Nerdy For Birdies is a youth birdwatching club that was started in Phoenix, Arizona in 2019, by Rowyn Balman an avid teen birder. Sadly Rowyn and his sister passed away in a tragic car accident on November 7, 2022. Both he and his sister had a passion for the natural world and conservation. Rowyn fell in love with birding when we moved to AZ in 2018. We attended our first Tucson Audubon Bird Fest in 2019 and haven't missed a festival or birdathon since then. Rowyn's passion was to get more youth interested in birding and in memory of Rowyn team Nerdy for Birdies will be participating again this year so that we can continue his wishes of educating more youth about birds and helping support bird conservation efforts. We have no doubt that Rowyn will be with us on our birding day in spirit. I have moved back to GA to be closer to my family so we will be joining beyond borders this year and I hope that I can get several families to join us.
More background about Nerdy for Birdies:
The youth birding club was started after Rowyn and I attended the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival in 2019. He noticed that there were not a lot kids at the festival (including the family events that were offered), and was inspired to try to change that. Nerdy For Birdies was created in August 2019, and we held our first youth birdwalk in September. Birding was a huge part of our everyday life and birding has been helpful for me as I go through the grieving process. We have attended many bird events around Arizona, been on lots of birdwalks, watched numerous bird videos/webinars, and participated in several citizen science projects related to birds. We even started volunteering with several of the Audubon Chapters. We have also participated in the Christmas Bird Count in 2020 and 2021 (we actually started a circle for Phoenix which hasn't been counted since the early 1900s), Project FeederWatcher, the Great Backyard Bird Count, International Migratory Bird Day, and the Birdathon in 2020, 2021, 2022.
Team Nerdy for Birdies will be conducting a few outings on different days in both AZ and GA.
Woodstock GA: our birdathon day on April 22nd at Olde Rope Mill Park at 9 am. You can RSVP here Georgia https://fb.me/e/6rfyK2fyl?mibextid=N4tvPT.
Tucson AZ: our birdathon day will be April 14th at Agua Caliente Park at 9 am. You can RSVP here Tucson https://fb.me/e/32l4wIF8t?mibextid=N4tvPT.
Phoenix AZ: our birdathon day will be May 4th at Thunderbird Conservation Park at 9 am. You can RSVP here Phoenix https://facebook.com/events/s/phoenix-area-bird-outing-tucso/222021557012911/
If you cannot join us be sure to check back to find out how many birds and what type of birds we see.
You can make a donation or if you prefer you can make a pledge now and pay later...we love a challege!
Rowyn and Gwyn's wings were ready, but our heart's were not! Spread your wings my precious children you are loved and missed by so many.
Thank you for your support Kathy Balman (Rowyn's mom)
Pledges:
- Marcia Grand: $10/species; $100 for a rattler; $150 for 3 species Tiny Owls; $100 for 3 species frogs; $150 for a Large Lizard like a Gila Monster, Desert Iguana, Chuckwalla, etc; $150 for any 3 – javelina, coyote, bobcat, racoon, jackrabbit, skunk, deer, coatimundi; $10 for each working nest; $150 for one saguaro with an active nest in it; $150 for any 5 hummingbirds; $250 for mountain lion.
Birds have a unique, special, and different meaning to each of us. So, too, is each of our connection with Tucson Audubon Society personal and distinct. During Birdathon, we combine the love of bird watching during spring migration with support for bird conservation.
Birdathoners are birders and social fundraisers, joining together to make a difference for the birds and habitats of Southeast Arizona. Birdathoners continue a tradition that has held strong for over 30 years!
Each Birdathoner's personal network of supporters is what helps makes Birdathon possible.
Birdathon donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Tucson Audubon Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Supporting a team by writing a check?
- Make checks payable to: Tucson Audubon Society
- Write the team name on memo line
- Mail to:
Tucson Audubon Society
PO Box 91770
Tucson, AZ 85752
| Supporters | |||
| Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
| Marcia Grand | 08/16/2023 | $990.00 | Beth Acree | 05/11/2023 | $50.00 | Im happy to support Rowyn’s birding legacy. | Hali O'Connor | 05/09/2023 | $44.63 | Phoenix birding hike 5/4 attendee donations | Jennifer Wellham | 05/07/2023 | $15.77 | We met Rowyn in Georgia. Before he and his family moved to AZ we spent many of our days homeschooling/field tripping/unschooling together. As a bird nerd myself, I was thrilled when I heard Rowyn had really taken to birding in AZ. We send this in loving memory, SJKT Wellham | Jennifer Bruening | 05/01/2023 | $10.00 | Nancy Bilderbeck | 04/28/2023 | $100.00 | Rowyn and I met during his first Birdathon. His love of birds was so genuine. Soar Rowyn!! I will always remember. | Nallely Corral | 04/24/2023 | $51.85 | Elizabeth McCoy | 04/24/2023 | $31.20 | In honor of Rowyn B. | Anonymous Friend | 04/23/2023 | $258.01 | We Love and Miss You Rowyn!! T, M, N & R | Lia S. Lavallee | 04/22/2023 | $26.08 | Matthew Griffiths | 04/19/2023 | $50.00 | Clague A. Van Slyke | 04/17/2023 | $200.00 | Liz Urban | 04/17/2023 | $258.01 | Lee Rosenblum | 04/08/2023 | $26.08 |
| Total | $2,111.63 | ||