Ithaca, NY—The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s competitive birding team is in Texas, on a quest to break a national record while raising a quarter-million dollars for bird conservation. Team Sapsucker will attempt to top the U.S. record for the most bird species identified in 24 hours, which now stands at 261. For every species they find, they’re asking supporters to pledge funds for bird conservation.

Since April 15, the team has been scouting for birds in Texas hill country, brush, desert, woodlands, wetlands, and coastal habitats. Then from midnight to midnight on April 22, the Sapsuckers will unleash their visual and auditory birding skills in this species-rich state.

Supporters can pledge any amount toward bird conservation for each bird species the team finds. During the past 25 years, Cornell Lab birding teams have raised more than $2.7 million for bird conservation.

To learn more about the team or to pledge support, visit www.birds.cornell.edu/BigDay.

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Note: The members of Team Sapsucker are Chris Wood, Brian Sullivan, Marshall Iliff, Jessie Barry, Andrew Farnsworth, and Tim Lenz.

 
Contact: Pat Leonard, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, (607) 254-2137, pel27@cornell.edu