Whether standing on the hawk deck looking for owls at dusk or braving a fierce wind off of Lake Superior with hopes of glimpsing Piping Plover chicks on the shore, the adventures at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory are always memorable.

As a novice birder, I lean heavily on the knowledge of others for ID help, explanations of bird behavior, and general banter about the wonders of the world during my visits to WPBO. While WPBO field staff are at the Point to conduct invaluable research, they are often the people visitors like myself turn to for answers to questions — taking on the role of ambassadors for the avian world.

Your donation to Birdathon will not only help continue research efforts at WPBO, but it will also help people connect with one another and be inspired by the natural world.

It’s that time of year again, and our skilled team of bird counters and volunteers set out on a mission to count as many bird species as possible in one day on May 25, 2020, — all to support the amazing work happening here at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory — and boy was it a success! A new record was set with a total of 166 species counted this year!

Your support of Birdathon helps us continue more than forty years of avian monitoring, habitat preservation, and educational programs and engagement at Whitefish Point. Your donation goes entirely to supporting the signature research and conservation programs at WPBO that contribute to greater knowledge and appreciation of migratory birds and their habitat at this Important Bird Area and program site of Michigan Audubon.

Please consider basing your donation on a per-species amount: 

• $5 per species = $830

• $2 per species = $332

• $1 per species = $166

• $.50 per species = $83.00

• $.25 per species = $41.50

Because our work is 100% donor-funded, Birdathon provides all of our supporters with an opportunity to make a significant impact on our work and help connect birds and people for the benefit of both.

We would like to thank all of the field staff and volunteers who took part in counting for the cause: Michael Kielb, Susan Kielb, Darrell Lawson, Kathy Lawson, Nova Mackentley, Elliot Nelson, Chris Neri, Alec Olivier, and Alison Vilag. This event would not be the success it is without people like you.

For more information about Birdathon, please visit wpbo.org/birdathon.