The Birding Plot

The Birding Plot 2 strangers in a social experiment 30-day bird-a-thon in Sonoran Desert 4/1 - 4/30/26.

05/10/2026

Raptor eating in the yard & bonus raptor waiting!

05/08/2026

Backyard Birding -
Q: 1st bird you hear/see in the AM & the last bird in the PM?

Chez Angie - my resident Say’s Phoebe is always poppin off before 5am & every night there are lesser nighthawks doing their wild flight at sunset 🌅 😍

05/04/2026

… SoOo… “how did the groundbreaking SOCIAL EXPERIMENT go?!”
It's a resounding “it couldn't have gone any better”
considering the remarkable journey we've undertaken in the last 6 weeks we’ve been acquainted! In April, we took on new challenges and lifers with days that began before dawn, road tripped, got lost in the desert, travel birding long days (13+ hrs), met birding community “IRL”, and still made time for birding before and after work. We met on March Friday the 13th, and within 9 days, the birdathon took shape, and in these weeks we've raised more than we imagined (final $ coming soon), gained valuable insights about birds and about each other. We documented this journey in social media to get the word out and increase visibility & engagement.
But also, if you’re going to spend your days with a stranger hiking & getting lost in the desert 🏜️ with zero cell reception 😜😅 you should let SOMEONE know.
Basically, this social experiment is one is for the books. 📚 and hopefully the birding plot continues… 🤓😂 THANK YOU ALL for sharing, engaging, and supporting!!!

05/02/2026

We came for the birds, but we stayed for the people. 🧡 While hitting 107 species was an incredible thrill, the real highlight of this year’s Bird-a-thon was the community that rallied behind us. From donors to fellow birders, your support made every mile and every sighting so much more meaningful. We have so much gratitude to share, and we wanted to take a moment to truly say thank you for being part of our flock.

Most importantly, we want to thank the for their tireless dedication to conservation and for bringing birders together.

We never would have even met if they hadn’t led a bird walk at the Tubac Hawk Watch, and it’s entirely because of them that we had this adventure in the first place. It was a true privilege to raise money for an organization that has given us so much.

05/01/2026

It only took us 6 tries to tell you the big news… 107 species in the books!

04/28/2026

Anyone else?
Tucson Bird Alliance - how does it feel to have too many people on your site?! 😂

04/28/2026

Shots from our very last birdathon weekend 🥹 it’s been a blast of a month & some birdies cooperated with us 😜
Burrowing owl 🦉 gave us a show as we were LEAVING!
Killdeer nested next to walking path
& White-faced Iris crew gave us synchronized fly away silhouette shots as our 1st gift of the day for waking up at 4am 😍 to bird. 🦅


04/28/2026

Marana really delivered for our final weekend of the Bird-a-thon! 🏜️🦅

Sunday was a day of high stakes and incredible sightings. We watched a Killdeer mother bravely guarding her nest, saw a Red-tailed Hawk holding its ground against Turkey Vultures to protect its young, and spotted a Great Horned Owl nest tucked into a mountainside with a parent and two fluffy owlets.

To top it off, we finally tracked down the Burrowing Owls in the agricultural fields. It was an unforgettable way to wrap up our last big adventure before Thursday's deadline. The species list grew significantly, but we’re keeping the final tally under wraps a little longer. Stay tuned!

04/24/2026

It started with one visitor at 10:57 AM, but the word clearly got out. By dinner time, we had a full-blown grape jelly party with three male Bullock's Orioles all stopping by at once.

There is truly nothing like getting a lifer in your own backyard. It's a reminder that sometimes the best birding happens right outside your window.

04/23/2026

90 species and singing it loud! 🎶🦉

We’ve officially hit the 90-species milestone! From the desert floor to the canyon peaks, the birds are celebrating right along with us.

We are so proud of this tally and the journey it took to get here. Join the celebration by making a donation to the through the link in our bio! Every contribution goes directly toward protecting the local species we love. 🔗🧡

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