In its ongoing effort to support habitat preservation and protection for the state’s native and migratory bird populations, Delaware Audubon Society has contributed $1,000 towards the Delaware Ornithological Society’s annual Bird-A-Thon. The Bird-A-Thon, which ran May 3 - 11, 2025, is in its 18th year. In that time, DOS has raised over $800,000 for conservation and helped preserve 2,768 acres of bird-sensitive habitat. Funds from the Bird-A-Thon also go towards DOS’s Conservation Science Grants program. The Bird-A-Thon is a way for birders to directly raise funds for DOS. Participants in the Bird-a-Thon try to see how many birds they can find in a 24-hour period and how much money they can raise by signing up sponsors to support them. Sponsors can pledge either a set sum of money or an amount of money per bird species seen or heard.

For the use of its 2025 Bird-A-Thon fundraising, DOS has partnered with Delware Wild Lands, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and preservation of natural areas through the acquisition and management of strategic parcels of land. Delaware Wild Lands is acquiring coastal property at Milford Neck. According to the DOS website, “The parcel, located at Bennett’s Pier beach, includes 43.6 acres of tidal marsh and beach habitat, and will preserve 1,500 linear feet of shoreline. It is one of the last unprotected parcels of the Milford Neck coastline and its protection will facilitate restoration of tidal hydrology in the surrounding marshes. The marshes here are some of the best in Delaware for high priority salt marsh specialists including Saltmarsh Sparrows and Black, Yellow, and Clapper Rails. Protecting the beach will benefit Horseshoe Crabs, Piping Plovers, Red Knots and other migratory shorebirds.”

It is not uncommon for local, like-minded organizations to partner on fundraising and conservation efforts. The Delaware Audubon Society is pleased to be able to make a sizeable donation to this year’s Bird-A-Thon.