Birdathon

Birdathon 2025

2025 Birdathon Results Are In!

Every year is unique. Our spring bird count during Birdathon provides a view of bird species that live on or migrate through Whidbey Island in early May. A total of 152 bird species were identified during this count, with some very interesting sightings. A new team, Raven for More, stole the show with sightings of a Cassin’s Auklet and a Red-necked Phalarope.

The winner of the coveted Golden Binocular Award is the Raven For More team (Madone Ruggiero with Steve and Martha Ellis), with 125 species sighted on their Big Day, clearly leading the number two team of Wingin’ It (Janet Hall, Sarah Schmidt, Ann Linnea, Dyanne Sheldon and Libby Hayward) with 113, Shore Thing (Cathi Bower, Kathy Obersinner and Patty Cheek) found 107 species, Coupevillains (Sandy Shields, Martha and Steve Ellis) at 99 followed by No Egrets (Louie Shellenberger, Patricia Duarte, Janet Jernigan) and Wild Women Of Whidbey (Frances Wood, Ann Casey, Marilynn Strayer, Linda Bainbridge) at 97 sightings. Although All-For-Knot and the Fledglings did not participate, they still brought in donations which are very much appreciated. Great job, all teams!!! The 2025 Birdathon results, along with the last 12 years’ statistics, will be posted on the Birdathon website. During this twelve-year period, 213 species have been observed!

Though Big Day is traditionally about how many species of birds can be identified in 24 hours, another important role of Birdathon is to raise money for Whidbey Audubon, especially as it is the major fundraiser for the scholarship fund. This will be our sixth year to award the Bronze Owl Bank (BOB) award to the team that raises the most money. We will award the Bronze Owl Bank at our September meeting, after all funds are in.

What is the Birdathon?

• An important annual fundraiser that supports our mission to connect people to nature through community education and conservation.

• Modeled on Global Big Day (Global Big Day - eBird), it is an important annual fundraiser that supports our mission to connect people to nature through community education and conservation.

• A friendly competition similar to a walk-a-thon, but instead of getting a pledge per mile walked, you can pledge for each bird species identified.

• Our major fund raiser for the Scholarship Fund, providing scholarships for high school seniors going into environmental studies.

• A way to document what species are seen on Whidbey during this seasonal migration window.

• Questions? Contact 2025 Birdathon Coordinator Dominique Emerson.

How does it work?

Participants collect pledges from family, friends, work colleagues, and others who want to support birds. Then in early May, during peak bird migration, your team goes out and counts and records as many species as they can identify in a 24-hour period, anywhere on Whidbey Island and immediately surrounding waters.

We invite you to get outdoors and share in the fun, while supporting birds and the habitats they need to thrive.

How can you participate?

You don’t have to be an expert birder to take part in Birdathon!

• You can make a pledge per species or one-time donation on behalf of an existing team.

At the push of a virtual button, you can make a difference for birds while supporting the team or teams of your choice! Meet our current teams and make a donation or pledge.

• You can form a team, solicit donations, and see how many species you can identify.

  • Form a Traditional Team, with multiple team members.

    This is really pretty easy! Team participants collect pledges from family, friends, work colleagues, and others who want to support birds. Then in early May, during peak bird migration, your team goes out and counts and records as many species as they can identify in a 24 hour period, anywhere on Whidbey Island and immediately surrounding waters.

  • You can go Solo Birdathon!

    It’s always important to be safe while birding, and birding with family or a friend is encouraged. But you are welcome to bird alone, whether in your own backyard, neighborhood or throughout Whidbey Island.

  • You can do Backyard Birding:

    Maybe you just want to see what birds come to your backyard space. Either by yourself or with your team, write down all species that come to your feeder or yard.

If you decide to do one of the three birding methods above, please submit your registration as soon as you are able so it can be included on our website, and people will be able to pledge to your team. Register your team.

And visit our Instructions for Teams page for everything you need to get going. Meet our current teams.

• You can make a one-time donation without specifying a team:

Timeline for Birdathon

In March and April, new and current teams inform the Birdathon Coordinator that they will be participating in the upcoming Birdathon. Team members gather pledges from friends, family, businesses, co-workers, (whomever they can), recording pertinent information on pledge tracking sheets. Be sure to indicate if the donor wants their donation to go to the General Fund or the Scholarship Fund.

In early May, each team chooses a 24-hour period of time to go around Whidbey Island with binoculars and scopes, counting and recording all the species of birds they see or hear. Each team will submit a list of the birds they spotted to our Birdathon coordinator.

After their Big Day, teams collect pledges from their sponsors by having them go onto the team page and paying the total owed. If the team collects checks or cash, they mail them into the WAS treasurer at treasurer@whidbeyaudubonsociety.org.

When all the numbers are in, the team that spotted the most species will be awarded the coveted Golden Binoculars Award. The team that brings in the most money will receive the Bronze Owl Bank (BOB).

This annual Aududon fundraiser is a huge success because of people like you who care about birds and about protecting our natural environment. No matter how you choose to participate, we thank you for being proactive, and for all your support!!

Thanks to all team members for their great birding and fundraising, and thank you, thank you, to all our Birdathon supporters!! Your participation shows your deep caring for birds and our environment!  

Birdathon 2024

In 2024 a total of 147 bird species were identified during the 24 hour window, with some unique sightings that include sandhill cranes, American Golden Plover, and a Northern Saw-Whet owl (heard).  

This year, the much coveted Golden Binocular Award was recaptured by the All For Knot team (Joe Sheldon, Jay Adams, Ruth Richards, and Dave Parent), with 133 species sighted on their Big Day. They were followed by Wingin It, 112, Shore Thing, 109, No Egrets!, 101, and Wild Women of Whidbey, 92.  Great job, all teams!!!  During this eleven year period, a total of 212 species have been observed! 

 Another important facet of Birdathon is to raise money for Audubon, especially for the scholarship fund. With all funds collected and accounted for, we are happy to announce that the Wingin’ It team (Sarah Schmidt, Janet Hall, Dyanne Sheldon and Libby Hayward) once again reclaim the Bronze Owl Bank Award, raising $2,323 for birds, followed closely by Shore Thing ($1,807), Wild Women of Whidbey ($1,350), No Egrets! ($1,183), Fledglings ($600) and All-for-Knot ($179).

Thanks to the generous donations received for Audubon’s annual Birdathon, we raised a grand total of $7,442.82, of which $2,741.82 is designated for the general fund, and $4,601 to the scholarship fund!

Thank you for caring and we hope you will embrace this new look for Birdathon 2025!