Dear Friends,
With the welcome approach of Spring, Group for the East End has begun preparations for our Fifteenth Annual Fauna-thon. We cordially invite you to participate in this exciting event to raise money for children’s environmental education programs in eastern Long Island.
On Saturday, May 22nd, all interested wildlife enthusiasts are encouraged to join me in a search for mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, and dragonflies throughout eastern Long Island. Our task is to count as many different species of wildlife (a.k.a. fauna) as we can find within 24 hours. The highest Fauna-thon total so far is 266 species, which we tallied in 2004. This year, we’re aiming to break the record -- 270 species is our goal.
You can participate in the Fauna-thon in a number of ways:
1. JOIN US IN THE ACTUAL COUNT. Whether you are an experienced naturalist or novice wildlife-watcher, there is a place outdoors for you on May 22nd. You can join one of our teams, led by a Group for the East End staff-person, or you can organize a team of your own.
2. MAKE A PLEDGE. You can pledge to donate a specific amount for each species that we count. For instance, if we reach our goal of 270 species, a pledge of 20 cents per species would result in a donation of $54. We will bill you after the results from all Fauna-thon teams have been tallied.
3. MAKE A CONTRIBUTION. You can make a donation to the Fauna-thon right now, without waiting for the results. Simply fill out the enclosed card and send it along with your contribution. If you desire, we would be glad to mail to you the 2010 species list as soon as it is compiled.
Last year, thirteen teams consisting of 23 participants were rewarded for their efforts by finding such interesting animals as eastern pondhawk (dragonfly), American copper (butterfly), common snapping turtle, eastern spadefoot toad, harbor seal, sooty shearwater, sandhill crane, barn owl, Cape May warbler, Lincoln’s sparrow, blue grosbeak, and pine siskin.
We hope you will support the 2010 Fauna-thon. Donations will be used to support the Group’s extensive environmental education program, while results of the wildlife survey will provide a glimpse of Long Island’s rich biological diversity.
I look forward to your response. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 631-765-6450 ext. 205 or sbiasetti@eastendenvironment.org.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Steve Biasetti
Director of Environmental Education
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