Birdathon is Audubon’s largest annual fundraising event, and the world’s largest bird-watching competition. Every year, thousands of people join us to count birds, have fun, and raise vital funds for Audubon’s mission of environmental conservation, education, and advocacy.

Here’s how a Birdathon works: people count birds and collect pledges from sponsors based on the number of species they see. All you have to do is choose a date and time (usually in the spring, when birds are migrating) and start counting. You can do it alone, with a group, or join a local Audubon chapter’s Birdathon. You don’t have to be an expert – some people even do Birdathons from their couch, counting the visitors to their feeder. Others cover dozens of miles in a day, racking up over 200 species in some areas. The key is to have fun!

We know from comments – ranging from the surprised "hey, that really was fun" to the more passionate "I’m hooked on a new hobby!" – that this quirky way of raising funds truly has a unique appeal.

Last year’s nationwide Birdathon helped raise over $1 million in support of Audubon’s mission to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and habitat for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity. We hope you’ll join with thousands of others in communities across the country who helped make Birdathon a success.