{"id":2223,"date":"2013-05-14T08:43:13","date_gmt":"2013-05-14T12:43:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=2223"},"modified":"2017-04-24T09:28:30","modified_gmt":"2017-04-24T13:28:30","slug":"why-i-bird-for-bird-a-thon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/why-i-bird-for-bird-a-thon\/","title":{"rendered":"Why I Bird for Bird-a-thon"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"When it comes to raising money for Bird-a-thon<\/a><\/strong>, Mass Audubon\u2019s fundraiser where teams of birders compete for the most species seen in 24 hours, Kathy Seymour is one to watch.\u00a0For 9-plus years, Seymour has taken home the coveted Top Individual Fundraiser prize, awarded for raising the most money as an individual.<\/p>\n

Not only that, she has helped transformed the Drumlin Farm<\/a> team from a modest fundraiser to the top team.\u00a0But Seymour hasn\u2019t always been a fundraiser, and in fact, she hasn\u2019t always been an avid birder. To find out what inspired her to get involved, and inspire others, she graciously shared her story.<\/p>\n

Kathy\u2019s Story<\/h3>\n

“Around 2001, I was a beginning birder and started taking programs at Joppa Flats Education Center<\/a> in Newburyport. At that time, I was so focused on my job, I didn\u2019t have much knowledge of birds or habitats or conservation. The programs opened my eyes to the wonders of the natural world and gave me an opportunity to make deep and lasting friendships. For the first time I saw how much an organization, and specifically one person\u2019s vision within that organization, can change someone\u2019s life. I wanted to give back.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, I work for a very philanthropic company that encourages its employees to have causes and promotes a culture where fellow employees enthusiastically support one another. Even more, they match employee donations. So I joined the Joppa Bird-a-thon team and started raising money for them.<\/p>\n

At first I was apprehensive and didn\u2019t want to ask people for money. But I found enough courage to send an email to the people I work with. Then the most wonderful thing happened\u2014I found fellow birders that cared about the same things I did, and I now had the chance to connect with my coworkers every day. Even people who didn\u2019t know much about birds would show support and ask me about the event.<\/p>\n

By 2005, I was also taking a lot of birding programs at Drumlin Farm, which is very close to my home. I was \u201crecruited\u201d by Drumlin to help run their team, along with Strickland Wheelock. At that time, Drumlin was looking for ways to increase fundraising after a key fundraiser left for college. Here was my chance to really make a difference, not just personally, but by involving others in the process. Bill Gette, sanctuary director at Joppa, gave his blessing, and off I went.<\/p>\n

Our goal that first year was to try and raise $12,000 ($7,000 more than Drumlin\u2019s previous effort). The hope was to buy a new van, since their current one was on its last leg. Strickland and I realized that our best chance to meet the goal was to get as many people fired up about the event as possible. Strickland reached out to his extensive contacts in the birding world and I recruited my friends. We quickly got together a team of 50 birders who were excited to try and beat the all time Bird-a-thon species record.<\/p>\n

But just having a team wasn\u2019t enough. It\u2019s pretty easy to get birders to go out birding\u2014getting them to raise money was another challenge. I knew that we needed to inspire people with a good cause (a working van for field trips) and we needed to appear very organized to show that we were all working hard together for the cause.<\/p>\n

We held a team meeting, and handed out checklists and fundraising materials in folders (folders gave the impression that we were organized). Then I got up, talked about the cause, and shared how I got over my fear of asking for money and how it even provided a new way to connect with colleagues and friends.<\/p>\n

All of a sudden, people were fundraising who hadn\u2019t done it before. Crazy things that we never expected started to happen, including a single donation for $1,000. That year, we raised $24,000. (I had to check the math in my spreadsheet at least 5 times!) The word on street was that no one would be able to out-raise Joppa Flats. So our goal wasn\u2019t to beat them, but to at least have them looking in their rear view mirror. But to everyone\u2019s surprise, we came out on top.<\/p>\n

Fast forward 9 years, and our Drumlin Bird-a-thon team has funded five vans, loaner binoculars, a top-of-the-line Swarovski scope, digital projection equipment, a birding info kiosk, an extensive bird feeding area, bird banding equipment, and youth birding clubs\u2014essentially everything you need to run a great birding program. Now we can use our fundraising for conservation projects to help the birds that brought us all together in the first place.<\/p>\n

And speaking of those birds\u2026Bird-a-thon is all about doing crazy things you wouldn\u2019t normally do, like birding for at least 21 of the 24 hours. Standing in a salt marsh before dawn, smelling the sea air, surrounded by singing saltmarsh and seaside sparrows, and watching the marsh birds wake up with the sun\u2014there\u2019s nothing better!<\/p>\n

Will Joppa or another sanctuary out-fundraise Drumlin this year? The competitive part of me would be a little bummed, but it would be great for that sanctuary and Mass Audubon as a whole. How could that be bad?”<\/p>\n

—<\/strong><\/p>\n

Learn more about Bird-a-thon<\/a><\/strong> and how you can get involved. Have you participated in Bird-a-thon before either birding, fundraising, or donating?<\/strong> Share your story in the comments!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When it comes to raising money for Bird-a-thon, Mass Audubon\u2019s fundraiser where teams of birders compete for the most species seen in 24 hours, Kathy Seymour is one to watch.\u00a0For 9-plus years, Seymour has taken home the coveted Top Individual Fundraiser prize, awarded for raising the most money as an individual. Not only that, she […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7],"tags":[117,179],"class_list":["post-2223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-get-involved","tag-bird-a-thon","tag-peopleofbirdathon"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-zR","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7215,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/let-the-bird-a-thon-ing-begin\/","url_meta":{"origin":2223,"position":0},"title":"Let the Bird-a-thon-ing Begin!","author":"Hillary T.","date":"March 10, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"What are our Bird-a-thon Team Captains looking at? YOU! Bird-a-thon is Mass Audubon\u2019s\u00a0annual birding competition and our\u00a0largest fundraiser. On May 13 and 14, 25 teams of birders will spend 24 hours attempting to spot the most species in Massachusetts all the while raising essential funds for our wildlife sanctuaries and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Involved"","block_context":{"text":"Get Involved","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-involved\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/03\/IMG_0726-e1457615858912.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/03\/IMG_0726-e1457615858912.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/03\/IMG_0726-e1457615858912.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3601,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/meet-owen-the-birder\/","url_meta":{"origin":2223,"position":1},"title":"Meet Owen the Birder","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"May 29, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"More than 800 birders took part in Bird-a-thon, Mass Audubon\u2019s annual fundraiser where teams spend 24 hours competing to see (or hear) the most species. But this year\u00a0Owen Lawson, age 6, stood out. Along with his dad, Justin, the first-grader at the Elmwood Street Elementary School in Millbury recorded 102\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "EcoKids"","block_context":{"text":"EcoKids","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/ecokids\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-G6JFX2eOLcI\/UsB6FLzv2XI\/AAAAAAAAAFQ\/l6xxAT2RVuE\/s1600\/DSC_9885.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7875,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/the-most-notable-2016-bird-a-thon-sightings\/","url_meta":{"origin":2223,"position":2},"title":"The Most Notable 2016 Bird-a-thon Sightings","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"July 11, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"More than 700 birders on 24 teams participated in Bird-a-thon 2016 this May, recording a total of 270 species of birds. That\u2019s only 1 species away from the Bird-a-thon all-time best total of 271 species in 2009! Highlighted below are some notable sightings as determined by Wayne Petersen, Director, Important\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Involved"","block_context":{"text":"Get Involved","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-involved\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/06\/White-faced-Ibis-Harry-Liggett-1024x678.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/06\/White-faced-Ibis-Harry-Liggett-1024x678.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/06\/White-faced-Ibis-Harry-Liggett-1024x678.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/06\/White-faced-Ibis-Harry-Liggett-1024x678.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13966,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/bird-a-thon-reimagined\/","url_meta":{"origin":2223,"position":3},"title":"Bird-a-thon Reimagined","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"May 4, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Since 1983, Bird-a-thon , Mass Audubon\u2019s largest annual fundraiser and birding competition, has been enjoyed by thousands of dedicated supporters and birders all the while raising over $3 million dollars for our wildlife sanctuaries and programs statewide. It is very much part of Mass Audubon\u2019s DNA, and we aren\u2019t going\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Downy Woodpecker","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/05\/KForesto-0187.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/05\/KForesto-0187.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/05\/KForesto-0187.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/05\/KForesto-0187.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/05\/KForesto-0187.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11168,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/snapshots-of-bird-a-thon-2018\/","url_meta":{"origin":2223,"position":4},"title":"Snapshots of Bird-a-thon 2018","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"June 8, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Mass Audubon\u2019s annual fundraiser, Bird-a-thon took place in early May. Bird-a-thon 2018 participants have been sharing their photos and memories with us. Here are some of our favorites. Gabby, Age 4, and Jack, age 2, honorary members of Team Blue Hills, view a Barred Owl fledgling. John Zmud of Team\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/06\/commontern_JohnZmud_SouthCoast_GreatNeck-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/06\/commontern_JohnZmud_SouthCoast_GreatNeck-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/06\/commontern_JohnZmud_SouthCoast_GreatNeck-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16185,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/making-inclusive-equitable-access-to-nature-real\/","url_meta":{"origin":2223,"position":5},"title":"Making Inclusive & Equitable Access to Nature Real","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"August 17, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"A Q&A with Meghadeepa Maity, Organizer of Arcadia\u2019s Sitting Duck Award-Winning Team This year\u2019s Bird-a-thon included a new competitive birding award: the Sitting Duck for most bird species observed while remaining in a 25-foot circle. The West Team took home the award in an intentionally inclusive event organized by volunteer\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Birds & Birding"","block_context":{"text":"Birds & Birding","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/birds-birding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/BAT-Big-Meghadeepa750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/BAT-Big-Meghadeepa750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/BAT-Big-Meghadeepa750.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/BAT-Big-Meghadeepa750.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2223"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2223\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9020,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2223\/revisions\/9020"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}