Team Sapsucker Checklist                The Redheads Checklist

Every World Series of Birding competition is timed to the minute, yet filled with unexpected detours. This year was no exception. Fickle weather, shifting migrants, and mechanical meltdowns were all part of the mix as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s teams strained eyes and ears to tally every species possible.

The one thing that never seems to change is the unwavering generosity of friends and donors plus the backing of long-time sponsor Swarovski Optik. Your commitment to bird conservation fueled our teams’ sleep-deprived, rain-soaked, mad dash in and around New Jersey!

Team Sapsucker, covering the entire state, tallied 221 species, taking third place in the overall competition and bringing home the Stearns Award. (Our friends and rivals, the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club Lagerhead Shrikes, took first place with 229 species.) Our student team, The Redheads, won the Cape May County division championship with 187 species. Thanks to you we raised more than $200,000 for bird conservation programs and undergraduate research—a new record for the World Series of Birding! Read on to see how it all played out on the Big Day.

Team Sapsucker

(L-R) Marshall Iliff, Chris Wood, Jessie Barry, Tim Lenz, Andrew Farnsworth, Brian Sullivan. Photo by Louise Zemaitis

The Big Day is all about skill, timing, and luck. Team Sapsucker had the first two, but we came up a little short on the third!

Every team had to deal with rain, wind, and the departure of winter birds they’d been counting on from the previous week’s scouting. But we knew we’d hit a major snag when we heard an unwelcome pop and a hiss. The rear tire on our van went flat at 2:30 A.M. in a driving rainstorm. Calls to friends, spouses, and scouts drummed up a replacement sedan, but it was too small to carry everything. We ditched food, water, and much of our gear. We were Sapsuckers in a sardine can, but we took off to make up the hour-and-a-half delay. Late morning brought another vehicle change after a new SUV was finally rented and delivered.

Team Sapsucker at Cape May Meadows. Photo by Jay McGowan

 It was an epic rebound, marked by highs and lows. Some disappointing misses (Ruffed Grouse, Cliff Swallow) were offset by bonus birds (American Golden-Plover, American Pipit), and even some non-bird sightings: a bear and the Statue of Liberty! The stop in Liberty State Park also netted Red-throated Loon, Canvasback, Cedar Waxwing, and many warblers.

The unsung heroes of the day were Patti Ryan, Lewis Grove, Ken Rosenberg, and Dennis Miranda, the “disaster support team” who responded to early morning calls for help by shuttling cars and renting vans, getting the Sapsuckers back on track.
Partnerships and friendships helped us out of a difficult situation and I think that’s the way the entire Lab operates. A lot of our successes at the Lab are because of our partnerships and the support of our members.

 The Redheads

(L-R) Tom Johnson, Jay McGowan, Brad Walker, Shawn Billerman. Photo by Jay McGowan

 
In contrast, the Big Day was butter-smooth for the Lab’s student team. The Redheads birded Cape May County, tallying the highest number of species for the day and setting a record for the team as well. The day started well in tidal marshes at the northern part of the county. In the first 15 minutes after midnight, the team checked off Gray-cheeked Thrush, Veery, Swainson’s Thrush, and Wood Thrush migrating overhead.

Highlights included several Common Nighthawks, King Rail, Black Rail, Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, and an unexpected Barn Owl flying through the glow of the headlights.

The Redheads scoping out the terrain. Photo by Louise Zemaitis

“Every member of the team was a vital part of our success,” says team captain Shawn Billerman. “We pulled in some rarities such as White-faced Ibis, Black-necked Stilt, and Common Moorhen.”

Teammate Tom Johnson says, “Shawn has amazing skills. He spotted an American Bittern standing in a tiny marsh in the middle of the Garden State Parkway while we were moving at highway speed!”

“Probably the coolest bird of the week was a hybrid of Cerulean Warbler and Northern Parula,” says Jay McGowan. “It doesn’t help our tally for the day at all, but it’s still pretty cool to see!” 

This was the first-ever Big Day competition for Brad Walker who still can’t get the smile off his face from having tallied a couple dozen “life birds.” 

“The day was just a lot of fun,” says Shawn. “We feel really happy that we’re birding for a good cause, helping fund future undergraduate work.” 

It’s all about teamwork
You should feel very proud of your Big Day contribution too. Your support will go to vital bird conservation programs here at the Lab and help fund the work of undergraduates who will be our conservation leaders in the years ahead. Swarovski Optik generously covers all team expenses, so every bit of your gift will be used for the causes you care about.

And finally, congratulations to Bonnie Avery of Upton, Kentucky, who won the Swarovski binoculars for correctly guessing the Sapsuckers’ species total of 221 and the time of our final bird: a Yellow-breasted Chat at 11:30 P.M. Visit the 2009 photo gallery to see a few more pictures from Big Day '09.

Thank you for all you have done to make this year’s Big Day another big win for the birds!

Chris Wood, captain
Team Sapsucker