The 2025 Birdathon, held from September 15 to October 31, has officially wrapped up—and what a success it was! Western Field Ornithologists (WFO) set an ambitious fundraising goal of $30,000 for student programs—and thanks to the incredible energy and generosity of our community, we surpassed it by over $13,000!
It’s not too late to donate – visit the Birdathon website to make a donation.
Backyard birders, ornithologists, and WFO Board members and staff participated across the western U.S. and Canada and turned their passion for birds into powerful support for the next generation while logging an impressive . Teams with fun and creative names shared their journeys with friends, families, and supporters, with “The Quackpots” voted the most creative team name of all! A great addition this year was the custom t-shirt to support the Birdathon, designed by WFO Board Member Isabelle Busch, whose team, the Colorado Critter Chasers, drew the sponsorship of Rockjumper with $500 plus $2 per species!
Because of this milestone fundraising achievement, WFO will not only continue funding student scholarships and research grants but will also provide travel stipends for early-career professionals and graduate students to attend future conferences. These opportunities are vital for fostering mentorship, collaboration, and career growth in the next generation of birders and ornithologists.
To all who donated, joined a team, logged birds, or spread the word—thank you. Your enthusiasm and generosity made this Birdathon our most successful yet!
November 2025 | Maci MacPherson, Administrator