Hi, I am Maia Stark. I am nine years old. My team is the Gila Woodpeckers (last year my teammate was Sandy Elers). I am doing the birdathon because I love birds because (in my opinion) they are beautiful and an important part of the environment. For example, take the American Kestrel. It keeps packrats and rabbits under control. If it didn't there would be so many rabbits and packrats that they would eat all of the food and they would all die out. The donations that people make to my birdathon go to the Tucson Audubon Society where they use it to help birds such as the American Kestrel. Last year, we found 32 species of birds in one day for the birdathon and raised over $1,000. This year we plan to find 50 species of birds and raise at least $1,000 again. My teammates this year will be David Bygott and Jeannette Hanby. We will do the birdathon on April 26 while we are camping. Thank you for supporting our birdathon and Tucson Audubon Society.
Update: The Big Day
After a break, we next went to Sycamore Canyon where we hiked along the stream and found 12 birds:
Then we had lunch and rested for a while before we went to the lake at Ruby. We saw lots of the same birds there but we also found 4 more: Spotted Sandpiper, American Coot, Cassin's Kingbird, and Mexican Jay.
The last place we went was California Gulch, where there was a pond with lots of willows and found 7 more. We found Killdeer, Black Phoebe, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Summer Tananger, Mourning Doves, and Ladder-back Woodpecker.
In addition to birds, in the evening, we went to a place near a bat cave, and around 7:00 bats started coming out of the cave, and that's where we saw our last bird; a Red-tailed Hawk. My favorite part of the day was finding the Elegant Trogon and watching an Anna's Hummingbird take a water bath in a stream. I also like seeing the Hooded Oriole and Painted Redstart.
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 25 years.
Each Birdathoner's personal network of supporters is what helps makes Birdathon possible.
This April, I'm going birding for the birds!
| Supporters | |||
| Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
| Tim Lohman | 05/07/2014 | $25.00 | John Bygott | 05/07/2014 | $41.00 | Austin Stark | 05/06/2014 | $100.00 | Way to go cousin Maia! | Kelly Holy | 05/06/2014 | $15.00 | A little late to the feathered party, but go Maia! | Nick Manthey | 05/05/2014 | $41.00 | Great Job Maia! We're so proud of you! -Uncle Nick and Aunt Diana | Carol Schilling | 05/02/2014 | $41.00 | Dear Maia! Congratulations! You are a wonderful birder! Hugs, Carol | Bob Gilby | 05/02/2014 | $41.00 | James E. Babbitt | 05/02/2014 | $41.00 | Pledge on behalf of Maia Breunig | William Dingeldein | 05/02/2014 | $35.00 | Marylou R. Benigno | 05/02/2014 | $5.00 | Lydia Breunig | 05/01/2014 | $100.00 | Maia, we are so proud of you and your passion for protecting things beautiful and wild. M&D | Holly Lovejoy | 04/30/2014 | $41.00 | Daniel Thrall | 04/30/2014 | $4.10 | Way to go, Maia! | Jennifer Winkler | 04/30/2014 | $10.25 | Congratulations on your birdathon Maia! | Julie Wingate | 04/29/2014 | $41.00 | Great job, Maia! | Stephanie May-Garcia | 04/29/2014 | $15.00 | Maia you ROCK! | Kevin A. Dahl | 04/29/2014 | $82.00 | Donna Branch-GIlby | 04/29/2014 | $10.25 | You've got sharp eyes, Maia! Congratulations on identifying the 41 species. I wonder how many we have in our Milagro neighborhoodd? | Patricia DeWitt | 04/29/2014 | $25.00 | Great job Maia and team. It is wonderful to have you and your family here at Milagro | Patricia DeWitt | 04/29/2014 | $25.00 | Great job Maia and team. It is wonderful to have you and your family here at Milagro | Kenneth Schachter | 04/28/2014 | $30.75 | Congratulations Maia on job very well done! | Linda Breck | 04/28/2014 | $25.00 | Congrats on your successful Birdathon! Joe and Linda | Terina Beckwith Black | 04/28/2014 | $50.00 | Way to go Maia! You are an inspiration. | Jacqueline Day | 04/28/2014 | $41.00 | Way to go Maia despite cold and wind you did an awesome job. Congratulations. | Neil Markowitz | 04/28/2014 | $41.00 | Congratulations Maia! Those were some amazing sightings and some dedicated bird watching. Hope you had a super fun time long the way! Neil M. E3 | Jim Stark | 04/28/2014 | $100.00 | In support of Maia Stark | Julie Moll | 04/27/2014 | $50.00 | Sounds like you had a great day Birding!! During my walk this morning I asked a bird watcher if she what she was watching. She pointed out where a Pileated Woodpecker was building his cavity nest. It was fun to watch for awhile. Some day maybe you can teach me how to identify more birds :) | Robert Breunig | 04/27/2014 | $250.00 | This gift is in fulfillment of a pledge to Maia Stark of 5.00 a bird for 41 birds= $ 205. The remaining $45. is a donation to the Tucson Audubon Society in support of Maia's efforts. | Sandy T. Elers | 04/27/2014 | $300.00 | Eleanor Crosfield | 04/27/2014 | $41.00 | Congratulations! Amazing birdspotting. Ellie | Bryan R. Falcon | 04/27/2014 | $41.00 | Great work Team Gila Woodpeckers! | Philip Berghausen | 04/27/2014 | $11.00 | Congratulations, Maia! Great going! (Really enjoyed meeting you.) | Leo Francis | 04/27/2014 | $50.00 | Way to go Maia/David team!!!! 41's such an odd number. Decided I'd round up. Love to you both, Leo | Sharon Stark | 04/27/2014 | $200.00 | Given in honor of my precious granddaughter Maia Stark.....a true lover of our feathered friends. | Eric Stark | 04/27/2014 | $50.00 | This donation made in honor of our brilliant niece Maia. Congratulations on a successful birding day!! | Bill M. Auberle | 04/27/2014 | $41.00 | Congratulations to the Gila Woodpeckers! It's great to have a goal of 50 species. Please try again in the 2015 Birdathon. | Cathy Mullan | 04/27/2014 | $50.00 | YAY, Maia! 9 more than last year… well done. How fun that you got to work with David this year. WOW, an Elegant Trogon in the count? Great. I am happy to support the Gila Woodpecker Team of Maia Stark and David Bygott, and the very important organization, the Tucson Audubon Society. | John W. Kennedy | 04/14/2014 | $200.00 | Glad to see you are participating again this year, well done! | Martha K. Manthey | 04/02/2014 | $50.00 |
| Total | $2,360.35 | ||