The World Series of Birding will be held on Saturday, May 9.  I have participated in this event every year since 1998, usually with a Level 1 team competing in the Cape May County category.  Twice I’ve been on winning teams.

    This year I’ll be doing things a little differently.  I’m going to head out by myself in the Level 2 (non-competing) category, just seeing how many birds I can find in a single day.  I’m limiting my travel to places I can reach by foot or bicycle from our home in West Cape May.  No driving for me all day, no burning of fossil fuels, no greenhouse gas emissions (other than the carbon dioxide I’ll be exhaling).  Fortunately I live in a good area for birds and spring migration is underway.

    I’m hoping to find at least 100 species of birds by sight or by sound in my neighborhood between midnight and sunset on May 9.  Think I can do it?  Check this site after the event for the results.

    While the World Series of Birding has always been a friendly but heated competition, the real purpose of the event is fundraising.  I’d hope you’ll be convinced to make a charitable contribution in support of my efforts.  Usually I ask for contributions to conservation organizations with whom I work, such as the Audubon Naturalist Society or the New Jersey Audubon Society.  I’ll welcome contributions to either of these excellent groups or to any other organization of your choosing, but this year I have a special request: please consider contributing to the Eli Sturman Fund.

    Eli Sturman  is the four year-old son of David Sturman, one of my closest friends for the 36 years since we first met.  Eli was severely burned in a fire on his family’s Montana farm on March 15 of this year.  He has been under intensive care at the burn unit of Harborview Medical Center in Seattle since then, enduring many surgeries, skin grafts, and other treatments that remarkably have kept him alive, and he’s now on the very slow road to recovery.  His family dropped everything and moved to Seattle to be with him through treatments that will continue for a long time.  Insurances only cover so much, and the family is incurring huge debts through this time of crisis.  The Eli Sturman Fund has been set up by friends to help Eli’s family deal with these debts and future expenses.

A few birds I’ll hope to find on May 9, clockwise from below: Northern Gannet, Purple Martin, Red-winged Blackbird, Least Tern, and American Oystercatcher.

    If you wish to make any sort of contribution, it can be for a set amount or you can pledge a certain amount for each species I can find on May 9.  You can send a check (made out to the organization of your choice) to me at PO Box 154, Cape May Pt., NJ  08212, or you can send your contribution directly to the organization. Do let me know by e-mail (markgarland@mac.com) the amount and recipient of your generosity, please. 

    If you wish to contribute to the Eli’s recovery, you can send a check to me made out to the Eli Sturman Fund, or you can make a deposit directly into this fund at any Bank of America Branch; e-mail me for the details on making a direct deposit.

    Eli Sturman celebrating the birth of his baby sister Lina two years ago with his father, David Sturman, and his mother Tracy Mumma.

A very young Eli Sturman, above, and a more recent picture, below.

    Thanks for any support you choose to offer.  If you want to keep up with Eli’s progress or send a message of support to his family, you can visit this website: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/elisturman.  E-mail me for the password.