Let's support birds together! Birds are experiencing dire population decreases, with nearly 3 billion birds gone since 1970. It's a tough time in this world, but you can have an immediate positive impact on the work my coworkers and I do, researching and monitoring bird migration through Whitefish Point each year, by pledging your support for our 2020 Birdathon. 

Each year since 1979, our seasonal staff at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory identify and count tens of thousands of migrating raptors, waterbirds, and owls. With continued research and monitoring at WPBO, the data will continue to document long term trends of populations and migration ecology, which is essential to making informed conservation decisions and actions. Will you be a part of this amazing research by contributing to our Birdathon this month? 

I hope that you may consider making a pledge or donation, even if you are only able to afford a small amount. We are all experiencing difficult times, economically speaking, but our future as a human species is tied to the health of the planet, to nature, and to birds. Please give what you are able - the birds will continue on their migration toward breeding grounds, and your contribution will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Update: Thanks to your generous support, I have surpassed my initial fundraising goal of $500, and am bumping my goal up to $1,000! Your contributions will help fund the ongoing research at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory - helping us to fund the valuable work done by our crew of seasonal staff!

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.