Bird Delegate Program from Youth Squad®

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This pin and all program supplies are available from our partner site MakingFriends®.com.

Suggested Group Craft

Cold weather is the time for us to take better care of our feathered friends with things like these Cardboard Tube Bird Feeders. They are inexpensive and easy to make so have the kids make a lot of them and watch the birds flock to your yards.

Suggested Prerequisite

Completing the Bird Advocate Patch Program® is a suggested prerequisite for earning your Bird Delegate Pin. Your advocate experience will help provide you with the knowledge needed to become a delegate for the welfare of birds. You can also opt to complete the Bird Advocate requirements during the time you earn this Delegate pin.

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Requirement 1: Choose It!

Points to Consider When Choosing A Bird Action Project;

Flyway zones; Helpful Links: songbird migration patterns. waterfowl migration, view the four flyways
Threatened or endangered birds; Helpful Link: Species Directory, Top Ten Endangered Bird Species
Threatened or endangered bird species in your area; Helpful Link: U.S. Threatened or Endangered Species by County, Birds of Management Concern
Species extinction; Helpful Link: How does extinction happen?

Threats to birds in your area; Helpful Links: Main Bird Threats, Why Birds are Declining
Birds as pets; Helpful Link: The Ethics of Keeping Pet Birds

Some Ideas:

Create or improve a bird sanctuary.
Convince your community to keep their cats indoors.
Start a program in your elementary school to educate children about birds.
Reduce risks to birds in your community. Helpful Link: Promote Avian-Friendly Power Lines.
Reduce your community’s carbon footprint. Helpful Link: Reduce your community’s carbon footprint.

Reduce your community’s use of plastic.
Educate about proper care for birds as pets.

Project considerations:

What are your skills and talents?
Do you need a mentor or adviser? Who will it be?
Will there be legal or permit issues to resolve?
How many others can you recruit to help?
Will your volunteers need special skills or training?
How many hours can you devote to the project?
Will there be a project deadline?
How much money will you be able to raise for the project?
Can you get a sponsor to help with the costs?

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Requirement 2: Plan it!

Goal Setting

Setting goals will help give you a long-term vision and short-term motivation. It helps you to organize your thoughts and determine exactly what needs to be done.

Decide exactly what you want to accomplish and give your project a name.
Break it down into smaller steps.
Set up a timeline.

Recruit Volunteers

Although smaller projects can be done alone, many projects will require a team. As the project delegate, one of your most important roles will be building a successful team. Helpful Link: 7 Super Steps to Recruit Volunteers.

Find a mentor with experience in your project area.
Enlist an Advocate to help you recruit volunteers. Consider using a volunteer release form especially if you are working with children. Helpful Link: Volunteer Release Form
Decide which jobs you can do alone.
Will you have teams?
How many people will you need for each team?

Take a look at the table below to get you started. You can copy and paste the table to use as a template for your project. You can set up an account for free or use your own method for organization.

Budgeting

Budgeting allows you to create a spending plan for your project. Sticking to your budget ensures that you will have enough money for the things you need to complete it. If you copied the table above you will see there is a section for budgeting.

Raise Money

There are many ways to raise money. If you are working with an organization such as Girl Scouts* check first to see what is allowed. Helpful Link: A Beginner’s Guide to Fundraising

Consider GoFundMe, CrowdRise, DonorsChoose, or Kickstarter.
Organize an event like a car wash, bake sale, or benefit dinner to raise awareness around your fundraiser.
Host an event such as a walkathon, run, or bike rides.
Ask local businesses and community members to donate items for a silent auction or a live auction.
Sales of customized products like tee shirts, pens, and buttons will not only raise funds but generate awareness about your project.
Invite the local media to your fundraiser or at least supply them with a photo and caption after the event.

Specific ideas for Bird Welfare Fundraising

Get clever with your ideas. Think of things related to your cause. It will help bring awareness and set up a “fun” atmosphere, while raising the money you need to complete your cause.

Host a birdhouse painting party.
Resell Peeps.
Have a bake sale with birdnest cookies.
Host a bird craft party.
Organize a “Chicken Dance Challenge” similar to the ALS ice bucket challenge. Set up a Facebook page where people publicly challenge a friend or family member to post a video of him/her doing the chicken dance in exchange for making a donation to your cause.
Get a local pet shop to sponsor a day where people can come in and make bird feeders for “free”. Participants would make a suggested donation to the project. Businesses would benefit from selling the bird seed and getting additional patrons. Ask if they would match the donations.

If you are improving a sanctuary, have a brick fundraising campaign.
Host an Angry Bird tournament.
Organize a bird photo contest.
Give bird recognition gifts for sponsorships. Set donation levels such as $20 for a bird pin, $40 for a tee shirt, $60 for a birdhouse.
Plan a bird call karaoke night where participants have to imitate bird calls.

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Requirement 3: Do It!

You should now be ready to put your plan into action. Join in during your project to supervise and provide assistance at all levels.

After completing the plan, remember to thank the community.

Ways to say Thank You:

Personally thank individuals and businesses who helped. A handwritten letter is always nice. Helpful link: How to write a thank you letter.
Thank the community as a whole with posters.
Create a follow up press release and include the names of individuals and businesses who participated. Helpful link: How to write a press release.

Give certificates of appreciation.
Thank the community as a whole on social media.

Congratulations on completing your bird welfare action project! The Bird Welfare Delegate pin makes a great reward for completing your project. It also makes a great gift to program sponsors and mentors.

See all our current Delegate level pin programs:

Related Fun Patch Ideas:

Note: Many of the links provided to assist with completing our Patch Program®s are external and do not imply an endorsement or recommendation. At the time of publication, external content was vetted to the best of our ability. Your views and ideas may vary and we do not intend for you to substitute our opinions for yours. Research the topic thoroughly before beginning a project. As always, make sure children access the internet only under safe-surfing conditions.

*youthsquad.makingfriends.com and MakingFriends®.com are not affiliated with, endorsed by or a licensee of Girl Scouts of the USA.