For the love of muck.
Birders with a passion for feathered sightings and the Montezuma Wetlands Complex will have the opportunity to add competition to the mix at the 11th annual Muckrace Saturday and Sunday.
The Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex and New York Audubon Society hope to top last year's $10,000 total with this year's registration fees and fundraising.
“The thinking behind it was to come up with a way for birders who come to the Complex all the time to make money for conservation efforts,” said organizer Jillian Liner, director of bird conservation for Audubon New York.
Past proceeds have gone to bird monitoring studies and other conservation projects like habitat maintenance or creation.
Often times the funds can be used as a match for larger projects.
“Last year it raised the most money, $10,000 that went towards the study of the cerulean warbler,” Liner said. “This year the money will go toward a project in the new Audubon Center.”
Supporters hope to install an electronic kiosk that will feature information on the numerous bird species that inhabit or pass through the 34,000-acre Montezuma Wetlands Complex, which touches Seneca, Wayne and Cayuga counties.
The winning 2006 team spotted a record 146 different species during the 24-hour treasure hunt-style Muckrace, illustrating the benefit of such an information center.
“You would be able to pull out what's been seen recently and where it's been seen,” Liner said.
Teams will be divided into adult competitive and recreation categories. Youth are invited to compete as well.
Competitors can drive, hike or bike around the entire complex, which include the Audubon Center, which opened in May, and the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge. Many participants scout out the vast preserve ahead of time, aiming for an advantage.
In addition to its fundraising goal, the Muckrace also differs from many other races because of the season. Many competitions take place in spring, when birds are in breeding mode.
The Muckrace offers a greater variety of species following various migration patterns, making the competition as enjoyable as it is difficult, Liner said.
“When it's during migration like it is now, it can be very challenging,” she said. “You never know what you're going to see.”
Both the number of species spotted and competitors who seek them have grown in the decade-long history of the race.
“I think when it started there were six or seven teams, this year we have 19,” said Liner, who expects more than 90 bird-watchers to show up Saturday evening.
Teams can register up to the start of competition, which begins at 8 p.m. and wraps up on Sunday night.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
If you go
What: Annual Montezuma Muckrace
Where: Montezuma Audubon Center, 2295 Route 89, Savannah
When: 8 p.m. Saturday to 8 p.m. Sunday
Cost: $100 for a competitive adult team, $50 for adult recreation and youth teams
For details: Visit www.friendsofmontezuma.org/muck_race.html
The Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex and New York Audubon Society hope to top last year's $10,000 total with this year's registration fees and fundraising.
“The thinking behind it was to come up with a way for birders who come to the Complex all the time to make money for conservation efforts,” said organizer Jillian Liner, director of bird conservation for Audubon New York.
Past proceeds have gone to bird monitoring studies and other conservation projects like habitat maintenance or creation.
Often times the funds can be used as a match for larger projects.
“Last year it raised the most money, $10,000 that went towards the study of the cerulean warbler,” Liner said. “This year the money will go toward a project in the new Audubon Center.”
Supporters hope to install an electronic kiosk that will feature information on the numerous bird species that inhabit or pass through the 34,000-acre Montezuma Wetlands Complex, which touches Seneca, Wayne and Cayuga counties.
The winning 2006 team spotted a record 146 different species during the 24-hour treasure hunt-style Muckrace, illustrating the benefit of such an information center.
“You would be able to pull out what's been seen recently and where it's been seen,” Liner said.
Teams will be divided into adult competitive and recreation categories. Youth are invited to compete as well.
Competitors can drive, hike or bike around the entire complex, which include the Audubon Center, which opened in May, and the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge. Many participants scout out the vast preserve ahead of time, aiming for an advantage.
In addition to its fundraising goal, the Muckrace also differs from many other races because of the season. Many competitions take place in spring, when birds are in breeding mode.
The Muckrace offers a greater variety of species following various migration patterns, making the competition as enjoyable as it is difficult, Liner said.
“When it's during migration like it is now, it can be very challenging,” she said. “You never know what you're going to see.”
Both the number of species spotted and competitors who seek them have grown in the decade-long history of the race.
“I think when it started there were six or seven teams, this year we have 19,” said Liner, who expects more than 90 bird-watchers to show up Saturday evening.
Teams can register up to the start of competition, which begins at 8 p.m. and wraps up on Sunday night.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
If you go
What: Annual Montezuma Muckrace
Where: Montezuma Audubon Center, 2295 Route 89, Savannah
When: 8 p.m. Saturday to 8 p.m. Sunday
Cost: $100 for a competitive adult team, $50 for adult recreation and youth teams
For details: Visit www.friendsofmontezuma.org/muck_race.html
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