The Yukon Bird Club will host its annual fundraising Birdathon event at the end of May.
All Yukoners, regardless of experience, are invited to participate, for they’re free to just “wing it” in terms of identifying their feathered friends.
The Helmut Grünberg Yukon Birdathon is a 24-hour birdfest where participants head out to any location in the Yukon to look and listen for as many bird species as they can find. The Birdathon will start at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 31 and run until 5 p.m. Saturday, June 1.
Those taking part can bird anywhere in the territory on their own or with a group, for as long or as little time as desired during the 24-hour period. Participants are encouraged to keep a list and report their sightings, while raising funds through pledges-per-species or lump-sum donations.
Donations are tax-deductible and support the club’s activities, including education and research.
Those who can’t take part themselves can sponsor this year’s Feature Birder, Syd Cannings.
Cannings, who recently became president of the Yukon Bird Club, started birding as a child in British Columbia’s Okanagan region and went on to become a biologist.
Cannings, who moved to the Yukon 20 years ago, has extensive experience birding throughout the territory.
“Birding is a great way to enter the natural world and enjoy it,” Cannings said Friday. “And who knows where it might take you?”
This year, Cannings has a goal of spotting about 90 birds during the Birdathon. For those looking to maximize the number of species seen, he advises they visit several places that offer varying landscapes.
Even within Whitehorse city limits, it is possible to get out early in the morning for forest birds, then visit a lake, get up into the subalpine, and stop by McIntyre Marsh to spot the different birds found in each habitat, the club points out.
Birdathon participants are encouraged to limit their use of fossil fuels by walking, cycling, e-biking, using electric vehicles, riding the bus, or vehicle pooling.
Bird fans can even enjoy their pursuit from their own backyard or neighbourhood.
Those who use the worldwide citizen science application, e-Bird, are encouraged to submit their findings online.
Prizes for most species seen in several categories will be awarded at the Birdathon wrap-up barbecue potluck picnic taking place at 6 p.m. at Rotary Peace Park.
The Yukon Bird Club is a non-profit charitable organization committed to promoting awareness, appreciation and conservation of Yukon birds and their habitats.
More information on the coming Birdathon, including downloadable pledge sheets, can be found at https://www.yukonbirds.ca/birdathon.
