Amos Butler Audubon Society Birdathon Team Guidelines
Birdathon Donations
The Amos Butler Audubon Society (ABAS) Birdathon is an event with the purpose of raising funds to benefit our central Indiana migratory and breeding birds. Teams are required to develop a sponsor list with at least five additional sponsors and collect donations with a minimum of $100 total (your own donations counts toward your $ total). Personalized donation sheets will be provided upon request from the Birdathon Chair. 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 solicitation 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. Donations are to be sent to the ABAS PO Box 80024 Indianapolis, IN 46280 by June 15.
The Big Day Event Species Count Rules
All Teams:
- All teams are required to follow the Birding Code of Ethics (provided by the ABAS Birdathon chair).
- All Big Day species counts must be conducted between the official dates of April 15 to May 31.
- The count must be conducted within the state of Indiana and during a single, contiguous 24-hour period (which may span two days).
- 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.
- All donations must be collected and turned in to ABAS PO Box 80024 Indianapolis, IN 46280 by June 15th.
Species-Count Competitive Teams:
- Two or more participants constitute a team. Birds must be identified by at least two team members. All team members must stay within hearing distance of each other at all times. Individuals may participate on more than one team.
- Birds may be identified by either sight or sound.
- The official species count list is Don Gorney’s Checklist of Indiana Birds (provided by the Birdathon chair).
- A preliminary count should be emailed to the Birdathon chair (donnalmccarty@me.com) within one week following the team’s Big Day event.
- The results of teams desiring to compete using American Birding Association (ABA) rules will be accepted by the Birdathon as the ABA rules are more stringent than the ABAS rules.
Scouting areas a day or two before the event may increase your chances of success. Experienced team members are always willing to provide tips on timing, routes, and birding hot spots.
Birdathon 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 June 30. These reports will be included in a thank you brochure sent to everyone who has made a donation to the ABAS 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 the Eagle’s Crest in Eagle Creek Park in late August. 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 donated auction items will be offered at the party.
For more information, contact:
Amos Butler Audubon Society
Attn: Birdathon Chair
PO Box 80024
Indianapolis, IN 46280
info@amosbutleraudubon.org
A PDF document of the Birdathon team guidelines is available HERE