Take Part in the Cope Environmental Center’s
BIRDATHON
from May 1-17, 2026!
What is a birdathon?
It is like a walkathon or readathon, but instead of counting steps or books, we count birds! It is an opportunity to get outside, learn your birds and help raise funds for Cope Environmental Center. If counting the species you see doesn't bring you joy, we've got other exciting ways to participate too! You can choose to challenge yourself to see how many bird species you can photograph or how many locations you can visit during the Birdathon!
Bird anytime from May 1 to May 17. Walk in your neighborhood, watch at your birdfeeders, search lakes and ponds, hike at places like Cope Environmental Center and Hayes Arboretum, or visit any bird hotspots in the country or world! Keep a checklist and seek sponsors who will donate money ($.25, $.50, $1.00, $2.00 or more!!!) per each distinct species of bird you see. Your sponsors will also have the option to make a one-time flat donation in your name for your effort. Each participant is asked to have at least one sponsor but the more the better!
Be sure to check our Upcoming Events page for the latest bird hikes and programs.
T-shirts available for purchase in our Gift Shop
Have the following information ready and click on the link below to get started! To create your personal PledgeIt account you will need:
• Your email address
• A password
• An estimation of how many species you hope to see
• An estimation of how much money you want to raise
• Photos to jazz up your account
Click here to Register or Pledge on PledgeIt!" https://charity.pledgeit.org/CECBirdathon2026
Listed below are the ways you can participate:
Be a Solo Birder: Bird on your own, count # of bird species seen
Midwest Team: Count # of bird species seen
Worldwide Team: Count # of bird species seen
Bird Species Photographed: Count # of bird species photographed
Pre Birdathon Events:
For information on individual events, please click on the links below.
For a list of all events, be sure to check our Upcoming Events page for the latest bird hikes and programs.
Birdathon Events:
May 1: Rise with the Birds
May 2: Bird Banding with Mary Gray Sanctuary
May 3: Wayne County Grassland Birds Fieldtrip
May 4: Grazing & Drought Interact to Shape Bird & Plant Communities in Grasslands: A 16-Year Study
May 5: Nocturnal Bird Walk
May 7: Brookville Lake Fieldtrip
May 9: Franklin County Shorebird Fieldtrip
May 12: Where Trogons meet Thrushes
May 14: Northside Hike at Cope
May 16: Southside Hike
May 18: Southside Hike
Instructions & Guidelines
RESOURCES:
Birdathon - Sample Sponsor Request
Bird Checklist for Fledging Birders
Indiana Audubon Society Field Checklist - If you need one for another state, you can search your state Audubon site for you state specific checklist.
Have questions about the Birdathon? Email info@VisitCope.org for more information!
