Join our 2026 Birdathon, build your team, and help us raise $20K to protect one of the most important tern colonies in the world based in the Long Island Sound.
© Melinda Billings
ABOUT THE GREAT GULL ISLAND PROJECT
The Linnaean Society has supported Great Gull Island’s critical tern conservation work since the 1960s. Because of that investment, this tiny island in the Long Island Sound now hosts the Western Hemisphere’s largest nesting colonies of Common Terns and Roseate Terns. Learn More Here
This year’s Birdathon is particularly important because Helen Hays, the visionary and lifelong leader of Great Gull Island, has passed. This year, we are birding in honor of Helen and her love for the habitat and ecosystem of the terns.
ABOUT THE BIRDATHON
To ensure the continued success of this work, the Linnaean Society hosts a yearly Birdathon fundraiser. Birders will form a team or bird solo while identifying as many species as possible over 48 hours. It’s the perfect way to enjoy spring birding while making a difference for critically endangered birds. Teams and individuals will compete for the honor of being awarded:
- The team with the highest amount of funds raised
- The individual with the highest amount of funds raised
- The team or individual who has the most species on their list
- The youngest birder
- The team or person with the best name
- The person with the best event photos
HOW TO PARTICIPATE AS A FUNDRAISER
STEP ONE: SIGN UP AND DOWNLOAD FORMS (NOW)
- Create a team or decide to bird solo.
- Each participant will then sign up using this form.
STEP TWO: FIND SPONSORS
- Ask your friends, family, colleagues, and fellow birders to pledge their sponsorship.
- You can sign them up yourself, or send your sponsors to this online registration form. Either way, we want to track the promised donations for each team.
- Let your sponsors know their contribution is tax-deductible if they pay the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) by check using the instructions below. Alternatively, our sponsors can pay you directly, and you will send the money to the AMNH as outlined below.
STEP THREE: BIRD YOUR HEART OUT (MAY 2nd TO 3rd)
- All species counts follow the birding honor system.
- At least two team members must be present for a species to count in your total.
- The team leader will be invited to an eBird Trip Report, where they can list their species over the weekend.
STEP FOUR: COLLECT DONATIONS (MAY 4th to June 15th)
- Share your species totals with your sponsors and tell them their donation total based on their pledge. Please read how to donate below. You can share this with your sponsors.
- Also share your expected totals with the Birdathon management team.
- Share any photos you captured over the weekend – of birds OR birders!!
HOW TO SPONSOR OR DONATE
You can sponsor an individual or a team participating in the Birdathon. Please add your information to this Donor Sponsor form. You are welcome to make a per-bird pledge or donate a flat rate for the event.
All donations must be received by June 15th, 2026.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Once the Birdathon is complete, you have two payment options.
OPTION 1: Give your donation directly to the person you are sponsoring, and they will submit the funds to the AMNH on your behalf. This can be a check, cash, or other form of payment.
OPTION 2: Send a check directly to the address below.
If you provide a check, it must be made out to “Great Gull Island Project – AMNH.” To receive a tax donation form from the AMNH, you must pay via a check and include your full name and address.
Make the check payable to the “Great Gull Island Project – AMNH”
Mail it to the following address, or give it to the person you are sponsoring, and they will mail it for you.
Great Gull Island Project
Ornithology – AMNH
200 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024
FAQs
Do I have to bird for 48 hours? – No. You can bird as much, or as little, over the 48 hour period.
Do I have to bird in NYC? – No. You can bird anywhere you like.
Do I have to pledge a per-bird amount? No. Although this is the most fun way to participate, you may also donate a flat rate for the fundraiser.
Who can participate? – Anyone! The goal is to raise money for the conservation of Great Gull Island. Anyone who follows the birdathon guidelines is welcome to participate.
Who benefits from the birdathon? – All funds raised go to support the conservation efforts of Great Gull Island, while the Linnaean Society organizes the birdathon this not a fundraiser for LSNY nor AMNH. We invite collaboration with other like minded organizations.
Is the donation tax-deductible? – Yes. Anyone who mails their donation directly to the AMNH, as outlined above, will receive a tax receipt.
How do I collect pledges? – Any way you want. Just ask people to donate, and then when you collect the donations, you can give them the address to send their personal check, or you can collect the money and send a check to the AMNH yourself.
Can I set up a GoFundMe or other online donation platform? – Sure, if you want to collect the donations using a digital donation platform, that’s your call. However, you will still have to mail a check to the AMNH with the total amount you have collected.
What if I missed the donation payment deadline? Although we will only count donations received as of June 15th, 2026, for the awards, you can still send your check. Great Gull Island can always use more donations.
THANK YOU!
We offer our sincerest thanks to all who participate, either as a promoter, birder or sponsor! The terns and the hard-working team at Great Gull Island also thank you.
