The 2010 Birdathon Raises $27,865!

Because of our donors’ generosity, it was very successful year of raising bucks for the birds. Although we fell a little short of our ambitious goal of a record $30,000, the final tally was a substantial $27,865. We had so many worthy grant requests for 2010 that we informed the chosen recipients we would be able to fund them at only an 80% level. For a while, it appeared we would not be able to fulfill even that level, but a surge of last minute donations saved the day. Our own chapter-sponsored project, Light Out Indy, agreed to take a slightly reduced amount of funding to make up for the slight shortfall.

Because our donors came through for the birds, more Cerulean Warbler habitat will be preserved in Colombia, more attention will be given to the plight of migratory birds perishing from building strikes,  more habitat will be restored at the Marian College EcoLab, more studies will take place to aid  implementation of Central Indiana Land Trust’s bird-targeted site conservation plans, more bird conservation will be promoted through Audubon Indiana’s Important Bird Areas program, and public involvement will increase in Keep Indianapolis Beautiful’s newly established Spades Park Bird  Sanctuary.

For the first time, the EcoLab Team was crowned with the honor of having seen the most species, while the DNR team held onto its unbroken record as fundraising champions. One Birdathon team member, Wes Homoya, set a new standard by participating on three teams. Team Walmart made their Big Day a multi-family event. We were once again fortunate to have the support of the third grade Indian Creek Elementary students who, with the help of Audubon volunteers, count species and collect pledges for the Birdathon. With the retirement of teacher Diane Muench, who has organized the event for many years, we can only hope that the tradition will continue next year.

The Amos W. Butler Audubon Society Birdathon simply has the best volunteers, most dedicated team members, and the most generous donors. We are deeply grateful for all of them.

Here is what the Birdathon money is supporting:

$10,800: American Bird Conservancy (ABC)
Grant to be used to persuade farmers and private landowners in the Cerulean Warbler Conservation Corridor to insert permanent conservation easements into the legal deeds of their farms protecting habitat for the Cerulean Warbler and more than 20 additional neotropical bird species. This method also allows the local farmers to continue to be able to earn a living off their land.

$4,000 Audubon Indiana
Grant to fund the purchase of equipment necessary to conduct landbird surveys, characterize habitat at the survey sites and provide for the office and travel expenses necessary to conduct these activities.

$6,858 Lights Out Indy
Supporting our own initiative, this grant will be used for operating and research expenses for Lights Out Indy.  The program has the twin goals of preventing bird deaths and saving energy by encouraging building managers to reduce overnight lighting in downtown Indianapolis.  More about this initiative is at lightsoutindy.org.

$2,400: Central Indiana Land Trust Incorporated (CILTI)
Grant to fund to the creation of site conservation plans for four Core Conservation Areas.

$1,800; Marian University EcoLab
Grant to fund plant materials for the shrub and prairie restoration projects in the Marian University EcoLab increasing the bird habitat in this urban area.

$1,300 Keep Indianapolis Beautiful/Spades Park
Grant to create a Spade’s Park bird sanctuary along the Pogue’s Run conservation corridor. The project will restore habitat with native trees and encourage neighborhood involvement.

The 2010 BIRDATHON REPORT can be read HERE.