Join us for the 2021 Birdathon, May 1 to May 8! This year’s Birdathon will consist of two separate events: Top Birder Competition (a fundraiser) and a Community Collaborative Big Day (a FREE community activity).

Top Birder Competition:

Matt Orsie, Bob Dean and Wil Hershberger are ready for a rematch for the title of PVAS Top Birder!

Each competitor will choose one, 24-hour period during the week of Birdathon (May 1 – 8) to perform an intensive bird count to see who can identify the greatest number of species within the PVAS service area.

Join in by sponsoring your favorite pro-birder! The pro-birders need the community’s support to earn the use of birding privileges to help them perform at their best. You get to decide which birder you favor for the Top Birder crown and sponsor that birder’s efforts. Your contribution, of any amount, will combine with other donors, allowing them access to the following birding privileges.

If the pro-birder raises X dollars, then they earn Y privilege, as follows:

$100 – the birder may use binoculars
$200 – may use binoculars and have an assistant birder
$300 – binoculars, an assistant, and they may count birds heard in addition to birds seen
$400 – binoculars, an assistant, ability to count birds by ear, and they may use a spotting scope
$500 – binoculars, an assistant, ability to count birds by ear, spotting scope and they may count birds at a feeder

Click here to learn more about Bob, Matt and Wil. When you’re ready, follow this link to sponsor the pro-birder of your choice!

Sponsor a "Pro-Birder" Now!

Community Collaborative Count:

GOAL: The ultimate goal of the Community Collaborative Big Day is to collaboratively observe and count at least 100 different bird species within the PVAS service area!

Everyone in our four-county service area (Jefferson, Berkeley, and Morgan counties in WV and Washington County, MD) is invited to contribute to the Community Collaborative Count! Create your own team – either solo or with quarantine companions – come up with a clever name, and identify as many birds as you can within one, 24-hour period during the week of Birdathon (May 1 – 8). Your count can be completed in one location or you may migrate anywhere within the PVAS service area. We will combine all of the lists from every team to see if, together, we can reach the goal of 100 different bird species.

Teams are encouraged to use eBird but should also submit their species list by filling out this Google form.

Please email KC Walters with any questions you may have!