By Bob Williams, Board Member
We are only a month away from the new Birding Weekend! I hope everyone is planning to participate.
Here’s how it works this year. Because of Covid-19 our chapter did not have its annual fundraising event known as the Bird-a-thon. It has been a part of our efforts to raise money for many years and has been successful in helping us meet our goals. This year we are trying something a little different: Please help your Audubon chapter by going to your favorite birding spots on either August 22, August 23 — or both — and keep a list of all the species that you are able to identify each day. Then let us know what birds you found so we can compile a complete list for each day. If you cannot bird on Saturday or Sunday, you can go either Friday instead of Saturday or Monday instead of Sunday.
There are prizes, too! Small prizes will be awarded for the birder who identifies the most species for each day and for the birder who identifies the most unusual bird each day. We’ll publish results in the Trumpeter. Our goal is to have at least 100 birders participate. If each participant contributes or raises at least $25, we would achieve our fundraising goal. You can visit our updated and improved website at mrvac.org for ways to contribute online or you can mail a check made out to MRVAC to PO Box 20400, Bloomington, MN 55420. If you have any questions about the birding weekend, please contact Bob Williams by email at drbop6789@gmail.com or by text at 612-991-0727.
Please practice social distancing and/or wear a mask as you are birding. We want everyone to stay safe and healthy!