Bird-a-thon 2015 Results

Bird-a-thon 2015

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Bird-a-thon, our annual fundraiser where teams of birders spend 24 hours trying to spot the most species in Massachusetts, took place on May 15-16, 2015.

Since the event began in 1983, thousands of dedicated supporters and team members have raised more than $2 million to support Mass Audubon’s wildlife sanctuaries and programs across the state.

In 2015 we want to make special note of the:

  • 2,294 people who made a donation to Bird-a-thon   
  • 800 plus people who were members of the 27 teams
  • 195 people who set up fundraising pages in Firstgiving
  • dozens who raised money by methods other than Firstgiving

Bird-a-thon 2015 Winners

Brewster Cup (1st place for species seen) Drumlin Farm, 221 species

The Forbush Award (2nd place for species seen) Moose Hill, 220 species

Hatheway Cup (1st place for money raised) Drumlin Farm, $50,000.00

The $ Cup (2nd place for money raised) Joppa Flats, $32.056

Statewide Migration Award (greatest % increase in fundraising total from the previous year) Moose Hill with an increase of 97% over last year - Congratulations Moose Hill, what a year!

Regional Migration Awards

Teams showing the greatest percentage increase in fundraising dollars in their region from 2014 to 2015 excluding the 2015 Statewide Migration Award.  All teams will receive a Mass Audubon funded pizza or ice cream party.

  • Greater Boston /North Shore - Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary with a 73% increase from 2014 to 2015
  • Southeast /Cape and the Islands - South Shore Sanctuaries with a 24% increase from 2014 to 2015 (this is the third year in a row for South shore–nicely done!)
  • Central and West Plus - Connecticut River Valley Sanctuaries with a 14% increase from 2014 to 2015 (this is a repeat performance!)

Statewide Top Individual Fundraiser

For the tenth year in a row, the winner is Kathy Seymour or as we call her the fabulous Kathy Seymour. Kathy raised $20,465 during Bird-a-thon 2015 for Drumlin Farm. Again this year she wins a morning of birding with Wayne Petersen. We have run out of superlatives to use to thank Kathy so we simply say once again a very heartfelt thank you.  Bird-a-thon would not be the event it is without Kathy!

Top Three Fundraisers by Region (non-staff)

Each will receive a $25 Mass Audubon gift card—for use in our gift shops or towards programs fees.

  • Greater Boston/North Shore – Ann Gurka (Joppa Flats), Dave Weaver (Joppa Flats), Marygrace Barber (Boston Nature Center)
  • Southeast/Cape and the Islands – John and Linda Riehl (Wellfleet Bay), Janet Drohan (Wellfleet Bay), LeBaron Briggs (South Shore)
  • Central/West – Larry Pistrang (Wachusett Meadow), Gloria Abramoff (Broad Meadow Brook), Anne Lombard (Connecticut River Valley)
  • Headquarters/Programs – Michael Pappone (Bird Conservation), Robert Finch (Bird Conservation), Constance Lapite (Bird Conservation)

Young Birders Award

Any birder 18 or younger who raises $200 or more will receive a set of three Mass Audubon laminate guides.

  • Katie Baird, Ipswich River
  • Kalden Boisjolie, Arcadia
  • Holden Brew, Felix Neck
  • Henri Engstrom, Gordon’s Gaggle
  • Kaija Gahm, Drumlin Farm
  • Aidan Griffiths, Moose Hill
  • Samantha Hagier, Drumlin Farm
  • Izzy Houseman, Gordon’s Gaggle
  • Max McCarthy, Joppa Flats
  • Michael Perkins, Drumlin Farm
  • Brooke Sponzo, Joppa Flats
  • Tim Swain, Drumlin Farm

High Flyers Award

Any fundraiser who raised $500 or more will receive an invitation to attend 1 of 2 birding outings with the president of Mass Audubon and a star staff birder. This year’s High Flyers are:

Gloria Abramoff, Ivan & Mimi Ace, Josie Anderson, Patti Austin, Sally Avery, Sue Baeslack, Mike Baird, Marygrace Barber, Suzan Bellincampi, Janet Bissell, Bruce Black, Kaiden Boisjolie, Leslie Bostrom, Julie Brandlen, LeBaron Briggs, Mary Brogan, Jeff Collins, Becky Cushing, Carol Decker, Pat Donahue, Jean Dorcus, Janet Drohan, Darcy Duke, Chris Eaton, Chris Engstrom, Melissa Enos Hansen, Ryan Evans, Gail Fenton, Robert Finch, Christy Foote-Smith, Dan Fournier, Kerri Fournier, Kaija Gahm, Bill Gette, Ida Giriunas, Joyce Grant, Jude Griffin, Aidan Griffiths, Steve Grinley, Rita Grossman, Barbara Guay, Ann Gurka, Marion Hammond, Susan Hardy, Lauren Hearn, Jess Huddy, Philip Hunsaker, Lisa Hutchings, Ian Ives, Hilary Johnson, Jonah Keane, Elissa Landre, Dave Larson, Barrett Lawson, Bob Lawson, Chris Leahy, Anne Lombard, Gwyn Loud, David Ludlow, Sue MacCallum, Andy Magee, Deb Mauer, Henry Mauer, Bob Mayer, Keelin Miller, Charlie Nims, Joanne Normandin, Patty O’Neill, Karen O’Neill, Michael Pappone, Jackie Pascucci, Fran Perler, Wayne Petersen, Lawrence Pistrang, Linda Pivaceck, Gina Purtell, Amy Quist, John Riehl, Linda Riehl, Paul Roberts, Bette Robo, Peggy Sagan, Marsha Salett, Joe Scott, Harold Seigel, Kathy Seymour, Patty Shannon, Lynn Southey, Brooke Sponzo, Ava Steenstrup, Karen Stein, Patti Steinman, Alicia Svenson, Tim Swain, Alan Trautman, Ann Vaughan, Joan Walsh, Dave Weaver, Strickland Wheelock, Doug Williams, Mary Wolf, Roger Wrubel, Henrietta Yelle, Julia Yoshida

Thank you to everyone who helped with Bird-a-thon 2015. We hope to see you next year for Bird-a-thon 2016 on May 13 and14!

Final results by team

Team Name

# of Species

Amount Pledged

Allens Pond 165 $1,600
Berkshires 198 $3,333
Bird Conservation* 194 $19,508
Blue Hills 213 $2,680
Boston Nature Center 148 $11,000
Broad Meadow Brook 144 $1,220
Broadmoor 186 $4,640
Coastal Waterbird Program 196 $1,000
Connecticut River Valley 198 $4,878
Drumlin Farm 221 $50,000
Education 89 $465
Felix Neck 125 $6,143
Gordon’s Gaggle 138 $7,000
Habitat 156 $5,959
Ipswich River 217 $13,230
Joppa Flats 185 $32,000 Birded in Essex county only
Long Pasture 196 $ 9,102
Moose Hill 220 $2,800
Oak Knoll 107 $521
South Shore 164 $10,600 Birded in Plymouth county only
Stony Brook 173 $3,843
Wachusett Meadow 144 $2,407
Wellfleet Bay 204 $16,813
Wildwood 138 $20

*Beginning in 2015 the Bird Conservation Team included the following: Gerald A Bertrand Chair, Ecological Management, Bird Conservation, Salt Marsh Science and Important Bird Areas.