Birdathon Rules & Guidelines
Important Dates:
Team Registration Open through March 31, 2024
*EXTENDED UNTIL APRIL 10TH*
Statewide Birdathon Window: April 1-30, 2024
Fundraising Deadline: May 11, 2024
Celebration Luncheon at Brooker Creek Preserve: May 18, 2024
How does it work?
Gather a team of birders and register your team. Download our flyer.
Participants collect pledges from family, friends, work colleagues, businesses and others who want to support birds.
Beginning April 1st, during peak bird migration, each team goes out and counts and records as many species as they can identify. The count must be conducted within the state of Florida and during a single, contiguous 24-hour period (which may span two days) anywhere in the state of Florida and immediately surrounding waters.
Using ebird, create a trip report using the multiple checklist you created while birding. You can also just email us all of your checklists, species list, etc.
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The Birdathon window is April 1-30, 2024.
Teams are required to donate $100 per team registration. Also, teams are encouraged to develop a sponsor list with at least five additional sponsors and collect donations with a minimum of $100 total. Personalized donation sheet can be downloaded [HERE]. There is a QR code on the sheet for easier donation via Paypal. Be sure to have your sponsor note the team they are supporting.
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It is very important that complete mailing addresses be supplied for each sponsor. If the sponsor is agreeable, ask for an email address as well. This information will only be used for the purpose of mailing a Birdathon brochure, a thank you report, and an invitation to the Birdathon Celebration (for those donating $100 or more). Each team member is responsible for collecting the donations from their sponsors.
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All donations must be collected and turned in to by May 10th.
Donations are to be sent to Clearwater Audubon Birdathon PO Box 97 Clearwater, FL 33757 or use the Sponsor link.
All Teams:
All teams are required to follow the Birding Code of Ethics (provided by the ABA).
All Birdathon species counts must be conducted between the official dates of April 1-30.
All birding levels are welcome. Participants can bird in pairs or form teams of up to four.
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The count must be conducted within the state of Florida and during a single, contiguous 24-hour period (which may span two days) during the Birdathon designated 5 week window.
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Birds must be alive, wild and unrestricted. Injured birds may be counted if wild and unrestrained. Eggs, ornamental waterfowl, and or escaped birds can not be counted.
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Teams must not use recordings or apps to call birds or induce them to respond, such as by “pishing.” (Teams may, however, use a smart phone app or similar device, played at low volume, to help them identify/confirm a bird call that they heard.)
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Birds may be identified by either sight or sound.
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Teams report on ebird and share their ebird checklist link with organizers. A scanned paper checklist may be substituted for an ebird checklist.
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A preliminary count should be emailed to the Birdathon chair [email] within one week following the team’s Big Day event.
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The American Birding Association (ABA) rules & ethics apply.
Teams are:
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Two to four participants constitute a team. Birds must be identified by at least two team members.
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All team members must stay within hearing distance of each other at all times.
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Individuals may participate on more than one team.
Thank You Report
Teams who raise $100 or more per member are asked submit a brief report of their event (200-300 words) and provide a team photo (preferably digital). This report should include highlights of the day, humorous happenings, the date, number of species seen, and a thank you to the team’s sponsors.
Reports are due to the Birdathon chair by May 10th. These reports will be included in a thank you brochure sent to everyone who has made a donation to the Clearwater Audubon Birdathon.
Birdathon Celebration Party
All team members, volunteers, and major donors will be invited to and honored at a Birdathon celebration party.
The party will be held Sunday afternoon at Brooker Creek Preserve in late May. A box lunch will be provided.
Team members and volunteers who have raised $100 or more by actively soliciting five or more donations will receive special recognition.
A selection of trophies and items will be awarded at the party.
