I went to the DelMarVA website for more info on helping the Red Knot. The info on the website was a little skimpy so I emailed the Chair and got this rather immediate response. They are indeed hoping to raise more money in a Bird-A-Thon to purchase more property. Maybe we should have an Ohio Team? They also have a Donate button. Think its a neat way to contribute to something tangible and specfic. Mary, Fairborn Begin forwarded message: > From: Bill Stewart <[log in to unmask]> > Date: February 25, 2008 3:34:19 PM EST > To: Marie Schatz <[log in to unmask]> > Subject: Re: I want to know more about the Bird-A-Thon! > > Hello Marie, > > Thank you so much for your interest in our Bird-A-Thon! We were so > excited to accomplish the purchase last year and we are even more > excited about this year's goal......................60 acres with > two miles of Delaware Bay coast! > > Here's how we accomplished the purchase. We formed an alliance > with The Conservation Fund, America's foremost conservation > organization, responsible for acquiring over 5 million acres of > wildlife habitat in the US. When I approached them with the idea > of helping to fund a purchase, they were in the negotiation phase > of a private property along the Delaware Bay. When I asked if > $15,000.00 would help, their response was "it would make a huge > difference." At that point our partnership was formed, they did > the real estate negotiations and we did the fund raising. The cost > of the property was more than $15,000.00, but our portion > contributed directly to the acquisition. We can now go and stand on > that property and bird until our hearts content............forever, > just like the Red Knot can feed as long as they continue to > migrate. By the way, it was seven acres. > > The properties that we are targeting are privately owned and form a > buffer between Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge and the Delaware > Bay. Some owners are willing to sell instead of develop, once we > close on the properties, all will be donated to PHNWR for eternal > management. Pretty neat. > > If I can answer any other question or if you would like a copy of > this year's brochure, please drop me a line. > > Good Birding, > > Bill Stewart > DOS Conservation Chair > > > ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]