Late again this year, we (Eng-Li and Paul) did our BIRDATHON in a rush as we woke to snow in northern New Mexico on April 27 and began our 24 hours of birding which ended at around 9am the following morning in Tucson, Arizona. This year we had only a short window of birding at Bosque del Apache in falling light as we headed south on New Mexico's Highway 1, not venturing in to the ponds, and so missing all the ducks of last year.

Why the delay and diminished birding? Well, it was down to the purlins. If you know roofing, those are the longitudal timbers that add strength to the common rafters. Constructing a composting hacienda for a composting loo is one of several sustainable living projects at our offgrid homestead, and we finally got the roof up on the hacienda with help from visiting family on a flying visit. However, clean up from this and other projects (including flood repair and mitigation) meant a late start.

And no, we didn't see a Merlin, but it does rhyme with purlin and captures the desperate mad dash pace of our Birdathon. We're asking just a few of our friends just one time to make a donation right now to help reach our goal of $2000 to support the work of Tucson Audubon on behalf of birds and their habitats in Southeast Arizona. Will you please be one of our supporting friends? Thank you!

We thought hard last year about why we do Birdathon and what we wrote still holds true: Birdathon for us is about the shape of the future. More than ever, we believe in the importance of sharing transformational experiences that lead people to see afresh the wonder and beauty of the natural world, that help them grasp the connectedness and complexity of life, and that move them to become good stewards of the systems that make life possible. 

Sharing the joy of birding, personally and through our work with Tucson Audubon, is one way we seek to get people engaged in the natural world, and ultimately to safeguard a future for our birds and for all of us. Whether it's $10, $25 or $250, we appreciate all your help with our fundraising efforts for Tucson Audubon's work to ensure the future of Arizona's special birds

Read the Purlin Merlins' birdathon report, including the full bird list.

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!