Birders are invited to join the Blitz by forming a team, raising funds, and competing in either the “cumulative count” or “big day” categories to document birds during nesting season.
Teams enlist their friends to support their efforts with a donation; all donations are split among the conservation projects.
We are adding new features to the Blitz this year while continuing some of our favorite traditions.
One returning initiative is “Blitz without Boundaries,” which allows teams to be registered by participants birding outside of Pennsylvania—teams only need one member to apply.
Conservation Projects
The 2026 Blitz aims to raise $22,000 to support the following bird conservation projects--
-- 3rd Pennsylvania Bird Atlas: The 3PBA is a statewide research and conservation initiative designed to document the distribution and abundance of birds breeding and wintering across the Commonwealth from 2024 through early 2029.
Led through a collaboration between Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Game Commission, conservation organizations, state agencies, and the birding community, the Atlas will provide critical information that supports bird conservation, scientific research, and public education for decades.
A key component of the Atlas is a series of standardized point count surveys conducted across the state during each breeding season.
These surveys allow researchers to directly compare bird abundance with data collected during Pennsylvania’s Second Breeding Bird Atlas (2004–2009).
By revisiting approximately 30,000 established survey points, scientists will be able to update distribution maps and population estimates for nearly 200 breeding bird species.
The B4C will support the amount of survey points visited in the 2026 field season by contributing funds to be used in hiring a point count technician.
-- Schuylkill County Conservancy: The Local Avian Conservation Education Project aims to build awareness and appreciation for birds in Schuylkill County through a mix of educational programs and hands-on experiences for people of all ages.
Activities include classroom presentations with live bird demonstrations, field-based learning opportunities such as observing nesting birds and exploring wetland habitats, and community engagement through a pledge-based fundraising campaign tied to the Breeding Bird Blitz.
By combining education, direct observation, and public participation, the project encourages understanding of birds’ ecological importance and promotes conservation action, supporting long-term protection of key species and habitats across Pennsylvania.
B4C Mini Grants
In addition to supporting two conservation projects within the state, we are excited to introduce Mini- Grants.
Important bird conservation work is happening across Pennsylvania, often led by small, local organizations that make a big difference for birds and the habitats they depend on.
To support this work, we are launching B4C Mini Grants.
When teams register for the Blitz, they will have the opportunity to nominate a local organization to receive one of these $1,500 Mini Grants.
This is a great opportunity to form a team while supporting local bird clubs and conservation-focused organizations in your area.
Grants will be distributed based on the amount of funds raised, with recipients selected at random from among the nominees.
Visit the B4C Mini Grant webpage for more information.
More About The Bird Blitz
Since 2021, the PSO Breeding Bird Blitz, together with our conservation partners, has raised $92,318 to help fund 15 conservation initiatives across the Commonwealth. In 2025 alone, we awarded a total of $25,000 to our three Conservation Partners.
For 2026, we aim to raise $22,000 dollars to support two conservation partners and three mini grants.
We are excited to be organizing this event for its fifth year and are proud of the conservation projects we help fund. We hope you will consider registering a team April 1st, and will join us for the Fifth Annual Breeding Bird Blitz for Conservation!
How To Register Your Team
Bird-lovers of all ages and skill levels are invited to visit the Breeding Bird Blitz for Conservation website to learn more about this special event, to form and register a team, or to make a donation.
Questions about creating a team can be directed to blitz4conservation@gmail.com where a member of the PSO Conservation Committee will be excited to answer. Conservation Committee members are Laura Jackson, chair; Brian Byrnes; Vern Gauthier; Carolyn Hendricks; David Barber; Mary Alice Koeneke; Rich Rieger; and Karter Witmer.
Media inquiries about the Breeding Bird Blitz for Conservation should be directed to Karter Witmer, kgw5107@psu.edu or (570) 439-4787.
The Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1990 to foster the study and appreciation of the wild birds of Pennsylvania and to promote the conservation of birds and their habitats.
PSO organizes and supports several bird monitoring projects, hosts field trips, an annual meeting, and publishes the quarterly journal Pennsylvania Birds.
[Posted: March 30, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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