacking target birds, perhaps due to recent inclement weather, which may have delayed the migration. As darkness approached, the team counted their 111th and last species of the day-a black-crowned night heron. The bird-a-thon event exemplified the theme of this year's Migratory Bird Day: the Power of Partnerships in Bird Conservation. The success of bird conservation efforts relies on collaborative partnerships as global as international treaties and as grass-roots as local Migratory Bird Day events. The Bird Fanatics' fundraising proceeds, augmented by donations collected at the Twin Falls-based Prairie Falcon Audubon Migratory Bird Day event at Auger Falls, will be shared among Environment for the Americas, a non-profit organization that coordinates Migratory Bird Day, Idaho Fish and Game and a Kimberly-based licensed raptor rehabilitator. "The bird-a-thon conducted by this passionate group of citizen scientists is a great example of how volunteers can raise awareness about Idaho's many watchable wildlife opportunities," said Rex Sallabanks, Conservation Sciences Program manager for Idaho Department of Fish and Game. "Moreover, the proceeds raised can be used to leverage other sources of matching funds to make an important contribution toward the conservation of at-risk species or their habitats. Creative fund-raising efforts like this one are both inspirational and significant - thank you, Bird Fanatics!" Cameron hopes the upbeat success of their bird-a-thon will inspire others to form their own fundraising birding teams across Idaho. She even invites some friendly competition to try and beat their bird-a-thon species total, knowing it's all for a good cause and a splendid time.