Birdathon! April 26, 27 or 28, 2019

Birdathon is a fundraiser where teams collect "per bird species" pledges from their friends, family or anyone who wants to sponsor them. Pledges can be as little as 5 cents a species. Of course, the sky's the limit. Then teams go birding on either April 26, 27, or 28 and try to find as many bird species as possible.

Sponsors then make donations to PAS based on the number of species found by the team they sponsored. [The team raising the most funds is honored at the June dinner with a hearty round of applause and a very birdy prize!] On a more serious note, we have timed this event at the end of April for maximum avian diversity: some wintering birds haven't left, some summer residents have arrived, and migrants abound.

How can I participate?

  • Join an existing team or event; see below. Download the Pledge Sheet and collect pledges. Then hit the trails with your team.
  • Form your own team. Download the Pledge Sheet and make a birding plan. Contact Lois Brunet with your team name and a short description, to register. You might want to bird at a single park, or stay within Pasadena city limits; some travel only by foot or bicycle, some count only birds that they photograph. A team can spend as little or as much time as they want, from watching backyard feeders for an hour to embarking on a 24-hour-long manic quest on a finely-tuned precision birding route. You're the boss.

  • I don’t want to bird. How can I pledge?

    Pick a team, and email your "per bird species pledge" and contact information to the leader. They’ll be happy to hear from you!! After the event, they’ll be in touch with their results, and you can make your donation online, see below.


    Name of Team/Birder

    Or mail your check to (and please indicate the team you are supporting):

    Pasadena Audubon
    Attn: Birdathon
    1750 N Altadena Dr
    Pasadena, CA 91107

    Sponsors can be anyone: friends, family, co-workers, even your boss. In addition to supporting PAS, sponsors learn about birds and bird habitat. Sponsors who are not birders are often amazed at the number of bird species that can be found here. But if you are a team member, don't surprise your sponsors too much --- give them an estimate of how many birds you expect to find before they pledge! After Birdathon, send your sponsors a thank-you note, a species list, and a description of how the day went, including any surprises or amusing anecdotes.

    Birdathon is a lot of fun, supports PAS, and educates non-birders about birds and the importance of habitat.

    How does PAS use the funds?

    Birdathon helps fund many of our exciting programs, including: Grants and scholarships that support important research and send young birders to camps and conferences; Conservation initiatives, like our Peck cleanups and our new native garden project at Washington Elementary.

    Birdathon 2019 Teams

  • The Big Sit:
  • At Whittier Narrows, 8:00 am–noon, April 27. Bring your lawn chair and do your birding with a like-minded crowd. Contact Mark Hunter, mark.hunter@pasadenaaudubon.org, for exact location and to pledge. No need to sign up; just bring your binoculars.

  • The Ladybirders:
  • New last year, the Ladybirders are heading out on Friday April 26th and will attempt to beat their record of 83 species, with 72 at Peck alone! Margaritas
    will follow. Contact Lois Brunet, lbrunet@pasadenaaudubon.org, to pledge or join. Sorry guys, this is a ladies only Birdathon team.

  • Team Adriana:
  • With only a year into birding, Team Adriana will be out and about again looking for birds in either California or Missouri. Contact Adriana to pledge: akleiman@thechicagoschool.edu

  • The Green Team:
  • Not seen since 2015, the Green Team returns! This will be a full-day/part-night adventure with minimal use of cars (but public transportation is allowed). Expected species count is around 125, but could be higher or lower depending on the route chosen and our tolerance to pain that day. Contact team leader Darren Dowell, dowell.darren@yahoo.com, for financial sponsorship or moral support.