[SEMCO] Nantucket Birdathon 2009

Thu Apr 16 17:18:28 EDT 2009

Nantucket Birdathon 2009
aka 8th Annual Maria Mitchell Association Birdathon
5:00 pm Saturday, 16 May to 5:00 pm Sunday, 17 May 2009

(For additional Information and for all forms, please visit the Maria
Mitchell Association website  at http://www.mmo.org and click on the Natural
Science icon) 

What is Nantucket Birdathon 2009?
* Also known as the 8th Annual Maria Mitchell Association Birdathon.  During
the 24-hour period from 5:00 pm on Saturday, 16 May until 5:00 pm on Sunday,
17 May 2009, birding teams will  compete to see which team can identify the
most number of species of birds in Nantucket County and waters extending 10
miles from shore.  Each team will collect pledges and team sponsorships to
benefit the conservation, education and research activities of the Maria
Mitchell Association, and particularly the Edith F. Andrews Ornithology
Collection in MMA¹s Natural Science Museum

Why do this?
For lots of reasons:
* To document the birds found on Nantucket during the peak Spring migration
period 
* To promote awareness of birds on Nantucket
* To draw attention to the habitat needs of birds and the beautiful open
spaces preserved by Nantucket¹s conservation partners.
* For the Nantucket community and visitors to have fun and to learn about
the birds of Nantucket at the same time
* To preserve, at the highest museum standards, the important bird
collection that Edith F. Andrews has gathered during her lifelong commitment
to the birds of Nantucket.

Who can participate?
Anyone can participate by forming or joining one of the following team
categories:
* Competitive Team  Teams openly competing for the grand prize consists of
3 or more team members plus a non birding driver
* Youth Team   Teams made up of 2 or more individuals under 18 plus a non
birding driver 
* Non-Competitive Team  Teams made up of 1 or more individuals that can
participate and contribute to the overall species count  but that are not
competing for the grand prize.

How can a team register and what are the registration fees?
Fill out the Registration Form with your team name and the name of the team
members.  
Fees (checks made payable to the Maria Mitchell Association) are as follows:
* Competitive Teams $10/team member over 18, free to members 18 & under
* Youth Teams (all members 18 & under)  $10 team fee, no individual fee
* Non-Competitive Teams $10/team member over 18, free to members 18 & under

Registrations Forms and Team Fees payable to the Maria Mitchell Association
must be submitted at the same time by either mailing them to, or personally
delivering them to the Maria Mitchell Association, 4 Vestal Street,
Nantucket, MA 02554.

Registration (Registration Form)
* Registration:  Teams registering by May 1st 2009 will be able to order
Nantucket Birdathon t-shirts for each team member and extra shirts @ $15 per
shirt (short-sleeve 100% cotton)
* Registrations will be accepted until the start of the Birdathon at 5 pm on
May 16th.  T-shirts if available, will be $20 each if not ordered by May 1st

Pledges and Team Sponsorships (Pledge Form)
Each team can raise funds in many ways.  Here are just a few ways:
·        Pledges  each team can collect pledges from friends, relatives,
business associates etc. This can be a whole dollar amount such as $50 or
can be based on an amount per species identified during either the entire
birdathon or by the individual team sponsored.  If someone pledges
$.50/species and 100 species are seen during the birdathon by all teams or
by the team supported, then the support would be $50.   We expect the total
number of species to be less than 140.   Individual teams will range from
about 60 to 120 species.
·        Corporate Sponsorships  a team can get a business to sponsor them
at whatever level they choose.  We suggest a minimum business/corporate
sponsorship of $250.

What is the Overall Nantucket Birdathon Fund Raising Goal?
The goal of Nantucket Birdathon is to raise $25,000 for the Maria Mitchell
Association¹s conservation, education and research activities on Nantucket
and particularly to obtain state-of-the-art bird collection storage cabinets
and supplies to house the Edith F. Andrews Ornithology Collection in MMA¹s
Natural Science Museum in Hinchman House.  The Andrew¹s collection contains
over 1,400 bird specimens ranging from the largest, a Golden Eagle to the
smallest, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird.   This collection is a lasting
educational and research resource for Nantucket.

Awards and Awards Party
The team that sees the most number of species following the Nantucket
Birdathon 2009 Rules described elsewhere, will be recognized as the ³Best
Birding Team on Nantucket.² Likewise, the team that raises the most support
will be acknowledged as the ³Grand Champion MMA Birdathon Supporter.²
However, all teams will be recognized for both their birding and fund
raising efforts at the Awards Party, by MMA, and where appropriate in the
media.  

Nantucket Birdathon 2009 Awards Party will follow immediately after the
Birdathon at 5:30 pm  at the finish line at MMA¹s Natural Science Museum.
Refreshments and pizza are complementary to all team members and volunteers.
Friends and relatives are welcome to the Awards Party for a suggested
donation of $10/person.

Housing on Nantucket
Dormitory style housing for birdathon participants, family and friends on a
first come/first served basis will be available at the Maria Mitchell
Association for $15/night/person.  Guests are required to provide their own
sleeping bag or sheets, pillow case and towel.  Pillows and blankets will be
provided.  Please contact Darcie Vallant at 508-228-9198 to make
reservations.  
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