Feather-Spotting for Funds

Who is the best birder? Let’s ask that question again, so it sings. Who is the best birder?

Most days, who really knows. After all, birders often lurk in the shadow of sunrise, doing their spotting and counting among misty riverbanks and gray shorelines. The only sounds are often a lugubrious foghorn, the call of birds, and perhaps the slight turn of the focusing knob on the binoculars.

But this weekend, all this is going to change when bird enthusiasts throughout the state find their pecking order. Welcome to Mass Audubon’s annual Bird-a-thon competition and fundraiser.

Birders leave the nest at 6 p.m. tonight, May 11, and must return by 5:59 p.m. on Saturday, May 12. The competition is now in its fourth decade, and is billed as a friendly contest. But let’s be real, everyone wants to fly to the winner’s circle.

The contest is relatively simple, even a bird-brain could handle it. Go out and spot as many birds as possible in 24 hours, then swoop back with your list.

All chirping, not to mention endless avian references aside, the event is a fundraiser to benefit Mass Audubon and its many wildlife sanctuaries, including the Vineyard’s own, Felix Neck.

To join a team, make a donation, see a list of prizes, or get more information, contact Felix Neck at 508-627-4850, or visit massaudubon.org/birdathon.

To become a Virtual Birder (open to anyone) and compete for the High Flyer prize, create a fundraising page at firstgiving.com/massaudubon. Fellow birders and supporters can also keep up with team members during the event on Twitter by following @MassAudubon, hashtag #birdathon.