This is your opportunity to help young birders!

As our ABA/Leica Tropicbirds teams take to the fields for two of birding's stellar big day events, you have the chance to cheer them on and help them with their goals of seeing more bird species in 24 hours than any of the other competing teams, while at the same time raising money for the American Birding Association's education programs. In 2008 two teams, comprised of enthusiastic young birders, will once again represent the ABA, with a generous sponsorship from Leica Sport Optics, at the Great Texas Birding Classic and the New Jersey Audubon, World Series of Birding. They are aiming to see between 180-200 species at these bird-a-thons.

What will your donations support?
The money you pledge will be used to develop and support the ABA's education activities. Donating to the education program provides scholarships for young birders to attend birding camps and events, helps finance young birder and young adult birder conferences, subsidizes student memberships, helps with development of new programs, and gives us educational outreach funding. In addition, the Institute for Field Ornithology is part of our education program with many workshops offered on various bird species, birding ecology, and related subjects across the Americas. Please peruse our education pages to see the evidence of your support.

How can you contribute?
Simply complete your pledge card mailer, the insert in Birding magazine, download our pledge form and mail it to the address below, or pledge online to donate an amount per species seen in one or both of the Tropicbirds events. You can also opt to make a fixed amount donation if you prefer. When the events are completed, we will send you the results of the teams' big days and bill you for the amount that you promised. Get behind our teams and track their progress on the Tropicbirds progress website which will be updated regularly!

Thanks to our sponsor!
Leica Sport Optics' commitment to education and young birders is evident here at the ABA! Without their generous support it would be nearly impossible for us to send our youth teams to these events. Leica subsidizes the costs of the teams while they are at the events including their rooms, meals, transportation during the event, and the entry fees. In addition, they are covering the expenses of our wonderful team leaders, Michael O'Brien and Louise Zemaitis. This support means that all of your pledge dollars will go to the ABA to support our education programs. Thank you Leica!

Thank you to our 2007 contributors!   View List
The 2007 Tropicbirds teams raised over $13,000 through their outstanding birding efforts and your generosity. It was fantastic having you all pulling for your teams and helping these young birders achieve their goals!

ABA/Leica Tropicbirds, American Birding Association, 4945 N. 30th Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80919.