Charities United States Animal Welfare Erie Bird Observatory
Erie Bird Observatory logo

Erie Bird Observatory

To provide avian research, education and conservation along the Pennsylvania shoreline of Lake Erie.

Animal Welfare Erie, PA EIN 824134595 · IRS Sign up to see website
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80
Integrity Assessment
Strong transparency
80/100 · methodology

About Erie Bird Observatory

In 2023, EBO continued ongoing bird monitoring & education programs.Spring migration count over 4 months include 951,557 birds of 160 taxa. In 2023 the banding stationcaptured 3415 birds in 67 days including 2448 new birds, 613 recaptures and 354 released unbanded. See Schedule O.

Founded
Headquarters
Erie, PA
Foundation type
Supporting organization (509(a)(3))
NTEE code
D32
IRS subsection
501(c)(03)
Ruling date
Size
micro

Verified certifications

Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.

IRS Tax-Deductible since 2018

Mission

To provide avian research, education and conservation along the Pennsylvania shoreline of Lake Erie.

Focus areas & reach

· What they work on and where
Animal Welfare · NTEE D32
Cause tags

How it stacks up against peers

· vs. 8 similar animal welfare in United States
Program spending This charity: 100%
Peer average: 96%
CEO comp as % of revenue This charity: 9.62%
Peer average: 0.48%
Integrity Assessment This charity: 80
Peer average: 92

Red flags

· 1 item
High Executive Pay
Top executive compensation is 12.8% of total expenses ($24,527 of $191,954).

Where every $1 goes

$1.00
Program expenses$1.00 ($184,129)
100% to programs beats the peer average (96%) and beats the Charity Navigator "highly efficient" threshold (75%).

Common questions

· Auto-generated from filings + methodology

Erie Bird Observatory is a registered animal welfare nonprofit based in Erie, PA, United States. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It was founded in 2018 and has been operating for 8 years. Its EIN is 824134595. It has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 80/100 (Strong transparency), indicating well-documented governance, financials, and contact details. This is below the average of 92/100 for animal welfare charities in United States. The organization reports $255K in annual revenue. 29 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. GiveRadar has identified 1 potential concern.

Erie Bird Observatory has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 80/100. This score combines five components: Registration (20 pts), Financial Transparency (30 pts), Governance (20 pts), Contact Availability (10 pts), and Data Recency (20 pts), with negative adjustments for any red flags. A score of 80 ('Strong transparency') reflects well-documented governance, recent financials, named leadership, and working contact details. The charity allocates 100% of expenses to programs, which contributes positively to its score. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for animal welfare charities in United States is 92/100.

Erie Bird Observatory is located in Erie, PA, United States. The organization was established in 2018 and has been active for 8 years.

Based on official tax filings, Erie Bird Observatory has $255K in annual revenue. It allocates 100% of expenses to programs and services. This is in line with the average of 96% for animal welfare charities in United States. Its revenue is below the peer average of $1M. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.

Erie Bird Observatory is classified as a Animal Welfare organization, registered in United States. It operates as a Supporting organization (509(a)(3)). By size, it is categorized as a micro organization. It has $255K in annual revenue. The organization has 29 disclosed officers and directors.

GiveRadar has identified 1 potential concern for Erie Bird Observatory. Red flags are automatically detected from official data and may include high executive compensation relative to budget, low program spending, or missing financial filings. Red flags do not necessarily mean wrongdoing but indicate areas that may warrant further review before donating.

Erie Bird Observatory has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 80/100 (Strong transparency), which suggests it is a well-documented organization. It is regulated by the IRS. 100% of expenses go to programs. The peer average is 96%. You can donate directly through their official donation page linked on their GiveRadar profile. GiveRadar provides data for research purposes and does not endorse any organization. Always do your own due diligence.

In 2023, EBO continued ongoing bird monitoring & education programs.Spring migration count over 4 months include 951,557 birds of 160 taxa. In 2023 the banding stationcaptured 3415 birds in 67 days including 2448 new birds, 613 recaptures and 354 released unbanded. See Schedule O. Erie Bird Observatory is classified as a animal welfare organization registered in United States. The organization was founded in 2018.

Among animal welfare charities registered in United States: Erie Bird Observatory's GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 80/100 is below the peer average of 92/100. It allocates 100% of expenses to programs, in line with the peer average of 96%. Its annual revenue of $255K is below the peer average of $1M.

Yes, donations to Erie Bird Observatory are generally tax-deductible in the United States. Erie Bird Observatory is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Its EIN is 824134595, which you can use for tax filing purposes. Donors can typically deduct contributions on their federal income tax return if they itemize deductions. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Verified against 5 official sources, last refreshed .

Annual revenue
$100K-$1M
100% to programs
Source: IRS 990 (FY2024) why this matters
Unlock exact figures

Filing history

5 years on file from IRS 990 (FY2024): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.

Years on record: FY2024, FY2023, FY2022, FY2021, FY2020.
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Taxes

Tax-deductibility for donors

Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United States under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.

Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.

Leadership

HO
Holley Short
Exec. Director

Officers & trustees (8)

Source: Public filings

AN
Angela H••••
SECRETARY & TREASURER
HO
Holley S••••
Exec. Director
JO
Joe S•••••••
PRESIDENT
LA
Laura M K••••••
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
MA
Mary B•••••••
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
PA
Pat B••••••
SECRETARY
PA
Paul B••••••••
VICE PRESIDENT
SA
Sarah S••••••
EXEC. DIRECTOR
Full names, contact details & compensation

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Latest news

From global news sources

10 articles found

From global news sources

Sentiment

Neutral

Activity timeline

Filings and press mentions, merged

As birds migrate through Erie, experts ask residents to minimize artificial light - yourerie.com
May 2026
www.yourerie.com
Bird watchers wanted at Presque Isle Oct. 11. Why Erie Bird Observatory seeks volunteers - MSN
May 2026
www.msn.com
Members of Erie Bird Observatory band birds Presque Isle State Park. - Savannah Morning News
Apr 2026
www.savannahnow.com
New Ridge Center exhibit highlights 'Wetland Wonders at Presque Isle' - Erie Times-News
Jan 2026
www.goerie.com
Erie Bird Observatory's new leader explains why she migrated to northwestern Pennsylvania - Erie Times-News
Jun 2025
www.goerie.com
Erie Bird Observatory's next era takes flight with new executive director - Erie Times-News
Jun 2025
www.goerie.com
Flocking to Presque Isle this summer for bird watching? What to know if you go - Erie Times-News
Jun 2025
www.goerie.com
Spring brings millions of birds to Erie County. Learn more about these migrants - Erie Times-News
May 2025
www.goerie.com
Erie's Bicentennial Tower lights going off to raise awareness of bird migration - Erie Times-News
May 2025
www.goerie.com
Form filed
$0.3M revenue
FY2024
IRS_990
Erie nonprofit has unusual job to fill: Bird-banding and fundraising skills both a plus. - Erie Times-News
Oct 2024
www.goerie.com
Form filed
$0.2M revenue
FY2023
IRS_990
Form filed
$0.1M revenue
FY2022
IRS_990
Form filed
$0.1M revenue
FY2021
IRS_990
Form filed
$0.2M revenue
FY2020
IRS_990

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Peer charities

Other animal welfare in United States, by integrity assessment

Charity Score Revenue Program %
Erie Bird Observatory This page 80 $254,965 100%
Critter Encounters 93 $230,370 100%
Wedrose Acres 93 $114,491 99%
Spca of Tennessee 93 $189,417 83%
Arizona Poodle Rescue Inc 93 $658,982 100%
Better Days Inc 93 $181,989 99%
Fifty Shades of Furr Inc 93 $314,656 94%
Bullpen Way Station & Sanctuary Ltd 90 $151,835 93%
Clay County Animal Rescue & Education Center Inc 90 $136,295 100%

Sources and verification

Refreshed

Registration and legal identity
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search
Financial filings
IRS Form 990 filings - Fiscal year 2024 most recent on file.
Officers and trustees
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search - 29 disclosed in the public registry.
News and media coverage
GDELT Project + Google News
Supplementary verification
Charity Navigator

Data freshness

Last updated
May 27, 2026
Profile completeness
100%

What we don't know

Honest gaps - our score reflects transparency, not impact

Programs & projects
No named programs listed by the charity
Operating reach
Countries where programs run not specified

Methodology

GiveRadar combines public registry filings, ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and news archives into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.

Read full methodology

Quick facts about Erie Bird Observatory

What is Erie Bird Observatory?
Erie Bird Observatory is a animal welfare supporting organization (509(a)(3)) based in Erie, United States. In 2023, EBO continued ongoing bird monitoring & education programs.Spring migration count over 4 months include 951,557 birds of 160 taxa. In 2023 the banding stationcaptured 3415 birds in 67 days including 2448 new birds, 613 recaptures and 354 released unbanded. See Schedule O.
When was Erie Bird Observatory founded?
Erie Bird Observatory was founded in 2018.
Who leads Erie Bird Observatory?
Holley Short serves as Exec. Director.
Where is Erie Bird Observatory located?
Headquartered in Erie, United States.
What is Erie Bird Observatory's annual budget?
Annual revenue for fiscal year 2024 is approximately $100K-$1M. 100% of expenses go to program services.
Is Erie Bird Observatory trustworthy?
Erie Bird Observatory has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 80 out of 100 (Strong transparency). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
What is Erie Bird Observatory's registration number?
IRS EIN: 824134595.
What is Erie Bird Observatory's website?
http://eriebirdobservatory.org