A great way to help the birds of Mexico's thornscrub habitat (which is quickly dissapearing) and a chance to win free nights at the station (and more!). Read below for more information.


Simone Lupson-Cook
Seattle, WA
zingie at aol.com

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The Alamos WildlandsAlliance (AWA) would like to invite you to participate in our first AnnualBird-A-Thon! It's easy, fun and good for the birds! AWA is a grassroots 501c-3non-profit organization dedicated to Conservation, Education and Research in SouthernSonora, Mexico. Through research and monitoring, education, partnerships, andresponsible tourism at the Navopatia Field Station and other places, we hope toprotect what is left of this exceptional and important part of the world. Allfunds raised during this event will focus on field station improvements. Pleasevisit our website at www.alamoswildlands.orgto find out more about our organization.

A Bird-A-Thon is afundraiser much like a walk-a-thon or bike-a-thon where individuals or teamscount the number of different bird species seen or heard in a 24-hourperiod. Each participant collects pledges from family, friends, relatives,neighbors or businesses, and then goes birding during the event week. It willtake place January 30 through February 5, 2011. SuperBird Saturday is February5, and represents the last day you can go birding before we tally results on SuperBowl Sunday.

Here is how it works:people count birds and collect pledges from sponsors based on the number ofspecies they see (or a lump sum can be pledged). All you have to do is choose a24-hour period during the Bird-A-Thon week and start counting. You can do italone or form a team. You don?t have to be an expert; some people evenparticipate from their home, counting the visitors to their feeder. Otherscover dozens of miles in a day, racking up over 200 species in some areas. Thekey is to have fun!

You can also sponsor acounter by pledging an amount for each species recorded. For example, if youpledge $1 per species, and your counter records 100 species, you would donate$100. Or, you can also pledge a lump sum regardless of the number of speciescounted.

Prize categories will beestablished to recognize those participants whose efforts achieved the greatestresults. Prizes include free nights at the Navopatia Field Station, Guided BirdTrips, T-shirts and more!

It?s easy to sign up!Just send an email to HelpAWA at gmail.com andwe will send you all the necessary forms and instructions to help you getstarted gathering pledges or sponsoring a team.

Happy Birding!

The AWA Team
www.alamoswildlands.org