| |
|
|
| |
Birdathon is Payne County Audubon Society’s premiere FUNdraiser! Birdathon is a great way to spend a day birding while
competing for prizes and raising money for PCAS. Birdathon Teams conduct their Birdathon in any 24-hour period during
April or May each spring. . . and can conduct Birdathon anywhere in the world!
It’s fun and easy to spring into Birdathon each spring:
- Organize and name your Birdathon team. Many of us go out year after year with the same avid “Thoners.”
- Case out your birding areas, and perhaps add a new and promising area.
- Begin to enlist your sponsors—the more the better. Don’t be shy. Ask your doctors and dentist, ask your co-
workers, ask your friends and relatives, ask businesses that you frequent, ask your hairdresser. Ask your boss if
your company will match the funds you raise. And/or . . . sponsor yourself. (See sample request techniques under
Sample Messages for Soliciting Sponsors.)
- Give prospective sponsors an idea of the number of species you are likely to see. Explain that all donations are tax
free and that sponsors may donate a flat amount or an amount per species. Be sure to keep a list of addresses,
phone numbers, and amounts pledged and collected. [See Pledge Tracking Sheet.]
Our primary objective is to raise money to support the Payne County Audubon Society’s building fund for a Community
Nature Center. Funds raised are also used to provide $1000 PCAS scholarships each spring to two OSU students in the
natural sciences.
Last year we raised an amazing $5,000 for these causes. With your help, we can reach a goal of $7,000 this year!
|
|
| |
How to Get Started with Birdathon
|
|
|
| |
New to Birdathon? Before signing up your team, check out the information below on how to get started, which has hints
for new team leaders.
- Invite one, two, or three friends, associates, or fellow birders to join your team. (It’s helpful, but not absolutely
necessary, if one or more of them are able to identify birds.) Every team member is not required to ID every species
encountered.
- Choose an area where you will conduct your Birdathon. Birdathon can be done anywhere. It does not have to be
conducted in Stillwater. We’ve had Birdathon reports from members who were as far away as Alaska and Costa
Rica.
- Choose a 24-hour period in April or May when your team can meet to search for bird species.
- Pick a team name and take a digital picture of the group. Be creative!
- Review the Birdathon Rules for information that will help you decide where to go birding.
- Review the Fundraising Tips to decide how each Team member will collect donations.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
(ASK and ye shall receive . . .)
- GO FOR IT! Fundraising for PCAS is easy. Most people like birds. Everyone has heard the name Audubon. All you
have to do is explain PCAS Audubon—our highly reputable charity that—
- Provides opportunities to observe, enjoy, and study birds and other wildlife
- Encourages interest in the study of nature, with special emphasis on youth education
- Promotes research in the natural sciences through scholarships, Teaches our community about natural
resources and encourages citizen participation in conserving these resources
- Assists in the maintenance of the Teal Ridge Wetlands
- Keeps PCAS members and the community informed through our website and newsletter
- Talk about the critical educational and environmental mission of the PCAS and tell sponsors why you think it is
important to further it. People want to give to environmental causes like ours and just have to be asked.
- Work the subject of the Birdathon into conversations with friends and colleagues and ask if they will support your
efforts to help the Payne County Audubon Society as it helps the community. Explain that a good portion of the
funds raised will be placed in our Community Nature Center building fund--a place where all can come to learn
about birds, nature, and conservation.
- Use our sample messages (e-mail, snail mail, voice mail, and live messages) to ask for support. Your message is
more compelling and personal if it includes the name of your team, your team picture, and a personal statement
about why you are participating in Birdathon.
- When you ask, tell your potential donor how to respond to you and include any pledge and collection deadlines.
Remind your donors that they can pledge a fixed amount or a per species amount.
- Ask your donor to check if his or her company has a matching gift program and if it will match the donor’s donation.
- When you fill out your Pledge Tracking Sheet put your own name at the top of the list so others will know that you
support Payne County Audubon with your wallet as well as your time. (Your Pledge Tracking Sheet must be turned
in by May 31st.)
- Assure donors that their donations are tax deductible. (Payne County Audubon Society is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt
organization). Provide each donor with the signed donor tax form.
- If your donors pledge a fixed amount, collect that money in advance. If they pledge a per species amount, follow up
immediately after your 24-hour birding period, tell sponsors how many species your team ID’d, and collect their
donations as soon as possible.
- Remember to thank your sponsors. They will greatly appreciate receiving a personal thank you note from you with a
list of the species your team sighted.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
- Birdathon teams should abide by the following simple rules.
- Official Birdathon period: Any 24-hour period in the months of April or May.
- Birds can be identified by sight or by sound.
- Birds counted must be alive, wild, and unrestrained. Birds attracted to recordings or feeders may be counted. Birds
observed by artificial light may be counted. Injured birds may be counted if wild and unrestrained. Birds such as
ornamental waterfowl or escaped cage birds cannot be counted.
- All counting must be within a single 24-hour period.
- Any geographic area may be covered—whether in Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma, the U.S. or any other
country or locale.
- Teams may consist of two or more members; all members must stay within direct voice contact distance during the
count period. (i.e., you cannot split up your team and send it in several directions and then add the total species
seen)
- Team members must make a reasonable effort to personally identify—and to help other team members identify—
every species.
- Bird count checklists and special notes/write-ups (see the Team Report and Pledge Tracking Sheet) and pledges
must be turned in to the Birdathon Coordinator (Sarah Kimball) as soon as possible after the day of your Birdathon.
- The Birdathon Team Report should used to submit team results. The Report includes an appropriate pledge to be
signed by the team compiler affirming that all participants have reviewed and complied with all rules.
|
|
| |
COPYRIGHT 2007 PAYNE COUNTY AUDUBON SOCIETY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
|
|
|