Oxbow Inc. – Birdathon 2026

Friday, May 1st and Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 – 5:00pm – It’s that time of the year again – BIRDATHON! This year is the 40th Annual Oxbow Birdathon event, and once again, Oxbow, Inc. is incredibly excited to invite local birders to participate in the fun and fundraising. The Annual Oxbow Birdathon is a fundraising competition where birders are encouraged to identify and count as many species of birds as possible while securing donations and pledges to support Oxbow, Inc. Birdathon occurs over a 24-hour period. Want to participate? Here’s how to help:

• Complete a 2026 Oxbow, Inc. Birdathon Participant Registration Form. You may register as a team or as an individual participant. Email oxbow1@oxbowinc.org for a Participant Registration Form.
• Mail your completed registration form with payment to P. O. Box 4172, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025. Checks must be made payable to Oxbow, Inc.
• Birdathon participants are encouraged to collect pledges and donations for finding and counting species. Before the event, ask friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers to support you in your fundraising goal during the 24-hour Birdathon!
• Not a birder, but still want to help? You can pledge to sponsor an individual or team! Pledges can be made based on the number of species seen (for example, pledge $1 for every species) or can be a flat amount for the event.
• Birders are also invited to attend the Birdathon Tally Party at 5:00pm on May 2nd. Join us for cold drinks, pizza and snacks before the Grand Tally begins and the combined bird sightings are revealed. The Tally Party will occur at Fernald Preserve Visitors Center. The Fernald Preserve is located at 7400 Willey Road, Hamilton, OH 45013. There is ample parking, and it is centrally located to many of the best birding sites (including Fernald itself) on the west side.

All pledges and donations help further the mission of Oxbow, Inc. to protect and improve the floodplain at the confluence of the Great Miami and Ohio Rivers. Donors should make checks payable to Oxbow, Inc. or donate online at https://oxbow-inc.square.site/. The registration fee is $10.00 per person. This fee covers the cost of pizza, snacks, drinks and other goodies at the Tally Party. Help us celebrate the Oxbow, its birds, and conservation with our birding community by participating in the 40th Annual Birdathon! Contact us with any questions at oxbow1@oxbowinc.org or call (812)290-2941.