Our Birdathon will take place from 4 pm on May 25th to 4 pm on the 26th.
The Birdathon pledge forms are now printed and the rules are simple. Do the Birdathon on your own, or make up a team with your friends. Ask your friends and/or neighbours to sponsor your birding efforts based on the number of bird species you identify (or a flat donation sum). All money raised will go to the Denman Conservancy Association (DCA) for its important conservation work on the island. Pledge sheets are available at the Free Post at Abraxas Books under B for Birdathon, or call Wendy or Ken at 335-1765.
Islanders have donated many great items that we will give out during our End-of-Birdathon get-together. Prize categories will include one for the youngest birder, the oldest birder and the most unusual bird (no pink flamingos, please). There will also be spot prizes for seeing a common bird such as a Bald Eagle or American Robin at the closest time to a pre-selected time.
Bird-related events leading up to the Birdathon:
1) During May the Denman Craft Shop will feature “Bird Art.” Our feathered friends will be interpreted in a variety of media: pottery, fabric, paper, jewellery, felt and any other media that happen to fly by. Shop hours are 1-4 daily and 10-4 on Saturday. Starting May 20th, the shop will be open every day from 10-4.
2) The Old Man and the Vultures: May 16th at 7:30 at the Denman Activity Centre Naturalist Dave Manning invites us to “join him on the bluffs and in the forests of his Gulf Islands as he shares his experiences with turkey vultures.
3) Birdsong identification walk led by Joan Scruton and Patrick Fawkes. Meet at the Central Park trailhead at 8:30 am on Tuesday, May 22nd.
4) Bird Year slide show and screening of Malkolm the Birder Boy. Tuesday, May 22nd, 7:00 pm at the Denman Activity Center.
5) Basic bird photography with Dennis Forsyth. 10 am to noon on Wednesday, May 23rd at Dennis’s place at 2350 East Road. You’ll need a camera that allows you to control shutter-speed and aperture.
6) Birding Basics for Beginners with Ken Madsen and Steve Carballeira. Meet at 9 am on Thursday, May 24th at the Central Park trailhead.
7) Denman Birdathon: 4 pm on Friday, May 25th to 4 pm on Saturday May 26th.
8) Birdathon walk with Wendy Boothroyd and Ken Madsen. If you are taking part in the Birdathon and would like to work together to identify some birds, meet us at 9 am on Saturday, May 26th at the Central Park trailhead.
9) Birdathon wind-up potluck picnic and slide show by Dennis Forsyth. Meet at 6 pm at the Old School on Saturday, May 26th.
10) The Denman quilters are hard at work (or is that hard at play?) on a bird quilt that will be raffled to raise money for DCA. The quilt will be unveiled on the Saturday of the birdathon.
