Huntley Meadows Birdathon 2010

  The other day I was listening to a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks calling and reflected that, although it’s winter,
raptors were deep into their courtship rituals. It dawned on me that spring nesting time was just around the corner.
Cardinals, chickadees, and house finches will soon be heard singing in the morning. Before you know it, there will
be reports of warblers appearing in trees which a short time ago were covered with snow. And that means it’s almost
time for the Huntley Meadows Park 14th annual Birdathon on Tuesday, May 4th.
  Every year, park staff and volunteers set out very early in the morning to count bird species in the park. Over the
years, this event has grown from an annual survey to something more important. It now provides an opportunity to
remember and honor Ed Weigel and Ken Howard, two volunteers who for years inspired a love of nature within the
park visitors they met. They shared their time, wisdom, wit, and enthusiasm with everyone, acting as true ambassadors
for Huntley Meadows. Their good work continues to this day through the park’s Natural Resource Internship
that is funded by the Birdathon. This internship provides a young person with an opportunity to begin a career in
conservation and to get hands-on experience in a great park.
  As always, our goal is to record 100 species for the day. We’ve done it five times with 108 species in 2004 being
our top record. To make a donation, you can do it per species or just by a dollar amount. If you were to donate only
a quarter per species seen, 100 species would produce a donation of $25. That would go a long way towards helping
us reach our annual goal of $2,700. This is our traditional fundraising event of the year when we ask our members to
donate to a good cause. We have always appreciated the generosity of park supporters in helping us to meet our goal.
I believe this is an outstanding cause. Like many of you, I knew Ken and Ed well, and count myself fortunate to
have learned so much about the natural world from them. I want to see their good work continue, and I hope you feel
the same way.
Thank you very much.

Andy Higgs

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Birdathon at Huntley Meadows Park

NAME: _________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS: ______________________________________________________________

CITY: ________________________ STATE: _________________ ZIP: ______

DONATION AMOUNT: ___________________

Please make checks payable to FCPA-HMP and add on the memo line,
Donation - park ops.

Mail this form and check to:
Birdathon, Huntley Meadows Park,
3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria, VA 22306

Print Donation Form (PDF)