07 Nov These Birds Are Disappearing. Here’s What We’re Doing About It.
The American kestrel perched on the nest box scans the grassland below. Somewhere in her tiny body, no bigger than a mourning dove, is a GPS tracker recording her movements—data that will help us understand why California’s smallest falcon is disappearing.
In a Title I elementary school across the county, kids who’ve never seen a bird of prey up close are about to meet Nelson, our white-faced owl ambassador, and discover that conservation isn’t something that happens “somewhere else”. It’s happening right here, and they can be part of it.
And in our workshop space, we are working with other professionals to help them get their birds into programs using on choice-based criteria involving the very hands-on techniques they learn in our immersive classes. Some of them even have success within a week of returning to their organizations after years of hitting obstacles and irrelevant information.
This is what your support makes possible. And we need your help to make 2025 our biggest year yet.
We’re Just Getting Started (But We’re Moving Fast)
You might have heard: after twelve years as a mission-driven LLC, we officially became Avian Behavior Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. This wasn’t just a paperwork change—it was about expanding what’s possible.
As a nonprofit, we can finally:
- Bring free conservation education to underserved communities through partnerships
- Offer grants and fellowships for students and new professionals
- Conduct and support field research around the world—from American kestrels here in San Diego to Southern ground hornbills in Africa
- Fill the gaps left by stretched government budgets and reduced funding for environmental education
We’ve spent a year laying the groundwork. Now it’s time to take flight.
What We’re Building Now for a Bright Future(With Your Help)
The Mobile Education Van: Bringing Birds to Communities
The Goal: $24,000 for a used van, updated materials, and mobile setup
Picture this: Instead of schools having to arrange expensive field trips, we bring our vultures, owls**,** and hawks, and hands-on conservation programs directly to them. Title I schools. Community centers. Summer programs in desert communities east of San Diego where it’s hard for us to bring a big team due to temperatures.
The van means we can say “yes” to more communities, more students, more moments where a kid discovers they care about the natural world.
American Kestrel Monitoring: Tracking California’s Disappearing Falcon
The Goal: $4,500-$8,000 for GPS tags, data plans, nest boxes, and field crew support
American kestrels are declining across California, but we don’t fully understand why. Where do they go? What habitats do they need? How can we protect them?
Every GPS tag we deploy (at $2,000 each) gives us answers. Every nest box we install ($200) gives them a safe place to raise the next generation. Every night of lodging for our field crew ($100) means more data, more monitoring, more understanding.
This isn’t just research for research’s sake—it’s actionable conservation that directly helps a species in trouble.
The Infrastructure That Makes It All Possible
The Goal: $3,500 for legal support and nonprofit backbone
Not sexy, but essential. Proper accounting systems. Legal compliance. Insurance. The boring stuff that ensures every dollar you give goes exactly where it should and that we can operate with the transparency and accountability you deserve.
Scavenger Education Programs: The Birds Nobody Loves (But Everyone Needs)
The Goal: $1,500 for specialized programs on golden eagles, vultures, and condors
Scavengers are ecosystem heroes—they’re nature’s cleanup crew, disease prevention specialists, and ecological indicators. But they face threats from lead ammunition, energy infrastructure, and persecution.
We’re developing education programs that connect people to these underappreciated birds and the conservation efforts keeping them in our skies, including lead-free ammunition initiatives and sustainable energy awareness.
Your Dollar, Real Impact
We know you’re getting a lot of year-end appeals right now. So let’s be specific about what your gift actually does:
$100 = One night of lodging for our kestrel research crew
$200 = Installation of one kestrel nest box in San Diego County
$450 = A full education program for an underserved community
$2,000 = A GPS tracking unit to study kestrel migration
$20,000 = The education van that changes everything
Every amount matters. Every gift moves us closer to the $35,000 we need to fully launch our nonprofit operations.
Why This Matters Right Now
Here’s the honest truth: Government funding for conservation education is shrinking. State and local budgets are stretched impossibly thin. The birds don’t care about budget cycles—they need action now.
That’s where we come in. And that’s where you come in.
For twelve years, you’ve watched us raise thousands of dollars for conservation partners around the world—from South Africa to Chile, Costa Rica to right here in San Diego County. You know our values: bird-first care, accountability, transparency, excellence.
Now we’re not just supporting conservation, we’re leading it. We’re becoming the organization that fills the vacuum, that says “yes” when others can’t, that brings the next generation into this work.
The December 31 Deadline (And Why It Matters)
If you’re planning to give, doing it before December 31 means:
- Your gift is tax-deductible for 2025 (if you itemize)
- You help us start 2025 with momentum and the resources to hit the ground running
- You’re one of the founding donors who made this transformation possible
You can make a one-time gift, set up recurring monthly support, or even attend our Upper East Brewing fundraiser on November 19 (where 15% of all orders plus silent auction proceeds benefit our work).
You Know Us. Now Help Us Grow.
We’re not asking you to take a chance on an unknown organization. You’ve seen our work. You’ve met our birds. You’ve watched us show up, year after year, with professionalism, expertise, and heart.
Now we’re asking you to help us do more.
More kids discovering they care about birds.
More data that helps save declining species.
More communities connected to conservation.
More reasons to look up at the sky and feel hopeful.
Birds tie the whole planet together. That’s how we see our work. And we’re not going to let them down.
This is your chance to be one of the donors who didn’t just watch the transformation happen—but made it possible.
Ready to Make Your Gift?
Avian Behavior Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Tax ID: [number]
Other Ways to Support:
Attend Our Fundraiser: Join us November 19 at Upper East Brewing (5-9pm) to meet Nelson, our white-faced owl ambassador, and bid on silent auction items. Get details here
Set Up Recurring Giving: Monthly donors provide the steady funding that lets us plan long-term projects with confidence. Become a monthly supporter
Corporate Matching: Many employers will match your donation. Check if yours does and double your impact!
For twelve years, you’ve watched us raise thousands of dollars for conservation partners around the world—from South Africa to Chile, Costa Rica to right here in San Diego County. You know our values: bird-first care, accountability, transparency, excellence.
Now we’re not just supporting conservation, we’re leading it. We’re becoming the organization that fills the vacuum, that says “yes” when others can’t, that brings the next generation into this work.
The December 31 Deadline (And Why It Matters)
If you’re planning to give, doing it before December 31 means:
- Your gift is tax-deductible for 2024 (if you itemize)
- You help us start 2025 with momentum and the resources to hit the ground running
- You’re one of the founding donors who made this transformation possible
You can make a one-time gift, set up recurring monthly support, or even attend our Upper East Brewing fundraiser on November 19 (where 15% of all orders plus silent auction proceeds benefit our work).
You Know Us. Now Help Us Grow.
We’re not asking you to take a chance on an unknown organization. You’ve seen our work. You’ve met our birds. You’ve watched us show up, year after year, with professionalism and heart.
Now we’re asking you to help us do more.
More kids discovering they care about birds.
More data that helps save declining species.
More communities connected to conservation.
More reasons to look up at the sky and feel hopeful.
Birds tie the whole planet together. That’s how we see our work. And we’re not going to let them down.
This is your chance to be one of the donors who didn’t just watch the transformation happen—but made it possible.
Ready to Make Your Gift?
Avian Behavior Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Tax ID: [number]
Other Ways to Support:
Attend Our Fundraiser: Join us November 19 at Upper East Brewing (5-9pm) to meet Nelson, our white-faced owl ambassador, and bid on silent auction items. Get details here
Corporate Matching: Many employers will match your donation. Check if yours does and double your impact!