A big thank you to all participants of the 2026 Fly Wild! Bird-a-thon – together we raised $6,863 for conservation and education.

Winner for most species

• Team “PEEP-LE” Sanjay Velagapudi and Roland Bendever notched a fairly astounding 99 species!  Each received a Vortex Crossfire CF-65 scope
• Giving them a run for the money was “Gannet Be Done” Tanish Anche and Sue Guarasci with 95 species.
• and “Bin Chickens” Sophia Haakman and Zachary Matthews with 91 species.

All three of these “teen-teams” deserve commendation — including Sue G who’s not a teen.

Winner for Best Team Name is “No Egrets” (No Regrets?) Erin Smith and Cassidy Russell they will share an REI gift bag worth over $200

Winner for Most Money Raised is “Birds Actually” Anne Brooks and Barb Males with $1,830 they each received a Haikubox bird audio home recorder.

Thank you to all of our Birding Teams!!!

Join Sarasota Audubon for the Fly Wild Bird-a-thon!

Donate to a team in the Fly Wild Bird-a-thon!

Teams of two will spend a day birding anywhere in Sarasota County, anytime during the week of February 13, 2026, spotting as many species as they can — all while raising funds to support conservation, education, and exploration at Fly Wild.

Dates & Timing

• Choose any 24-hour period between Friday, February 13 and Thursday, February 19.
• You do not need to bird for the full 24 hours — you just need to complete your birding within your chosen 24-hour window.
• All birding must be completed by Friday, February 20 at 12:00 a.m.

Teams

• Each team consists of two people.
• You must bird together for the duration of your count period.
• If you don’t have a partner, we’ll help find you one.
• Open to all ages and skill levels — everyone is welcome! All birding must take place within Sarasota County.

Tracking Your Birds

• All sightings must be recorded on eBird.
• Only birds seen or heard during your selected 24-hour window count. Submit your final eBird list by the end of your count period.
• Before you start Create an eBird Trip Report using the following format:

[Team name] Fly Wild Birdathon 2026

• Practice ethical birding — respect wildlife, property boundaries, and other birders.

Pledges & Donations

• Each team will have a pledge page through 99 Pledges. The link will be sent to you after registration. Supporters can give:
  • A flat donation, or
  • A per-species donation (e.g., $2 per bird species observed).
• All proceeds support Sarasota Audubon’s conservation and education programs.
• Donations are tax-deductible.

Prizes & Recognition

Prizes and bragging rights will be awarded at the Fly Wild event! Categories may include, but are not limited to:

• Most species identified
• Most funds raised
• Best Team name
• Young Birder Award (if applicable)

Tips for Success

• Plan your birding route — from shore to scrub!
• Bring essentials: binoculars, field guide, sunscreen, snacks, and water. Choose a variety of habitats to maximize your list.
• Share your adventure online using #FlyWildBirdathon.

Registration

• Register your team online at THIS LINK
• After registering, you’ll receive: A 99 pledges pledge setup link via email
• eBird instructions and checklist templates

Official Rules

• Team members must be within earshot of each other while birding
• All birds must be seen or heard by both team members
• No recording playbacks
• No baiting birds with food outside of bird feeders
• All teams must follow the Birding Code of Ethics as set forth by the American Birding Association (ABA)
• Birds must be wild, alive, and unrestrained.
• All birds must be seen within Sarasota County, Florida
• All birds must be seen within a contiguous 24-hour period, which can span between two different calendar days (ex. starting on the evening of Feb 14th and continuing until the evening of Feb 15th)
• Birds can be recorded by sight or sound. Birds heard by Merlin app only (not by team independently) are not countable.
• All birds must be listed as either native, naturalized, or provisional on eBird. Rare birds (as flagged by eBird) must be capable of passing muster with the eBird reviewer to count

REGISTER HERE