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Bird-a-thon
The History of Bird-a-thon
It all started quietly in 1983, when an intrepid team, including star birders Jim Baird, Chris Leahy, Ted Raymond, and Jerry Bertrand headed out at 2:30 am on a wet, cold, and windy May morning to bird in Essex County. Over the next twenty-four hours, the team recorded 160 species, including a black-necked stilt sighted only ten times previously in Massachusetts.
The first competitive Bird-a-thon took place the following year when a team of birders from Mass Audubon Headquarters challenged the "Phenomenal Four"-and the modern Bird-a-thon was born. Since then, thousands have participated, teams have grown to include up to 50 people birding in groups of two or more assigned across the state. The number of species recorded by the winning team and the dollars raised have also grown substantially.
Bird-a-thon highlights the spectacular diversity of Massachusetts birds during spring migration; in 2007 Joppa Flats recorded more than 200 species in Essex County alone! Often the most rewarding birding is done under the worst of conditions as many sea-going rare birds are blown in toward the coast. The heavy rains of 2006 brought manx shearwater, Leach's storm-petrel, and large numbers of red-necked and red phalaropes. Regardless of the weather, identified species consistently number more than 200.
Bird-a-thon, like baseball, is great for number crunchers, but the statistics do not capture the fun and passion of those who donate their time, effort, and dollars. "It's all about the community," says Ann Gurka, volunteer coordinator of the Joppa Flats Bird-a-thon team since 2000. "Being part of a group and the fun of connecting with others help make Bird-a-thon an event people look forward to year after year. And it also provides people with an opportunity to give back to a favorite sanctuary or program."
Previous Bird-a-thon Results
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