The World Series of Birding
Smithsonian Team seeks your Support!
Every year on International Migratory Bird Day in mid-May, over 50 teams from throughout North America come to New Jersey to compete in the race to see as many species of birds as possible within 24 hours, midnight to midnight. Teams are given pledges on a per species basis, and use this event to raise as much money as possible to fund important research on the conservation of our birds. This is the fourth year that the Smithsonian enters into the fray. One year we reached our goal of breaking 180 with 195 species. Our first attempt was one of the best rookie performances ever and our second year placed us in the top five for out-of-state teams. The competition is fierce but we have assembled a team so spirited as to welcome the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Can we win the species title?--only with outrageous fortune, but can we win the fundraising title?--only with YOUR Contribution.
About the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center
The Center was created in 1991 to address the decline of birds that nest in North America and migrate to spend the winter in Latin America. Shortly afterwards, we founded International Migratory Bird Day, which is now officially recognized by most state governments, and claims hundreds of organizations and tens of thousands of participants throughout the Americas. Our approach is interactive and interdisciplinary. The Center bridges the academic, policy-making, and public worlds to coordinate efforts to protect migratory birds and their habitats. We bring public and policy issues to bear on our research--looking both at the way human-made changes affect bird populations and the way bird habitat preservation will affect human populations. Most importantly, we translate our research findings into recommendations for action. In addition, we complement our research with a strong public education program that disseminates the most current information on migratory birds and their conservation.
The Conservation Research Program
Your contribution will go directly into a fund for the study of neotropical migratory and resident birds in Latin America. Our work focuses on such issues as: managing for bird habitat and forest remnants in an agricultural landscape, determining ecological requirements of wintering migratory birds in tropical habitats, and documenting bird-friendly agricultural practices such as shade-grown coffee and acacia woodlots in cattle pastures.
The Team
John Sterling--team leader and staff Wildlife Biologist at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.
Robb Brumfield--studies bird genetics at the Smithsonian Molecular Systematics Lab.
Caleb Gordon--studies grassland bird ecology in Arizona and formerly worked for the Molecular Systematics Lab.
Todd Easterla--top California birder, tour leader and former field assistant for the SMBC in Russia.
Send pledges of any amount per species to SMBC, attn: John Sterling, National Zoo, Washington, DC 20008.
Email John Sterling.
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