Get Involved

Donate

WPBO is a private non-profit organization, and is funded solely through donations, grants and memberships from individuals like you. Without your support, we can not continue our important work.  Please mail your contribution made out to the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory to: 

Whitefish Point Bird Observatory
16914 Whitefish Point Road
Paradise, MI 49768

Membership

As a WPBO member, you have the satisfaction of supporting our research, education, and stewardship programs.  You will receive an invitation to our annual Spring Fling migration celebration and other special events, free admission to all summer public programs and a discount on purchases at the Owl's Roost nature store. Our members and supporters are a diverse group of people who enjoy and care about birds in their natural environment and want to help in their conservation. For membership questions, contact Tony Janisch at 906-492-3596, or email info@wpbo.org.

Download a print-and-send membership form

Adopt an Owl

Bird banding is an important tool used by WPBO to determine both the composition and the pathways of migrating owls at Whitefish Point.  You can support our banding program by adopting an owl–a rewarding way to contribute to raptor conservation.  Sponsors receive a 5 x 7 color photo of your selected species and an adopt certificate with information about your particular owl banded by WPBO,  If a sponsored bird is captured in the future, you will receive additional notification about your valuable contribution. Note: when you adopt an owl, unfortunately you can’t take it home. However, if you adopt while visiting the owl banding, you may be able to release your bird!

Adoption levels:

• Northern Saw-whet Owl – $25
• Juvenile Saw-whet Owl-$35
• Long-eared Owl – $45
• Boreal Owl – $55
• Barred Owl -  $75
• Great Gray Owl – $100
• Northern Hawk Owl – $150
• Short-eared Owl – $175
• Snowy Owl – $200

Download a print-and-send Adopt an Owl form

Sponsor the Research

Help WPBO continue its long-term migration study by sponsoring a day of research.  This program is for the spring, summer and fall migration counts and owl banding conducted by WPBO staff.  You may sponsor any date on or between March 15-May 31, July 1-Aug 25, and August 15-November 15.

You may sponsor a whole day or just one count. Your contribution will help offset operational costs as well as the processing of bird count data.  In exchange for your sponsorship, you will receive a letter of thanks and your name will be posted at the Point, on our website, and/or in our quarterly newsletter, The Migrant.  WPBO will also send you a copy of the day’s counts at your request.  Most importantly, you will receive the satisfaction of knowing you are helping the Observatory’s documentation of bird migration at the Whitefish Point.

Sponsorship Levels for one day:

• All the Research – $150
• Hawk Count – $50
• Waterbird Count – $50
• Owl Banding – $65

Download a print-and-send Sponsor the Research form

Bird-a-thon

Support our Summer Owl Research Project and win a pair of Eagle Optic Fury binoculars!

Spring is here, and so is our annual staff Bird-a-thon fundraiser! For those who are new to this, our Bird-a-thon is an event in which the WPBO staff finds as many birds as possible at or near the Point within a 24-hour period.  All proceeds benefit the summer owl project, which is WPBO’s newest research project here at the Point. This project studies a movement of juvenile Northern Saw-whet Owls during July and August. There is no evidence of summer movements like this one occurring anywhere else in the world, so it is a very unique study. Over the last 5 years, we have banded 1272 juveniles and over 50 of these have been recaptured both at WPBO and other banding sites. The total amount of funding required for this program each year is $10,000. If we can work towards that goal like we did last year through the Bird-a-thon, it will be a great achievement. Last year the Bird-a-thon pledges fully funded the Summer Owl program, and we are asking for your help again this year. You can help us make this happen!

There are two ways you can become involved with the Bird-a-thon this year:

1. Pledge to support the WPBO Bird-a-thon yourself. Download the pledge sheet below and send it in before the end of May.
2. Raise pledges, and win a pair of Eagle Optic Fury 10×42 binoculars! Download the pledge sheet which has instructions on how this works.

Download a Bird-a-thon 2011 pledge sheet

Volunteer

The Whitefish Point Bird Observatory is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and greatly relies on and appreciates our volunteers and the help they provide.  Our Volunteer Program is comprised of a group of over 25 diverse, enthusiastic individuals.  There are many different positions for which to volunteer, whether you are an experienced bird counter, handy with tools, or interested in helping us with fundraising and PR.  Contact us to learn more about volunteering at WPBO: (906) 492-3596 or info@wpbo.org