What is the Amos Butler Audubon Society Birdathon?

Since 1987 the ABAS Birdathon has been on a mission to promote the enjoyment and stewardship of the birds of Central Indiana. Birdathon is the organization’s premier fundraising event. A notice is sent out in early January requesting grant submissions for conservation and education projects. The grant requests which are determined to be the best candidates for fulfilling our mission are selected for funding. Each year teams of avid birdwatchers conduct a “Big Day” event in the spring to locate as many species as possible in a 24-hour period to raise Birdathon funds. We began with just one team, but now over a dozen participate in this event. Loyal volunteers, who do not participate on a team, also seek Birdathon pledges. If you’d like to be involved contact Birdathon Chair Chandler Roberts at croberts356@marian.edu.

2023 Birdathon – Birding for Bucks to Save Birds

North American birds face big challenges, from climate change to habitat loss. Over 300 species have been found to be declining, including beloved species like the Cerulean Warbler. Even common species like the Eastern Bluebird will face challenges in a warming, developing world. While these declines are alarming, we can all help to reverse the damage being done. Research and proactive conservation can bring species back from the brink. We are thrilled about the following projects which will have direct impacts on habitat restoration and research that will help us better understand how to help our birds. Thank you for helping us raise the $29,040 necessary to fund these conservation-focused 2023 Birdathon projects.

2023 – Thank you to our Sponsors!

ABAS is now in its fourth decade of birding for bucks to save birds. We owe the continued success in large part to our generous group of individual donors, many of whom are also ABAS members. A huge thanks also goes to our corporate sponsors Wild Birds Unlimited, a long time sponsor of ABAS Birdathon, and CRG Residential, who came aboard as a first time sponsor in 2023.

As the 2023 Birdathon came to an end this June, ABAS is pleased to announce that we were able to fully fund all grant requests. Once again, a sincere thank you to all of our Birdathon donors, past and present, from Chandler Roberts, members of the Birdathon Committee, and the Board of Directors of the ABAS.

2023 Birdathon Donations Supported the Following:

Improving Migratory Bird Habitat in Colombia

The American Bird Conservancy – $15,000

Forestry Technician Funding

In 2019 the American Bird Conservancy began a reforestation project with its local partner Vivo Cuenca in the western part of the Central Andes BirdScape. The project has been highly successful with 145,005 trees of more than 160 native species planted to date. This translates to approximately 1,100 acres of reforestation! This area of Colombia is a coffee-growing region that provides important wintering habitat for many of the migratory birds that pass through Indiana, including the Cerulean Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, and Canada Warbler. All are facing population declines due to habitat loss. Our 2023 grant will fund a forestry technician, a position crucial to recruiting additional coffee farmers to participate in the habitat improvement project. Without our financial support for this position, the project simply would not have been able to achieve its outstanding results to date.

Research Projects

Indiana University Logo

Rosvall Lab at Indiana University – $3,000

Why are Some Birds Better at Responding to Climate Change?

This grant will continue supporting research advancing understanding of thermal tolerance in wild birds critical for deepening understanding of avian persistence amidst the rising global temperatures.

Indiana University Logo

Indiana University – $2,000

Migration Strategy and Reproductive Readiness in the American Robin

This grant will fund a study to characterize the effects of migration strategy on early breeding season reproductive readiness and body condition in both males and females of two wild populations of a common songbird, the American Robin.

Ball State University – $2,167

Effects of Avian Blood Parasites on Song Performance in a Cerulean Warbler Population.

This grant will fund research on the effects of blood parasite (haemosporidian) infection on Cerulean Warblers, a
declining species of Nearctic-Neotropical songbird classified as endangered in the State of Indiana.

Ball State University – $1,373

The Diet and Gut Microbial Community of Adult Male Cerulean Warblers

This grant will fund a study that seeks to provide data to influence habitat management decisions regarding Cerulean Warblers. The two projects from Ball State are a part of Dr. Kamal Islam’s lab that has been studying Cerulean Warblers  in Southern Indiana since 2007.

Education & Outreach Projects

Utopia Wildlife Rehabilitators – $2,000

Where the Wild Things Are Camp

This grant will sponsor a week-long nature-focused summer day camp for 30 students ages 8 to 13.

Preserving & Enhancing Local Habitats

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Keep Indianapolis Beautiful – $2,000

Nur-Allah Islamic Center GreenSpace

This grant will fund the planting of native perennials, trees, and shrubs in the half-acre Nur-Allah Islamic Center GreenSpace.

Marion University EcoLab Logo

Marian University Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab – $1,500

Continued Community Involvement in Environmental Restoration

This grant will fund continuing restoration and native plantings using students and volunteers.

2023 Birdathon Teams Species Counts

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Birdathon without our teams of intrepid birders. All teams give up regular meals and sleep to count the birds, all while raising donations to ensure the birds we value so highly will be around for the future. Check back here to see each team’s Big Day species count as they finish. If you’re interested in becoming a team, see the Birdathon Team Guidelines

Species Counts by Team

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Noddy Little Gulls
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Carbon Neutral
0
Bud & Carl’s Legacy Team
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BirdQuesters
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Wild Birds Unlimited
0
Team Nawrocki
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Team Bishop
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Community Hospital
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Las Águilas Arpías
0
Mud Creek Creepers
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Brownsburg Railsitters
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EcoLab Team

Birdathon 2023

For over a quarter-century, the Amos Butler Audubon Society has been on a mission — a mission to promote the enjoyment and stewardship of the birds of Central Indiana. Birdathon 2023 (ending June 30, 2023) once again raised enough money to fund all the grants. Bud and Carl’s Legacy Team took top honors as the fundraising champs. The high species count was 141 by the Noddy Little Gulls.