Sample Letter: Katryn R

Would you like to go birding?

For years now, many of you have been supporting me in the Columbus Audubon Society’s Birdathon. This year I’d like to show you why I like doing the birdathon so much. Yes, yes, it’s for a cause I believe in, but I probably wouldn’t be doing it if it weren’t so much fun.

So, in the hopes that you, too, will enjoy birding, I am offering a bird walk to my sponsors and their families.

I hope you can join me the morning of Saturday, May 13. I’m still working on the details, but I think it’s going to be at Hoover Reservoir. I’m still working on the time, too – can I really expect to meet you all at 7:30 or 8:00? Or should we wait for everyone to roll out of bed for a 9:00 meeting time? The birds are active early, so I’m tempted to make it early.

I’m hoping we’ll see several different warblers as they migrate through. Also, if we’re lucky, we’ll see a brilliant Scarlet Tanager, or a bright orange and black Baltimore Oriole, or perhaps even a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. You never know just what you’ll see on any one day. Hopefully, everyone will see a bird they’ve never seen before.

Please let me know if you’d like to come, because I plan on having donuts or some other goodies after the bird walk.

If you come, you may want to bring – binoculars if you’ve got them – bird identification book (doesn’t everyone own at least one??) – any family members you think might enjoy this

Oh yes, this is my plea for you to sponsor me again this year. Someone recently donated a wonderful piece of land called Calamus Swamp to the Columbus Audubon Society. Half of the money we raise will go toward building boardwalk at the swamp so people can visit it without sinking up to their knees. The other half will be used for conservation projects in Ohio.

Our birdathon route will be a bit different this year. We plan on starting at Calamus Swamp, perhaps in canoes, and then (in our cars) moving on to other small ponds and fields in the area. We’re not quite sure how it will work out, but we’re hoping to see about 65 different species of birds.

Thanks for your support, I hope you can make it for the bird walk.

Katryn