Saturday is the date of the annual Birdathon fundraiser sponsored by the education staff of Audubon Community Nature Center and their friends. The event raises money for the Ryan Exline Memorial Scholarship. The Audubon members pictured here have spotted something in the bushes.

The public is invited to join the Audubon Community Nature Center birding team of educators and volunteers — either in person or by pledging — to support a local student pursuing a natural sciences career or education.

On Saturday the general public can join the Audubon Community Nature Center education staff to see as many birds as they can on Birdathon 2019, a one-day-only bird count that raises money for the Ryan Exline Memorial Scholarship.

At 6 a.m., the group will start on the Nature Center grounds and later head to other locations to find as many species of birds as possible. Participants are encouraged to stay at least till noon, but for some of the birders it will go until dark or later.

Those interested can bird with the team or show support by pledging online at AudubonCNC.org/Donate.

The scholarship awards $500 to a local student with an interest in pursuing the natural sciences who is heading off to college. During the almost all-day Birdathon, Audubon Community Nature Center educators, staff and volunteers try to find as many species of birds as possible. Supporters pledge an amount, either per species or in total, and one result is the $500 scholarship.

The Ryan Exline Scholarship is named in memory of one of its first recipients. An Audubon volunteer, intern, nature-lover and Duke University graduate student, Exline died in a car accident. This year marks the tenth anniversary of his passing, and Audubon and his family are hoping to make it the biggest year yet. Exline’s love of nature and of nurturing future generations of “nature nerds” lives on through this scholarship.

The Birdathon happens rain or shine. It is free to attend, but those interested can make a pledge at AudubonCNC.org/Donate.