Corvus 𓄿

Feminist Bird Club just sent out a message celebrating the bird-a-thon and letting everyone know that they are taking 20% of the proceeds for themselves. That is a massive cut when they are claiming to be organizing a fund for MUTUAL AID DISASTER RELIEF. I have donated to FBC and bought merch from them in the past. I do not oppose them taking donations in general, however when you claim to be organizing a benefit for a disaster relief organization, you don't take 1/5 of the money without making that VERY clear to the participants, not just some fine print.

As a result I am withdrawing my pledge and sending it directly to mutual aid disaster relief. I will also be rethinking money given to FBC in the future. They used an outside company for this fundraiser site so it is not as if they are running a website. They certainly do not require $6,000 to run this fundraiser over a disaster relief organizations use for that money.

I believe organizers and workers should be paid for their work but most of the organizing is done by clubs who pay dues to the larger feminist bird club. I don't know how they're fundraising works and never questioned it until today. This lack of transparency is very disappointing and I hope they will learn from their mistakes.

If you would like to join me in withdrawing your donation and sending it directly to mutual aid disaster relief as we had all expected to be doing, you can donate to them here. It is your choice and I'm cool with whatever you choose to do.
https://mutualaiddisasterrelief.org/donate/

Oops, turns out the bird was a greater yellowlegs, not a SOSA! The bird was so backlit and blurry through my broken camera that I thought half their legs were dirt and couldn't see color or detail until the photos were on the bigger clear screen of my computer.

Here's the trip report for the final day and a heavily obscured rusty blackbird for good measure.

https://ebird.org/tripreport/586269

I was able to beat my goal with two more species today. After sifting through hundreds of red-winged blackbirds, a couple of rusties finally showed up on a shoreline, flipping leaves as they do. I also saw a late solitary sandpiper. I am very glad I participated but also glad it's over as I pushed myself pretty hard and need to lay down for a while. No photo today as today was not a good day for photos.

Day 4 species:

Rusty Blackbird

Solitary Sandpiper

I am glad that yesterday was so successful because today was a bit disappointing at times, though I was able to hit 4 more species and meet the goal of 70!

The eastern screech owl was kind enough to be visible in their little hole for me to count and the red-headed woodpeckers were also still present. They just live in North Park now which is lovely. My personal FOY dark-eyed juncos made an appearance as well as some black-capped chickadees who called and showed themselves enough to differentiate from carolinas.

What was disappointing was that North Park was an onslaught of crowds and traffic noise. I do not blame the birds for not being present. Last birdathon I had success there, but not so this year. Nonetheless, all birds are good birds.

My health struggles really caught up to me today and I started late and left earlier than planned. I am hoping to have the energy to complete the final day tomorrow and maybe beat my goal!

DAY 3: 4 species (27 total)
Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio)

Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

Day 3 trip report: https://ebird.org/tripreport/585790
Full Birdathon Trip Report: https://ebird.org/tripreport/585396

Pictured: a peacefully snoozin eastern screech owl

I just realized that ebird did not count my scaup as a species because it is greater/lesser (flyover and could not be sure which) but I think they count! 66!