2026 Birdathon: George Pond’s Report

Photo, above: Ospreys. Photo by George Pond.

May 16 started out as a beautiful sunny, but cooler than predicted, day. I had intended to meet my team of seven others at 6:30 a.m. but Murphy’s Law took over and I was unable to meet them. A team of five took off at 7:00 a.m. By the time my daughter and son and I met them at the Old Cut Banding lab it was raining cats and dogs and nearly time to join the organized portion of the Birds Canada’s Birdathon festivities.

From 7:15 a.m. this avid group of five birders covered some of the best birding areas in Norfolk, including The St. Williams Forest, various sections of Backus Woods, the Timpf farm, a Bobolink field, the causeway, the Port Rowan Wetlands, the Old Cut banding lab, the headquarters property, Turkey Point beach and several more. And before 2:00 p.m. they had amassed 93 species of birds including 17 species of warblers. There was nothing more for us to add.

As this was the 50^th Anniversary of Birdathon, Birds Canada had planned a barbeque and some special presentations, otherwise, the team would most certainly have exceeded 100 different species of birds. As part of the ceremonies, I was recognized for my efforts over these past 48 or so years with a very handsome trophy. The inscription says:

“A LIFETIME OF OUTSTANDING DEDICATION, BIRDATHON’S TOP FUNDRAISER”

GEORGE POND

BIRDS CANADA

I was certainly touched but when it comes to the money raised through Birdathon every year, it’s the sponsors that year after year donate their hard-earned cash to such an important conservation-type cause that counts. This year is no different as so far my sponsors have raised just under $15,000.

Many of you have been sponsoring me for many of those years and I truly want to say “Thank you.” Whether I have another Birdathon in me I don’t know. At the most it will be something like a big sit. But I’ll certainly be involved as a sponsor as I truly believe in the work of Birds Canada.