Biking For Birds:
Hello my name is C.K. Borg and as part of Earth Day 2008 I will attempt a big day birding challenge by bicycle. The aim is to successfully identify as many bird species within a twenty four hour period without using fossil fuels. My inspiration is friend and “Bird Year” cyclist Malkolm Boothroyd ( My big day will take place at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge during the height of spring bird migration (April 19 or 20, 2008; weather pending). Located along Florida’s GulfCoast, St. Mark’s is a critically important migratory bird refuge boasting well over 250 species. Realistically, I will likely encounter half that many species (with as many as 130 reasonably possible). For each bird species I successfully identify during this twenty four hour period I will donate a dollar to wildlife conservation. Equally important is myultimate goal of raising awareness about migratory birds in my local community of Tallahassee, Florida and throughout the GulfCoast. I would like to challenge youto match or better my contribution to the conservation organization of your choice (see suggestions below). Drop me an email at to make a pledge. Please join me in supporting wildlife conservation and Malkolm’s Bird Year this Earth Day!
Background:
Twenty years ago Borg was introduced to the world of birding and the field of wildlife conservation at UnityCollege in Maine. Since then he has embarked on a career path that has taken him from the Dry Tortugas to the ChiricahuaMountains and many points in between. Currently he is the Conservation Biologist at a nationally recognized land conservancy located in North Florida. Fueled by a strong land ethic and passion for field ornithology, he has been directly involved in conserving more than 23,000 acres of important wildlife habitats in the Southeast. He will be birding in support of the following organizations (listed alphabetically):
American Bird Conservancy (
ABC is the only U.S. based group with a primary focus on bird habitat conservation throughout the Americas. ABC acts across the full spectrum of issues to safeguard the rarest bird species, restore habitats, and reduce threats.
GulfCoast Bird Observatory (
Centered inTexas, GCBO isdedicated to migratory birdresearch, environmental education, andland acquisition along theentire GulfCoast. Their mission is to be a catalyst for bird conservation through individual and community partnerships.
Tall Timbers Research Station (
Celebrating 50 years of wildlife stewardship in 2008, Tall Timbersmission is to foster exemplary land stewardship through research, land conservation and education.
UnityCollege (
Located in Maine and known as America’s environmental College, Unity’s curriculum emphasizesthe Liberal Arts and Environmental Sciences. The school has been actively working towards lowering its CO2 emissions and now has onethe lowestper capita emissionsamong U.S. Colleges and Universities.