What’s a BRRRRRdathon?
You’ve heard of a birdathon, right? A friendly competition of birding teams that take to the field, counting as many bird species as possible, and raising money for a worthy cause. But what is a Brrrrdathon?
Well, if the competition is held in the Hinterlands in the dead of winter, it’s a Brrrrdathon! The one I’m talking about is taking place on January 11-12, 2013 in one of the coldest spots in the U.S.: northwest Wisconsin and northern Minnesota. And Eagle Optics is all over that!
The Brrrrdathon is being held by Friends of Sax-Zim Bog. Eagle Optics is sponsoring a team of intrepid birders for this competition, which will raise money for Sax-Zim Bog, one of the important boreal habitats in the Upper Midwest. Our team, tagged the Eagle Optics Badger Irruption, headed by David La Puma, is already strategizing (which includes buying additional long underwear), scouting and planning a route, and has set a goal of finding more than 45 species! Spurred on by your donations, all competing teams in the Brrrrdathon aim to raise funds for a new welcome center at Sax-Zim Bog.
You might be thinking, “How many teams would bird in these frigid conditions?” And the answer is: PLENTY! The competition will be stiff (read: frozen stiff). Our team needs your help! Please consider making a donation here. The Eagle Optics Badger Irruption team will be reporting from the field beginning January 6 (a week early! I told you these guys are crazy, er, dedicated). But wait, did I say before that this is a FRIENDLY competition? Umm, well, a little frostbite and a lot of coffee can affect the attitude!
You can donate a lump sum or per species sighted. The link to donate online is here.
It’s all for a great cause, folks. And while the teams are out there, you can be reading a book by the fireplace. Maybe checking your feeders through that thick, double-paned window. This is an excellent time to let your money and the Eagle Optics Badger Irruption team do the work.
Come on, support Sax-Zim Bog and the 2013 Brrrrdathon!
Originally published on December 23, 2012