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Sponsor Ventana Wildlife Society's Team!


Download the 2008
Birdathon Pledge Card

Ventana Wildlife Society's (VWS) Big Sur Ornithology Lab (BSOL) is a long-term bird conservation research facility in Big Sur, CA. The Birdathon has successfully been BSOL's annual fundraiser since 1992!

A Birdathon is similar to a walk-a-thon, where individuals/teams count the total number of bird species seen in one 24-hour period. Each counter collects pledges from friends, relatives, neighbors, businesses, and/or corporations for either a per-bird-species pledge or a one-time donation for all the birds that you count in that one 24-hour period. Awards will be given in 6 different categories, to the individuals/teams that raise the most money. (See AWARDS DINNER)

Pledging Your Support
Show your support with a per-bird-species pledge or a one-time donation. Sponsor any birder or group of birders who participate as Birdathon Counters, such as:

• Your own team or your friends/neighbors team
  
• Ventana Wildlife Society Team
  
• Audubon Team, Chapter of your choice
  
• Elite Monterey County Birding Team, counts 4/25-4/26
  
  

Whether you are a long-time birder or are new to birding, get involved in by joining us as a counter. Pick one 24-hour period between April 26 and June 15, and have a big day of your own. You can count on your own as an Individual or Young Birder (up to age 16) or form a counting team:

INFORMATION PACKET

Family and Friends Team
Organize a daylong birding adventure with your loved ones, and establish a fun family tradition of raising money for bird conservation.

Community Group Team
Engage your community group (church group, school class or club, social club, conservation group…) and bird together to collectively raise pledges.

Audubon Chapter Teams
Mobilize your chapter to exert their birding skills and see if you can collectively count more birds than any other chapter!

Business Teams
Form a birding team with coworkers. Encourage your company to match the pledges you raise, to increase your total fundraising effort!

BIRDATHON AWARDS DINNER
Saturday July 12, 2008
5:30PM - 8:30PM

Tickets are $100 per person, $50 for youth 12-16 years of age. Available at the Wild Bird Center, Del Monte Center or contact cathykeeran@ventanaws.org, 831-455-9514

Join VWS for a fantastic sit down dinner at the Portola Plaza in beautiful Downtown Monterey, which will include awards, silent auction, raffle, and special guest speaker, John Moir!

JOHN MOIR - Wrote Return of the Condor and will be book signing throughout the evening.

“Audubon himself would be delighted to read John Moir's exciting and authoritative account of the difficult, politically fraught but ultimately rewarding effort to save the largest of all the living birds, a great shadow in the sky above the Western range.  I certainly was.”
- Richard Rhodes, winner of the Pulitzer Prize
Author of John James Audubon: The Making of an American 

AWARDS - We will be awarding those who collect the most money in pledges in each of the categories listed below. Winners will receive special gifts acknowledging their efforts and will be awarded two (2) complimentary Awards Dinner tickets (refund will be given if already purchased). All winners will be notified by July 3.

• Young Birder Award (up to age 16)
  
• Individual Birder Award
  
• Family and Friends Team Award
  
• Community Group Award
  
• Audubon Chapter Award
  
• Business Team Award

We will announce the total number of species counted during the Birdathon, the total number of counties and states covered, and the highest county species total.

Everyone who spots our Bird of the Year, American Kestrel, during their counts will receive a special door prize!

Tickets are $100 adult - $50.00 for youth (12-16 years of age) per person. Available at the Wild Bird Center, Del Monte Center or contact cathykeeran@ventanaws.org, 831-455-9514.

THANK YOU TO OUR 2007 SPONSORS!
Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Carole Rose Design, Wild Bird Center, Del Monte Shopping Center, Kowa, San Francisco Zen Center, Heller Estates, Granite Construction, Green’s Camera World, Fleet Feet, Mike Keeran Golf Instruction, Star Market, Portobello’s, Kayak Connection, Big Sur Lodge, Big Sur River Inn, Bird Feeder of Santa Cruz, Curves, Esalen Institute, Fishwife, Monterey Bay Kayaking, Uncommon Grounds, California Pizza Kitchen, Bahama Billy’s, Coldstone Creamery, Pizza My Heart, Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn, Energia Health and Fitness, Rancho Canada Golf Course, Stick’s Restaurant, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Monterey Bay Whale Watch, Monterey Seabirds.

TO BECOME A BIRDATHON SPONSOR…
Contact Cathy Keeran at (877) 897-7740 or email:

Download the 2008 Birdathon Pledge Card
All donations to VWS are tax-deductible

For more information on past Birdathons, check out Don Roberson's website for full write-ups and great photos. To read about the 2004 Birdathon, visit www.montereybay.com/creagrus/ABC04.html, Background on the 2005 birdathon can be found at http://montereybay.com/creagrus/ABC05.html, and a description of the 2006 event is at http://montereybay.com/creagrus/BAT06.html.