The Next DCA 24-Hr Birdathon is May 23-24 2025!
Click here to download a pledge form.
How it works: Birdathon Birders collect donation pledges in advance (or, some make a donation themselves in lieu of collecting pledges) and then on the Big Day they go out and identify as many bird species as they can in 24 hours. All proceeds from the event go to the conservation work of DCA!
The event begins at 4pm on the Friday and ends at 4pm on the Saturday.
If you don’t want to participate as a birder, you can still make a pledge donation by sponsoring this year’s Feature Birder: Steve Carballeira. Email info@denmanconservancy.org for more details.
All participants (Birders and Donors) are also welcome to join in the Birdathon Wrap-Up Gathering: An informal potluck lunch at the Covered Rec Space on Sunday, May 25th at 11am. Prizes for various Birdathon accomplishments will be awarded at the Wrap-Up Gathering.
Three Fun Guided Walks will be held in advance of the Birdathon, open to all! Please bring binoculars and a bird ID guide if you have them. (Rain or Shine!)
- Saturday, April 26th, 8am Deep Listening with Bird Song, with Jenna Rudolph | Central Park, Meet at North Central Rd Park Entrance at Swale Loop Trail
- Saturday, May 3rd, 8am Bird Calls, with Joan Scruton & Jenny Balke | Fillongley Park, Meet at the Bridge
- Saturday, May 17th, 8am Practice your bird ID, with Jane Lighthall & Randy Woods | Central Park, Meet at Green Burial Cemetery (Denman Rd at North Central Rd)
For more info email info@denmanconservancy.org
the DCA 24-Hr Birdathon – every other year in May (odd-numbered years)
Every other year, birders of all stripes and feathers come together to celebrate birds in a friendly competition of species-counting over a 24 hour period, usually near the end of May. This timing makes for extra fun birding since many of the local migrant birds (and some of the human birders) have returned from their snowbirding adventures further south.
How it works: Birdathon Birders collect donation pledges in advance (or, some make a donation themselves in lieu of collecting pledges) and then on the Big Day they go out and identify as many bird species as they can in 24 hours. The event begins at 4pm on the Friday and ends at 4pm on the Saturday.
Following the event, pledges are collected from sponsors by each birder and submitted to DCA, with all funds going to our ongoing conservation work. We usually have some kind of wrap-up event like a potluck as well, where we can compare stories and participants may win prizes for their efforts (most species; most hours spent birding; oldest or youngest birder; most species seen using fossil fuel free transportation; etc.)
In the spring months leading up to the Birdathon, organized bird walks and talks are offered with local bird experts, so participants can brush up on their ID skills.
The definition of a good birder is someone who enjoys going out and looking for birds! You need not be an experienced eagle-eye (or owl-ear) to take part in this very fun event. Just download a pledge form and collect a few donation pledges. You can do as much or as little actual birdwatching on Birdathon Day as you like. Counting a few species from your kitchen window counts!
