The Annual Birdathon

(Script by Francie Von Mertens)

Bird watching isn't always a leisurely stroll through the countryside. Sometimes it's a high-adrenaline race to find more species than anyone else in a limited period of time.

The most heated competition occurs each May at the height of bird migration. This is when teams compete in a 24-hour birding marathon, called – of course – a birdathon. The most competitive teams typically start out in the dark at Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge up in Whitefield.

Hearing as well as seeing a bird counts, and ears are alert for owls and other nocturnal birds, as well as species found only in northern New Hampshire. Then it's off to the Seacoast by way of Pawtuckaway State Park in Nottingham, and some other strategic stops to look for forest and grassland birds. The day ends as it started, in the dark, listening for just one more species, exchanging one more excited high-five.

Birdathons are designed to encourage novices, too, with an award for the most species seen for the first time. Some teams, instead of racing about the state, limit their search to a local Audubon wildlife sanctuary. There's also a trend away from travel by car to human-powered: by bike, for the most part. The human-powered, however, can be just as competitive as the motorized.

Participants gather the next day at Audubon headquarters in Concord. Totals are exchanged over pizza – along with some friendly “trash talk” that goes with any sporting event. We also talk about the day's highlights. Often it's not the birds, but the pleasure of seeing a new day dawn, witnessing the sights and sounds of the wild world.