In less than four hours, Scarborough residents Dave and Laury Maass spotted 25 species at their backyard feeders and during a short drive along the coast.

“It’s really easy to get pledges!” says Laury? “People love the novelty of a Birdathon.”

Laury simply e-mailed colleagues at Lincoln Middle School in Portland; Dave did the same at his company, OEST Associates in South Portland.

Both Laury and Dave have been asked many times to donate to colleagues’ favorite charities, so they decided it was their turn to do the asking!

Peter and Mike Doucette

Competitive family team

Birding skills: Moderate

Eleven-year-old Brunswick resident Peter Doucette and his dad, Mike, took advantage of Maine Audubon’s 12-hour public Birdathon trip to scour southern Maine for 115 species and have a great time.

“It’s really fun to get to bird for such a long period, plus I brought one of my best friends who’s also a birder,” says Peter.

“The leaders make you feel very comfortable, even if you’re not an experienced birder,” adds Mike. “The conversation was wonderful.”

Peter and Mike asked neighbors and relatives for pledges; Mike also got pledges from customers at his shop, Just Framing in Bath.

Says Mike, “For the most part, friends and family of folks who like to bird are interested in birding, too.”

The Cardinal Sins

Competitive chapter team

Birding skills: Expert

Four members of Maine Audubon’s Penobscot Valley Chapter teamed up as the Cardinal Sins and began birding at 2 a.m. to tally nearly 120 species in 20 hours.

Team driver and time keeper Bob Duchesne says where exactly they went is “top secret,” but locations included fresh and salt water marshes, city parks, and a couple of back yards.

“It’s my favorite day of the year,” says Bob, who asked friends, family, and fellow Penobscot Valley Chapter members for pledges and even pledged himself.

“You don’t even have to be a good birder—when you go out on an adventure like this in May, you’re going to see a lot of birds. They’re practically going to come to you!”

Adds this Birdathon ambassador: “It’s incredibly fun and social. (Teammate) Lynn moved to Indiana but may fly back just to participate in future years!”

Norman and Janice Jones

Noncompetitive birders

Birding skills: Moderate to expert

Downeast residents Norman and Janice Jones, who have been married over 50 years, tallied 113 species at their backyard feeders as well as in Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge and along the coast from Kittery to Columbia Falls.

Getting pledges was easy—Norman got his from friends and his employer while Janice collected hers from customers at their collectibles-and-used-books shop in Millbridge, The Spruce House.

The only challenge, says Norman, is sometimes not being able to find that particular species you’re looking for—especially when you know it’s there!

Who participates in Birdathon?

Beginners, families and experts.

There's something fun for everyone !