The Montezuma Muckrace

THE 2009 MONTEZUMA MUCKRACE

September 11 - 12, 2009

Audubon New York and Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex announce the thirteenth annual Montezuma Muckrace, to be held on September 11 and 12, 2009. This 24-hour birding competition raises funds to support conservation projects within the Montezuma Wetlands Complex.

This year our goal was to raise $13,000. Money is raised through sponsorships, registration fees and pledges sought by participants. Prizes are awarded to the team that raises the most money and to those teams that record the highest number of species. Again this year, Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex will match money raised by the top three-fundraising teams.

The 2008 competition raised over $12,000, which funded a shorebird restoration project on Savannah-Spring Lake Road in the northern part of the MWC named the Muckrace Flats, as well as an expansion of the wetland/retention pond behind the Montezuma Audubon Center to enhance wetland education opportunities at the MAC. 20 teams from throughout New York and neighboring states tallied 186 species, with the winning team finding 130 species.

The 2009 t-shirt design, by artist Sue DeLearie Adair, was based on three of her warbler drawings for the recently-published New York State Breeding Bird Atlas. One of these original drawings, an American Redstart, will be raffled off at the closing ceremony. The other two, a Blue-winged Warbler and a Black-and-white Warbler, will be sold in conjunction with the event, with one-third of the sale price contributed to Muckrace funds.

The Muckace started at 7:00 PM (an hour earlier than last year) on September 11 and ended 24 hours later with a closing ceremony (complete with plenty of pizza) at the Montezuma Audubon Center. Birds are counted within the boundaries of the Complex for any or all of the 24-hour period. There are several levels of participation: Competitive (3 or more individuals who must count together), Youth, Family/Mentor (new this year!), Low-Carbon, or Recreational (any number of individuals).

Mid-September is a great time to be birding at the Montezuma Wetlands Complex, one of New York's most exciting birding destinations. Please consider either participating with your own team or pledging support to your local team!

For more information about participating, becoming a team sponsor, or to be added to the mailing list, contact Jane Graves at jgraves@skidmore.edu.

So, round up a team and join us in 2010 for this premier fall birding event to raise money for bird conservation efforts at the Montezuma Wetlands Complex in central New York.

Past Muckrace Musings for your enjoyment:
2005
2006
2007
2008