San Diego Bird Alliance's 2026 Birdathon coming up in April

Counting Birds for Conservation

 

 We're excited to take part in the San Diego Birdathon again this year, a birding challenge supporting San Diego Bird Alliance’s local conservation, education, and advocacy efforts that benefit birds, other wildlife, and all who enjoy them.

Here are some quick points:

Similar to a walkathon where you count steps and raise money, the Birdathon is an opportunity to raise funds for the Alliance as teams count bird species. And don't worry, you don't need to be experienced at all to take part in the fun!

Each team's counting must take place in a 24 hour period between 10 April and 10 May, 2026. All counts and funds raised must be in by 31 May.

We have registered Team Wild Birds Unlimited and will be doing our counts between 11AM on Saturday, April 11 and 11AM on Sunday, April 12 at multiple locations.

We are hoping to raise over $3,000 in donations and observe at least 90 bird species.

We're going to start at the WBU shop in Scripps Ranch on 11 April at 11AM just to see what we can find around the hillside behind the shop before we set off.

Then we're planning to visit:

11 April: Robb Field at 12pm (click here for details)

11 April: Steele Canyon Trail at 4pm (click here for details)

(Note our original plan to go to Tecolote Canyon is canceled due to ongoing construction)

12 April: Santee Lakes at 7am (click here for details)

We'll then head back to the WBU shop, maybe stopping along the way to see if we can squeeze in one or two more sightings.

We think these locations will provide a great mix of coastal, freshwater, and inland habitats and give us our best chance at achieving our goal of 90 species. Stop by one of the locations for as little or as much time as you like. You don't need to register or RSVP and don't need to know anything about birding, just show up and have fun!

If you do choose to register or make a donation you can do so on our team page here. We'll share more specific details on where and when exactly we'll meet as the time gets closer.

One note: when you sign up, the form asks for your fundraising and species goals which are up to you personally, not for the team totals. You can leave the optional vanity URL and Additional Information fields blank if you wish.

When you donate, please be sure to select "Give credit to a fundraiser or team" and pick "Wild Birds Unlimited." You can leave a flat donation to our team or make a pledge per species when donating to a team member (both are tax-deductible). Every dollar counts for our feathered friends!

We're so grateful for your support and hope we can raise a lot of money for the Bird Alliance. You can find more information about the Bird Alliance, their mission, and the Birdathon here at their website.