By Trish Gergich, Manager of Leadership Giving
Ricky Dunn says she “only really learned to identify birds because of Birdathon.” It’s an activity that has reinforced a love of nature, and brought her family together for decades. “It is a great educational tool for birding. It is fun with your kids, and for us, it is a beloved tradition.”
Ricky Dunn and her family have a long history with Birds Canada. Her husband, David Hussell was an integral part of the crew that started the Long Point Bird Observatory in 1960 (which later evolved to become Birds Canada). Ricky came into the scene a decade later, in 1976, when together, they established the “Ballie Birdathon” as the fledgling organization’s primary source of funds.
Ricky recalls the early days of Birdathon as a whirlwind of activity, leavened by happy memories of birding with friends and, in due course, Ricky and David’s two sons. When the boys were young, a full day Birdathon was a big ask. At first, they took the boys out for smaller birding adventures – with lots of snacks, and detours. “One time” Ricky laughs, “we spent a while clambering in a big sand pile.”
Their son Jeremy, recalls those early days birding—at nearly three years old he counted 12 species, including “duck, goose, and seagull.” His species totals went up slowly, and identifications improved.
Peter
“At nine years old, I joined my parents on the official Birdathon day and got 52 species.” Younger brother Peter joined the group soon after. By the time they were teenagers, they regularly detected over 100 species, and soon began helping their parents overcome their aging eyes and ears.
Ricky fondly remembers the reports the boys wrote to their sponsors—mainly family members during the early days. The one written by Peter and Jeremy to their grandparents (below) show their excitement as budding birders and fundraisers.
Birdathon was a key financial support during early days of the organization. You can see from the letter saved by Ricky (below), donors were encouraged to give based on how many bird species were identified by sight or sound. For example, they might pledge 10 cents per species detected, although the occasional sponsor would spring for a $1.00 each.
Ricky says she is happy to see Birdathon continuing. “This year, Jeremy will be doing his 46th successive Birdathon, and nearly all have been done with family. It’s also an educational opportunity for the people who sponsor you, as many are amazed to learn how many species are all around us, even in the largest cities.”
When Birdathon started, Ricky said, “it wasn’t always cool to be a birder. I know someone who would hide his binoculars in his lunchbox so he wouldn’t get teased at school.” That has all changed now, with an amazing growth in the general public’s interest in birding, attracting people from diverse backgrounds and age groups. No need to hide those binoculars any longer!
We are thankful that Ricky, David, Jeremy, and Peter turned their family day of birding into such an inspirational event.
Jeremy and David
In its first year, 45 people raised $3,734 for Long Point Bird Observatory. Today, more than 3,000 people, including the Hussell-Dunn family, have raised nearly $7.5 million total, transforming a local event into a national bird conservation movement and funding projects that protect birds from coast to coast, to coast.
There is still time to join! Sign-up for Birdathon today at birdscanada.org/Birdathon
