Dear Friends:
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we at Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO) share with you, our birding friends and valued supporters, that the 2020 Biggest Week In American Birding has been cancelled. We've known in our minds what we must do. But our hearts were having a hard time letting go.
For refund information, click HERE.
With the potential of the impacts of COVID-19 likely to stretch on for many weeks, even if the all-clear is given soon, at this point the BSBO team does not feel confident that we could deliver the kind of quality experience that has become the signature of The Biggest Week. And while birds and birding are important to all of us, protecting people is paramount.
We are immensely grateful to all of the volunteers, partners, speakers, and sponsors who put so much into preparations for the event this year. Part of the difficulty in accepting the inevitable was the painful process of sharing this news with them first.
But even while we're all trying to remain as isolated as possible, people have come together to support Black Swamp Bird Observatory! Our hardest working and most dedicated volunteers didn't bat an eye, they simply said they'd be ready to rock for 2021! (We love and appreciate all of you so much!)
And words will fail to convey the overwhelming gratitude we feel for the following sponsors who, upon receiving the news that the festival would have to be cancelled, said KEEP OUR SPONSORSHIP MONEY and use it to sustain BSBO's mission.
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we at Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO) share with you, our birding friends and valued supporters, that the 2020 Biggest Week In American Birding has been cancelled. We've known in our minds what we must do. But our hearts were having a hard time letting go.
For refund information, click HERE.
With the potential of the impacts of COVID-19 likely to stretch on for many weeks, even if the all-clear is given soon, at this point the BSBO team does not feel confident that we could deliver the kind of quality experience that has become the signature of The Biggest Week. And while birds and birding are important to all of us, protecting people is paramount.
We are immensely grateful to all of the volunteers, partners, speakers, and sponsors who put so much into preparations for the event this year. Part of the difficulty in accepting the inevitable was the painful process of sharing this news with them first.
But even while we're all trying to remain as isolated as possible, people have come together to support Black Swamp Bird Observatory! Our hardest working and most dedicated volunteers didn't bat an eye, they simply said they'd be ready to rock for 2021! (We love and appreciate all of you so much!)
And words will fail to convey the overwhelming gratitude we feel for the following sponsors who, upon receiving the news that the festival would have to be cancelled, said KEEP OUR SPONSORSHIP MONEY and use it to sustain BSBO's mission.
If you could visit their websites or Facebook pages and leave a
message of gratitude for their support, we would greatly appreciate it. Just click their logos, below.
message of gratitude for their support, we would greatly appreciate it. Just click their logos, below.
KIRTLAND'S WARBLER LEVEL SPONSORS
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BAY-BREASTED WARBLER LEVEL SPONSORS
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BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER LEVEL SPONSORS
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MAGNOLIA WARBLER LEVEL SPONSORS
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YELLOW WARBLER LEVEL SPONSORS
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We're not sure anyone can fully understand the weight of the magnitude of this decision and its impact to thousands of people, to the NW Ohio business community, and to the Black Swamp Bird Observatory mission. Our staff is heartbroken. It's as if we spent an entire year creating a masterpiece that we're now unable to share with people. But share it we will! With all the work that's been done for this year, we will be so far ahead of the game next year that there's no doubt that the 2021 Biggest Week In American Birding will be the BEST EVER!
So mark your calendars NOW for May 7-16, 2021 and join us for the
2021 Biggest Week In American Birding and the most amazing migration celebration of all time!
2021 Biggest Week In American Birding and the most amazing migration celebration of all time!
THE FUTURE: ONWARD BLACK SWAMP BIRD OBSERVATORY
We are all adapting our lives to protect ourselves AND to protect others. BSBO is adapting, too. Our staff is working from home, and in addition to postponing the Biggest Week until 2021, we've suspended our spring songbird research operation, and our nature store is closed indefinitely.
Once we've ensured that every Biggest Week stakeholder has been refunded, thanked graciously, and the festival finances are reconciled, we will shift gears and focus on bringing some uplifting and educational bird-focused content to all of our followers through our Facebook page, our website, and through our BSBO Words On Birds eNews.
And in the event that our Governor deems it safe to operate normally by May, BSBO will rally the troops and do our best to provide some meaningful birding experiences and offer as many wonderful services to birders as we possibly can. If it's possible to do so, we'll try to have the Optics Alley tent open, as well. We'll definitely provide all the latest birding information, our nature store will be open, and our staff will be available to welcome you to the area and answer any questions you might have. Follow our Facebook page, or better yet, subscribe to our BSBO Words on Birds eNews updates for all the latest.
We are all adapting our lives to protect ourselves AND to protect others. BSBO is adapting, too. Our staff is working from home, and in addition to postponing the Biggest Week until 2021, we've suspended our spring songbird research operation, and our nature store is closed indefinitely.
Once we've ensured that every Biggest Week stakeholder has been refunded, thanked graciously, and the festival finances are reconciled, we will shift gears and focus on bringing some uplifting and educational bird-focused content to all of our followers through our Facebook page, our website, and through our BSBO Words On Birds eNews.
And in the event that our Governor deems it safe to operate normally by May, BSBO will rally the troops and do our best to provide some meaningful birding experiences and offer as many wonderful services to birders as we possibly can. If it's possible to do so, we'll try to have the Optics Alley tent open, as well. We'll definitely provide all the latest birding information, our nature store will be open, and our staff will be available to welcome you to the area and answer any questions you might have. Follow our Facebook page, or better yet, subscribe to our BSBO Words on Birds eNews updates for all the latest.
THE BIRDS NEED BSBO - AND BSBO NEEDS YOU
With the cancellation of the festival, the financial loss to BSBO this spring will be significant. Our organization manages support very wisely, and while we do have reserve funds to continue operating in a limited capacity for several months, your support is more important to us than ever before.
With the cancellation of the festival, the financial loss to BSBO this spring will be significant. Our organization manages support very wisely, and while we do have reserve funds to continue operating in a limited capacity for several months, your support is more important to us than ever before.
Donate $25 or more before May 1 and you'll be entered to win our amazing
Birding Optics Prize Package valued at more than $6,000.
We'll announce the lucky winner on May 8, 2020.
Birding Optics Prize Package valued at more than $6,000.
We'll announce the lucky winner on May 8, 2020.
We understand that these are difficult financial times, but if you have the ability to invest in BSBO's mission, we give you our word that we will continue to do all the great things we do for birds with your support.
Please be safe, be well, and thank you for believing in us.
Your Friends at Black Swamp Bird Observatory