We need your support!

We are raising funds for our 2024 field season, as well as to support our outreach activities outside of the field season.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to fund crew positions and make internships a reality for undergraduate students. Our amazing staff make it possible for us to provide amazing hands-on opportunities that people have grown to love.

Online donations

MSBO is part of Michigan State University which is a 501(c)(3) organization; hence, all donations are tax deductible. Click the button on the right to submit your donation via Michigan State University’s secure donation website. Please email us if you have any questions regarding donations.

Donations by mail

If you prefer to send in a donation by mail, please mail a check payable to ‘Michigan State University” and include the name of the fund you wish to support on the memo line of your check. Our fund info is: A11130, Michigan State Bird Observatory.

Mail to: University Development, University Advancement, Spartan Way, 535 Chestnut Road, Room 300, East Lansing, MI 48824

Specific donation categories

‘Sponsor-a-Net’

Specified donations of at least $215 (inner loop) or $165 (outer loop) will go toward supporting a specific mist net (replacing old nets and supplies associated with mist nets). A sign with the donor’s name will be placed near the mist net on inner loop and displayed at our banding station. At the end of the season the donor will receive a list of all the species captured in that particular net. It is a great way to show your support for MSBO! Net costs have gone up this year, and we could really use your support to keep our station running!

After sponsoring a net, please email us at burkelakebanding@gmail.com to let us know your donation was a net sponsorship and the name you would like to be associated with your net. These can be in honor of a family member, a fun net name or your family’s name!

‘Sponsor-a-Program’

Outreach and educational programs at the MSBO connect our community with the amazing wonder of migratory birds. We provide hands-on, up-close experiences for participants of all ages. We could not do this without the support of our donors. If you would be interested in sponsoring an MSBO program, please email burkelakebanding@gmail.com.

Sometimes we need more bird bags – please contact us to inquire. Bird bags need to be made of light cotton cloth of light or patterned material (no dark, solid colors). Various sizes are nice due to different size birds – the ones we are in need of now have finished dimensions of 8″W x 11″H and 6″W x 9″H. The seams inside need to be trimmed of lose thread or folded over so seams cannot unravel. The best drawstring material is nylon double-braided rope (1/8″ diameter). The rope needs to be long enough to loop around to tie the bag and then fit over an adult wrist to carry.

Current Major Sponsors/Funding Agencies

Thank you for your generous support – we cannot do it without you!!