Birdathon 2011 - One for the History Books

We set our sights on an ambitious goal of $30,000 in 2011, hoping to beat our oh-so-close previous record of $29,501 set back in 2001. We not only made our goal, we annihilated it by almost $2,000! Compared to last year’s total of $27,865, the money raised is even more impressive. The final tally for Birdathon 2011 was a whopping $31,484.67!  Speaking of impressive, we have now also passed the one-half million dollar mark since the Birdathon began in 1987 (when the total raised was $3,800).  Our total raised from all Birdathons from 1987-2011 is a whopping $505,388. The money is for the birds and volunteers and donors have made a difference for the birds of Central Indiana.  Congratulations and thank yous are offered to each of you who have participated in a Birdathon in any way.

How did we do so well in 2011? It was through the hard work and generosity of our volunteers, team members and Birdathon donors who were more numerous than ever this year. Our existing teams did their part and new teams added an extra boost to the fundraising. The competition was ever so close with razor-thin margins separating many of the teams.

Volunteer Fundraisers:

Top fundraiser, Mary Ellen Gadski brought in an impressive $2,880. Others who raised more than $1,000 are Lee Casebere, Gordon Chastain, Roger Hedge, Cloyce Hedge, Polly Nicely, Amanda Smith, and Chad Williams. Those with totals between $500-$999 are: Dave Benson, Mike and Linda Bishop, Martha Davis, Don Gorney, John Munshower, Keith Starling, Nancy Tikijian, and Carl Weber. Volunteers who solicited donations of $100-$499 include: Lou Anne Barriger, Ross Brittian, Kevin Carlsen, Brian Cunningham, Cary Floyd, Jeanette Frazier, Barb Jablonski, Mike Molnar, Stephen Nawrocki, Greg Osland, Martyn Roberts, John Schaust, Brad Shoger, Laurie Voss, Jerry Williams, Marty Williams, and Betsy Wilson.

The Bottom Line — Our Grant Recipients

The most significant result of the stellar fundraising efforts is that all of our grant requests were fully funded. After all, that is really what the competition, hard work, and fun is all about. Following is the list of the 2011 Birdathon Grant recipients.

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) Cerulean Warbler Project: $15,000
Grant would allow ABC and ProAves to permanently acquire at least 120 acres of habitat in the Cerulean Warbler Corridor in Colombia and expand the existing reserve system for the Cerulean Warbler and the more than 20 additional neotropical bird species that rely on this habitat.

From Rita Fenwick, Vice President for Development American Bird Conservancy, “Wow!  You guys are the best – the Gold Standard in partners. Your track record of giving is amazing.”

Amos W. Butler Audubon Society - Wings Over Indy: $5,040
Grant to fund personnel expense for Wings Over Indy intern ($3000), materials ($1,500) and website expense ($540). Wings Over Indy is a project to benefit Chimney Swifts and Common Nighthawks.

Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center: $3,000
Grant will enable staff to expand upon the current taxidermy collection, finish planned exhibits which are currently unfunded, and obtain taxidermy props to be used in educational programming.

Marian University EcoLab: $1,500
Grant to fund volunteer environmental restoration in the EcoLab during the fall of 2011 and spring of 2012 replacing invasive plants with native vegetation.

Audubon Indiana (Indiana Important Bird Areas Program): $2,000
Grant will be used to support the evaluation and identification of remaining potential Important Bird Areas (IBAs), support volunteers to monitor birds and assess threats at IBAs, and to develop and implement IBA bird conservation plans.  

Purdue University - American Golden-Plover Research
Grant to fund field research to determine if American Golden-Plovers avoid areas with wind turbines, and laboratory studies to understand the importance of Indiana farmlands in the annual cycle of the species.

Ball State University Cerulean Warbler Research Project/Jennifer Wagner: $1,000
Grant to fund the purchase of materials for frass traps to study the effects of silviculture-induced nutritional impacts on the reproductive biology of Cerulean Warblers.

Ball State University Cerulean Warbler Research Project/Ryan Dibala: $1,000
Grant to fund field assistant and supplies for a proposed study to examine nest success of the state‐endangered Cerulean Warbler amidst a matrix of silviculture treatments in southern Indiana.

Again, thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of Birdathon 2011! 

Birdathon Grant Guidelines can be read HERE.