Photo: 2025 Birdathon team grid, Tina Dudley
Tina Dudley
It’s that time of year again: the days are longer, you have dirt under your fingernails from planting natives, and all across the region teams of people are birding for a good cause.
The Birdathon is a fundraiser that has been taking place for over 10 years. When it started out, it was quite small. Joanne Bauer, team captain for The Bowerbirds, recalls that when she first started participating there were fewer teams, but the spirit was just as enthusiastic.
Over the years, more and more people have been inspired to get involved. Birdathon is a great opportunity to spend time with friends and family, to be out in the nature, and to raise funds for a good cause. The event has shifted a bit - becoming more inclusive and welcoming to newer birders. You don’t need to be a lister or even leave your house to participate - you can compete in the Backyard Birdathon category and report the species that visit your yard.
This year, our goal for Birdathon is to raise $20,000. This is a big goal in a hard year, but there are dozens of birders all across our region working together to make it happen.
Modeled after a traditional walk-a-thon, Birdathon relies on team members to seek out pledges and donations from friends and family. But you don’t need to know anyone on a team to make a gift to that team if you feel inspired by their story. Let’s all pitch in to make Birdathon a success!
You can still sign up to have a Birdathon team if you feel inspired. The last day you can do a Birdathon this year is Sunday, May 18. Also new this year, you can do Birdathon solo! It’s more fun with friends, but if birding by yourself is your jam, you can still participate. Register your team here and join the magic, the movement, the moment because the birds need us now. Let’s show up for them! Join us on June 8 for our Alliance Afternoon to celebrate the winners and everyone who participated and donated!
Continue reading to learn about some of this year’s teams.
Some of our 2025 Birdathon teams
Three Little Towhees
This team is close to our hearts because its captain, Louise Edsall, has been our trusty Program Assistant since October 1, 2017. She is the person who processes all of the checks that come in at the end of the year. Louise is the secret glue that keeps NVBA running.
In 2023, she wrote about her team’s experience as part of a Birdathon Story. Her team birded only at the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk and Trails because Louise’s husband Bart, a paraplegic, could only go to wheelchair-accessible places. Bart’s wheelchair put him at the height of the handrails, which limited his view a bit, but he was the first to spot the Osprey which had caught a fish just in front of the “No Fishing” sign. He also was an avid birder by ear. Sadly, Bart passed away September 16, 2024. He is deeply missed, and the Louise’s Birdathon team this year is participating in his memory. You can read Bart’s obituary here.
The name of Louise’s team this year comes from her childhood memory of being asked by her mother, “What is that pretty bird scratching in the leaves," to which 10-year-old Louise promptly responded, "Oh, that's a Rufous-sided Towhee." After that the towhee became “their bird” and showed up on birthday cards and in gifts. Louise and her mother both loved the Eastern Towhee’s "Drink Drink Your Tea" song. It remains one of Louise's favorite birds and a fond reminder of her mother's enthusiastic support of her hobby.
You can make a gift in honor of this team here.
Nesting Since ‘98
Jade Abuzaid has been birding since she was 10, when being sick and stuck inside for a month made her curious about the birds singing outside her window. Now she’s studying environmental science and doing bird surveys in college, discovering new species every time she goes outside. Her goals for participating in Birdathon are to teach her parents about all the cool birds that come out in the spring and maybe get some awesome photos. She knows about 60 species so far but would like to double that through Birdathon.
You can make a gift in honor of this team here.
The Avian Avengers
The Avian Avengers team was organized by Ajani Simmons, an Arlington Regional Master Naturalist (ARMN), and includes three fellow ARMN graduates of the spring 2025 class. Although new to birding, Ajani brings a photographer’s eye to the field, using the camera to observe and connect more deeply with nature. She told NVBA, “Birding has become a grounding and joyful experience—and we’re excited to share that journey together during Birdathon 2025.” One of this team’s goals is to raise awareness for Black Birders Week, May 25-May 31 this year. Ajani is working to plan an NVBA event for this year’s Black Birders Week. More information is coming soon on this event.
You can make a gift in honor of this team here.
The Bowerbirds
Led by former board member, Joanne Bauer, this team is celebrating its 10th anniversary doing Birdathon. Wow! They plan to celebrate this milestone by finding more birds than they ever have. Their record, which they hope to exceed, is 88 species in one 24-hour birding marathon.
You can make a gift in honor of this team here.
Plus 12 more teams!
You can view all of the Birdathon teams here. We hope you will be moved to make a gift in honor of one or more of our participating teams and can share this article on your social media to spread the word.
And there are many other ways you can help our feathered friends this spring. Why not become an NVBA volunteer and pitch in to pull invasive plants, educate the community about conservation, or serve on one of our committees. We thank you and the birds thank you!