Something remarkable saved the Autumn Count of 2026
Many of you will be familiar with our winter ritual. After sticking our heads together during the annual team meeting, at some point in the final months of the year, we launch the crowdfunding campaign to raise the funds needed to continue our long-term raptor migration monitoring work. This winter was no different: we launched in December, with a clear deadline of March 1st, 2026.
What was different, though, was the silence.
Thanks to an incredibly generous donation of €15,000 to the 2026 count, we get to continue counting our beloved streams of raptors again this year. Photo by Bart Hoekstra.
The first donations came in, but more slowly than we’re used to, causing the counter to get stuck far below the 30k. At the same time, if you noticed fewer updates, fewer nudges from us — yes, you were right. We were unusually quiet. Too quiet. As a very small team, and an even smaller fundraising and communications team, we had to confront a hard reality: we simply didn’t have the time this winter to give the fundraising campaign the attention it deserves.
Every part of BRC runs entirely on volunteer time, energy, expertise, and a lot of passion for raptors and raptor conservation. That’s something we’re incredibly proud of, but it also makes us vulnerable. Passion fuels our work, but it doesn’t pay rent, and sometimes it doesn’t create space in an already full week. This year, two members of our three-person fundraising team are in the final stretch of their PhDs, while the third was balancing a full-time job with PhD applications. At the same time, we hold ourselves to high standards in how we communicate with you. Doing a crowdfunding campaign properly takes an immense amount of effort, and this winter our personal lives got in the way more than we anticipated.
We were genuinely worried about what this meant for the 2026 count. Not making the fundraising target of €30k would mean we would have to cancel the count this year. But then something extraordinary happened.
Thanks to an incredibly generous anonymous donation of €15,000, we can share the wonderful news: we have reached (and even surpassed!) our fundraising goal. The Autumn 2026 count is secured, and preparations can begin. To the donor behind this gift: we are deeply, immensely grateful. And to all of you who supported us along the way: thank you.
At the same time, this experience was a clear reminder of how fragile our financial base still is. One unexpected ‘dip’ in our availability can put an entire season at risk. The only way we can truly plan ahead and run our count, Flyway Monitoring traineeships, and invest in new education and conservation plans, is through structural support: recurring donations from our community of supporters, alongside support from organizations, foundations and philanthropic individuals who believe in our work long-term.
We don’t just want to keep counting. We want to do more for conservation, research, and education. In fact, now that funding for the count is secured, we’re preparing to launch a new education project this year, one we’re incredibly excited about. This will require separate funding, and you’ll hear more about it soon. (Keep an eye on your inbox 👀.)
For now, there is one simple way you can help make BRC more resilient:
If just 10% of you were to donate €5 per month, we would already cover our annual baseline costs.
A recurring donation, no matter how small, helps us plan, breathe, and focus on doing our best work yet.
Financial support doesn’t always have to come in the form of a donation you make yourself. Some of the most meaningful help comes from simply thinking along with us. You might know someone who cares deeply about raptors or migration, a foundation or company looking to support long-term conservation work, or a philanthropist searching for a project with real impact. Even introducing BRC to the right person can make a lasting difference. And for those who think far ahead: a small legacy gift, by including BRC in your will, can help ensure that raptor migration is monitored and protected for generations to come. There are many ways to support this work, if you’d like to explore any of them with us, we’d love to hear from you.
If BRC’s work matters to you, we warmly invite you to consider setting up a monthly donation. Not just for this year, but for the years to come. Together, we can keep our eyes on the skies, for a long time ahead.
Thank you 🙏