Treehugger Tuesday

National Audubon Society launches "Birding the Net". The online game "challenges virtual birders to compete for prizes in a “big month” from October 10 through November 7, 2011."

From the Audubon website:

Audubon is letting birds loose on the Internet! Our unprecedented Birding the Net social media campaign challenges virtual birders to compete for prizes in a “big month” from October 10 through November 7, 2011. Birds are fluttering, hopping, and soaring across more than 100 websites. Each time you see a bird, it's a chance to add that species to your list – and add to your chances of winning awesome prizes, including a trip for two to the Galapagos Islands courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions.

This innovative campaign, created by Goodby, Silverstein and Partners, is about more than fun, however. It’s one of the unexpected ways that Audubon is sharing the excitement of birding with you and millions of others. And we’re hoping it will inspire you to experience the real world of birds, too – and to join us in our work to protect them and the planet we share.

In the meantime, here’s how to get started Birding the Net:

1. Like Audubon on Facebook. If you don’t have a Facebook account already, it’s easy to get started.

2. Watch for virtual birds flying on different websites all over the Internet. Audubon’s Facebook page will offer tips on where to look, and you can follow our two “spokesbirds” on Twitter – @RufHummingbird and @FloridaScrubJay – to get even more helpful hints.

3. When you spot a bird, click on it, and you’ll go to the Birding the Net Facebook app where you can start playing and receive a card for each bird you see. The first players to spot all 34 species will have a chance to win terrific prizes, including a free trip to the Galapagos Islands courtesy of Audubon travel partner Lindblad Expeditions, Canon cameras, and Nikon binoculars. The top 200 players also win a complimentary one-year Audubon membership. More about our fabulous prizes. Birds will be released throughout the month, so you’ll need to stay alert with your eyes peeled.

4. Invite your friends to play for more ways to build your bird list. You can trade cards with your friends to get new birds. Bloggers and anyone with a website can also attract more birds by snagging a “birdhouse” from the Facebook app.

So, ready to get your bird on? Get started!