Mark your Calendars for the 6th Annual CEC Birdathon: May 2 – May 18, 2025!
Cope Environmental Center (CEC) invites nature lovers of all ages and skill levels to join our annual Birdathon—a fun, flexible, and impactful way to enjoy birdwatching while supporting environmental education and conservation at CEC!
It’s like a walkathon or readathon, but instead of counting steps or pages, we count birds, photos, or locations!
New This Year: Bird Your Way!
Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a curious beginner, there’s a way for everyone to join in:
- Bird Count – Stick to tradition by counting the bird species you spot.
- Photo Count – Love photography? Count birds you capture through your lens.
- Location Count – Not a birder? No problem! Count the number of birding spots you visit.
Bird anywhere—from your backyard feeder to birding trails like Cope, or even hotspots across the world—anytime between May 2 and May 18!
Competition Categories
You can participate solo or form a team (up to 6 people). Prizes will be awarded for:
- Most species seen by an individual (solo or on a team)
- Most species seen by a Local Midwest Team
- Most species seen by a Distance Team (outside the Midwest)
- Most money raised by an Individual
- Most money raised by a Team
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Most bird species photographed
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Most birding locations visited
Honorable Mention
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All individuals who see 100 or more bird species
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All individuals who raise $1,000 or more
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All teams who raise $2,000 or more
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All teams who see 300 or more total birds (all checklists combined)
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All photographers who photograph 50 or more bird species
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All individuals who visit 10 different birding locations
