Birders Aim High in
 Midnight-to-Midnight Competition

World Series of  Birding raises vital funds for conservation

Ithaca, NY—On May 9, 2009, the nation’s top birding teams will compete in the World Series of Birding, a manic midnight-to-midnight birding blowout to find the most bird species in New Jersey. Two teams from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology—Team Sapsucker and the Redheads (the student team named for the Cornell “Big Red”)—are plotting their strategy for how to find the most birds and to break the record they set last year for the most funds raised for bird conservation.

“It may sound crazy to bird for 24 hours, but for us it’s all about the thrill of birding, the excitement of going for the win, and the chance to help bird conservation,” says Team Sapsucker member Brian Sullivan. Last year, the Cornell Lab’s teams raised $200,000, more than any other group in the event’s history. With many bird populations in serious decline, Sullivan says the teams are aiming higher than ever this year to help birds in trouble.

Anyone can support the teams’ cause by making a pledge for each species they tally on the “Big Day” or by sending a flat donation. All the funds raised go directly to programs to help protect birds, including student training in conservation, thanks to longtime sponsor, Swarovski Optik, which covers the teams’ expenses.

Team Sapsucker hopes to recapture the championship after tying for second place last year in the statewide competition with 222 species in 24 hours. The Redheads are also determined to better their second place finish in the Cape May County division last year when they checked off 184 species.

Last year’s donations to the student team helped fund an expedition to a remote region of Peru, where young scientists from Cornell contributed new scientific information on birds and brought attention to the need for conservation. Donations to Team Sapsucker helped advance new technology for detecting the calls of birds migrating at night—a valuable source of data to inform conservation decisions, such as where to site wind turbines to minimize impact to wildlife.

To find out more about Team Sapsucker and the Redheads or to make a donation to help the birds, visit www.BigDay09.org or call (800) 843-BIRD.
 

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