Ninth Annual
Tim McKay Memorial Birdathon
May 15 – 25, 2025
Have you been looking to do a little stint in birding? Do you have eyes like a hawk?
You’re a lucky duck—the 9th Annual Tim McKay Birdathon is upon us!
Thanks to all who supported and participated in the 9th Annual Tim McKay Memorial Birdathon! If you missed the bird-a-thon, its not too late to support! Donations will be accepted through the end of June, and split equally between the Northcoast Environmental Center (NEC) and the Redwood Regional Audubon Society (RRAS).
We raised nearly $1000 during our Birdathon event, from May 15-25! However we are still far from our $6000 goal. With the current uncertainty of the political climate targeting environmental and social justice organizations, we need your support now more than ever.
“Each year, an estimated 1 billion birds die from avoidable causes related to industrial activities — including uncovered oil pits, power lines, and other threats,” (The American Bird Conservancy). With the longest standing environmental newspaper, published monthly and distributed for free to the public and online, the NEC works hard to keep our community informed about such preventable travesties. RRAS has over 50 years of experience advocating on behalf of our feathered friends. Both organizations need your support to keep up our work for the environment and our community.
Keep reading to find out about the Birdathon event and how you can participate next year!
What is Bird-a-thon?
Go birding for a day, keep records of your species list and ask your friends and relatives to help you by contributing a nickel or more per species. Similar to a walk-a-thon, where you raise money from sponsors for each mile walked, a birdathon is a way of raising donations by the amount of bird species that are identified within a 24 hour period. That’s a BIRDATHON!
Anyone can participate, from expert birders to beginners, it is a fun and educational event for all ages. Remember, you can bird from your yard or choose a location to be stationary and as long as you have donors signed up to support your efforts you can qualify for the competition and prizes.
How To Sign-Up
Visit go.rallyup.com/birdathon2025 to register.
Each team member will be responsible for obtaining their own pledges for their team and the team leader will coordinate the team’s effort to collect pledges and get them to the NEC. The easiest way to collect pledges is for the team leader to register your team at go.rallyup.com/birdathon2025 and ask your friends and family to donate via the website.
For a pdf Pledge Sheet, click here.
Why Support:
Birdathon proceeds benefit the Northcoast Environmental Center and Redwood Region Audubon Society (RRAS) equally. The NEC and RRAS do a tremendous amount for our community. They work on a shoestring budget and succeed only with determination, devotion and aid from great volunteers. For 50 years, the NEC has served as a vital hub for information and programs that involve, inform and inspire residents with regard to environmental issues that matter most on California’s North Coast. From watershed awareness and climate action to beach cleanups and collaborative community projects, the NEC has been at the forefront for all of us.
RRAS is an all volunteer organization and it is amazing that they coordinate the leadership of weekly and monthly bird and nature walks, write and publish The Sandpiper (the monthly newsletter which comes packaged with EcoNews), provide educational programs for local teachers and schools, host topical speakers once a month, and use reserve funds to help purchase at-risk properties for the improvement of habitat for birds and humans.
To make a donation directly to the Birdathon in lieu of participating, click the donate button below.