The Bird City Wisconsin Steering Committee and other leading bird conservation organizations are encouraging more of the state's 89 Bird City Wisconsin communities to use the online Great Wisconsin Birdathon as an easy and engaging tool for fundraising and friend-raising. They established this annual event in 2012 to help raise a rising tide of support for Wisconsin's birds and those who work on their behalf.

The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin processes all Birdathon donations and sends each participating organization 50% of the funds they raise. The balance supports eight statewide bird conservation projects through the Bird Protection Fund. Last year, 12 Bird City communities took part in the Great Wisconsin Birdathon and raised nearly $4,700. They included Madison, Sauk City, Prairie du Sac, Marquette County, McFarland, Mequon, Hales Corners, Muskego, Janesville, La Crosse, Fox Point and Wausau.

Daryl Christensen tells this story of his Marquette County Bird City Birdathon team: "With lightning flashing and wipers going wide open, four intrepid birds began the first hours of their Birdathon with a little less than high hopes. But in spite of birding between thunderstorms and having to scrap a critical part of our route, we managed 176 species for the day and raised $900. We also had the second highest species total of all of Wisconsin's Birdathons for 2014. Funds were used to purchase educational materials to give to attendees at this year's IMBD Celebration and the County Fair and other educational events in Marquette County."

The Great Wisconsin Birdathon website – www.WIBirdathon.org – is now open for business. Birding teams can conduct their Birdathon during any portion of a 24-hour period from April 15 – June 15.

The Great Wisconsin Birdathon is more about fun and education, and less about competition. It's also a great way to survey bird use of Bird City Wisconsin natural areas, attract new people to your local conservation efforts, and create an interesting story for media attention.

Here are the simple instructions for conducting a Birdathon:

Form a team (or teams) of one or more people. Come up with a creative name and pick a date for your Birdathon.

Set up a team page at WIBirdathon.org. People will go there to read about your Birdathon plans and to pledge or donate.

Complete the organization information form in the Participant Kit and mail it to the Birdathon Coordinator.

Direct your members, contacts, and community to go to your team page to either pledge per species or

donate a set amount.

Do your Birdathon!

Report your results on your team page and submit your checklist to the Birdathon Coordinator.

Thank your donors and keep them connected to your organization year-round.

The Birdathon does all the rest! They handle all the money and record-keeping. You receive a check from them for half of your proceeds. You also retain a spreadsheet of your donor contact information that you access through your team page. Your donors will receive a monthly Bird News You Can Use e-newsletter from the Birdathon year-round.

The Madison Audubon Society has raised $5,000-$10,000 through the Great Wisconsin Birdathon annually by getting up to 10 teams out at various properties. They do a friendly competition between teams to make it
fun. The Faville Grove team found several new species at their property that had not been reported there before, so this annual snapshot of bird presence has conservation value, as well.

A 4-H member in Mt. Horeb does her annual Birdathon from noon on Saturday to noon on Sunday, taking a break to sleep. She invites friends and family over for a celebratory barbecue lunch on Sunday, and has presented her Birdathon findings at the Wisconsin State Fair.

Be as ambitious and creative as you want to be. Your team page allows for social media, photos, blogs, you name it. Have fun!

Questions? Peruse the Great Wisconsin Birdathon website and find the Organizational Fundraising tab. Contact Birdathon Coordinator Diane Packett at diane.packett@wisconsin.gov for more information.