Migration Magic 2026

Because birds are wonderful, and we want to help as many people as possible experience and enjoy them during the busiest month of spring migration. And because as wonderful as they are, Connecticut’s birds need help. The populations of many kinds of birds are declining, and the species that are doing well need continual protection. Migration Magic is also a fundraiser — a fun way for you to support bird conservation in Connecticut.

This year’s Birdathon fundraising goal is $50,000 for conservation in Connecticut.

The Birdathon is like a walkathon in which participants request support from family and friends to reach a fundraising goal. Supporters can pledge per bird species seen/heard (like a walk-a-thon pledge per mile) or make a flat donation. In previous years, the Birdathon was a weekend-long event which tended to limit the number of people who could participate. Since 2024, the Birdathon goes on for the entire month of May.

Birdathon How-To & Rules

You can participate for as many days as you want in the month of May. Of course, your chances of seeing and hearing more species will rise the more times you head into the field over the course of the month, and the more kinds of habitats you visit. Only birds seen and/or heard in Connecticut and the small portion of Deer Pond Farm in New York will count towards your Birdathon numbers.

A participant sets a goal of how many species they think they might observe, and a supporter makes a pledge per their observed goal.

Yes! The Birdathon is also a friendly competition to see or hear as many species of birds as possible in the state of Connecticut.

Grand Prize: If you identify 50 or more species in May via the eBird trip report, and also raise or contribute $50 or more, you’ll be entered in a random drawing for this year’s grand prize. Your $10 Birdathon entry fee will be counted toward the $50.

Yes! Migration Magic and the Birdathon are designed for all skill levels. Many of the bird walks offered at Connecticut Audubon sanctuaries are specifically for beginners. All levels of birders are encouraged to take part in any of the walks. The walk leaders are trained to help you see and hear as many birds as possible, and to do so in a way that is welcoming and inclusive.

Schedule of Bird Walks & Other Programs

The same is true for the Birdathon itself. All ages and skill levels are invited to participate. The entry fee is an affordable $10. And bird walks are an ideal way to add to your Birdathon list. (Please note that registrations for the Birdathon and bird walks are separate from one another).

You can also participate with a group of friends or family, although all Birdathon participants must submit individual eBird checklists.

No. Connecticut Audubon bird walks and other programs are open to everyone. Many are free and some may require a small program fee; space is limited and almost all require registration. 

See the Birdathon How-To and Rules to learn about eBird submission.

Yes! You can go right to our main page and hit donate. Or send a check made out to “The Connecticut Audubon Society” to:

Connecticut Audubon Society
314 Unquowa Rd
Fairfield, CT 06824

And please tell us if your gift has a specific designation that you would like for it to go to.

Please click here to have a password reset emailed to you.

When you participate and make a Birdathon pledge, your contribution will help support:

• Conservation work at our sanctuaries, including those at our centers in Fairfield, Pomfret, Hampton, and Sherman, at Milford Point, and at the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center in Old Lyme.
• Conservation education, including our award-winning Science in Nature outdoor education program.
• Citizen science projects including Osprey Nation, which has tracked the nesting success of the state’s Ospreys since 2014.
• The Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, a partnership to protect vulnerable Piping Plovers, American Oystercatchers, and other species.
• Shrubland habitat restoration that provides nesting areas for species whose populations have fallen dramatically because of habitat loss, including Blue-winged Warblers, Indigo Buntings, Eastern Towhees, and others at:
  • Smith Richardson Preserve in Westport
  • Bafflin Preserve in Pomfret
  • Chaney Preserve in Montville
• Monitoring at the Coastal Center at Milford Point, to ensure the protection of birds at this busy coastal area.
• Connecticut Audubon’s involvement in the Connecticut Bird Atlas, the biggest and most important bird research project ever in Connecticut.

Please email migrationmagic@ctaudubon.org