THE 31st ANNUAL BARTLETT
​BIG SIT FOR EDUCATION

YOUR DONATION DOUBLED!!

Dear Friends — new and longtime alike,

If you’ve just joined the BSBO Flock, welcome. You’ve arrived at the perfect moment.

Each spring, we host our single most important education fundraiser of the year — the Bartlett BIG SIT. It’s the event that makes it possible for thousands of children to step outside the classroom, into the marsh, and discover something that no textbook can fully deliver: a genuine love of birds, and a felt sense of responsibility for the world those birds depend on. We’re so glad you’re here for it.

For those of you who’ve been with us a while — you already know Tom Bartlett. For everyone else, prepare to be charmed. Read our interview with Tom here.

On World Migratory Bird Day, Saturday, May 9, Tom will take up his post beside the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area Boardwalk at 5 a.m. and stay put for twelve straight hours. No wandering. No shortcuts. Just Tom, his binoculars, and every bird willing to make an appearance before 5 p.m. He counts them all — by sight, by song, by the rustle of wings through the reeds. And you, by giving, make the whole thing matter.

This year marks Tom’s 31st BIG SIT. Three decades of early mornings, patient watching, and quiet dedication — and three decades of supporters like you turning that dedication into something lasting. Together, we’ve raised more than $300,000 for BSBO’s youth education programs. This year, every dollar you give will be matched up to $30,000. That means your impact is doubled before the birds even start singing.

So what does your gift actually do?

• It puts kids in the habitat — not just reading about it, but wading into it, standing quietly beside BSBO researchers, learning to notice things most people walk right past.
• It helps young people understand the epic journeys migratory birds make each year, and the very real threats those birds face: shrinking habitat, shifting climates, the steady pressure of human development.
• And it plants something deeper than knowledge. It plants wonder. It plants empathy. It plants the kind of care for living things that grows into a lifetime of stewardship.

These programs are free to schools. Free to students. Accessible to every family, regardless of income. That only happens because of you.

If you’re new to the Flock, this is your first chance to be part of something that has quietly shaped a generation of young conservationists. If you’ve been with us for years, you know exactly why we keep showing up — and why Tom keeps sitting.

Please give today. The birds are already on their way. Let’s make sure the kids are ready to meet them.

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Former students say: 

“Participating in BSBO’s youth birding programs strengthened our bond as siblings through our shared love of birds and birding. It introduced us to like-minded friends and helped us form connections that later became part of our professional journeys. These opportunities taught us skills that extend far beyond birding and into many aspects of life. We hope you’ll support the Bartlett Big Sit and help BSBO continue to inspire and impact students across the state.”

Tyler Ficker
​Black Swamp Bird Observatory Communications Director
Biggest Week in American Birding Festival Coordinator
​
Cassidy Ficker
Senior Veterinary Student
The Ohio State University
Biggest Week Guide and Speaker

After many delays, BSBO will move back into our headquarters at the entrance to Magee Marsh THIS FALL. And, thanks to donors like YOU, we’ll have many exciting opportunities to offer more programs in our BRAND NEW Education Center! 

Kimberly Kaufman
​Executive Director