Major congrats (and thanks) are in order for our Birding Cup teams this year! Although they braved occasional rainy hours, they came through with huge identification lists, totaling 194 species. That’s crazy awesome, and continues to show that citizen science initiatives are a powerful way of gathering data. Not only data, but funds raised for Shaver’s Creek, too — about $13,000 was raised before the Birding Cup checklists even came in, and we’re well on our way to the $15,000 mark now! Thank you to everyone who donated and help raise money. If you’d like to donate, it’s not too late: http://www.giveto.psu.edu/birdingcupteams
It is wonderful to have so many birders—both young and young at heart—sharing their love for the natural world and the feathered creatures that inhabit it. Whether teams were celebrating their 22nd year of participation, or were picking up binoculars for the first time, everyone generously gave an entire day to raise money for Shaver’s Creek!
Without further ado… we know you want to know who took home “the gold.”
The Victors
THE BIRDING CUP: Psycho Killdeer – 145 species
The Psycho Killdeers (Kiskadee?) were able to repeat their victory from last year, seeing more species than any other team—145! They also managed to do this while staying within Centre County, an added challenge.
THE COUNTY CUP: Raiders of the Lost Lark – 135 species
The Raiders put up a great challenge even to the full Birding Cup, but did exceptionally well in a single county. This team also raised a huge amount of money, and for that we give them a special extra thank you!
THE BIRDING BOOT: Whip-poor-wheels – 107 species
Formerly known as the Red-rumped Irruptives, this slightly new team — featuring 11-year old Ellory Potter! — rode to victory on two wheels and lots of ambition!
THE MICRO CUP: Two Cuckoos – 129 species
Two Cuckoos defended their title, making them the only team to win The Micro Cup so far!
THE POTTER MUG: Supernatural SEEDlings – 57 species
Team member Bridget Petkac: “For my first time birding, I think going right into the Birding Boot was the best thing to do, because it challenges you in a new way. But also just doing Birding Cup in general was amazing, because you learn about the people you’re doing it with, but also about birds in the area — like who knew Baltimore Orioles were in Centre county? Not me!”
This team is a subset of recent SEED Semester students at Shaver’s Creek, and they really showed a passion for their newfound hobby! Although they didn’t win the Birding Boot, they did win the Potter Mug, designated for teams with less than 2 years of experience. Congratulations!
Funds This Year
While our raptors, staff, and visitors are enjoying last year’s Birding Cup project—the updated Raptor Center—we are turning our attention to increasing citizen science and visitor engagement in our Visitor Center. We are using this year’s funds for new interpretive exhibits and engaging technology like software that identifies nighttime migrants flying overhead and an interactive camera for visitors to learn about infrared radiation and literally see themselves in a new light.
Thus far we have raised almost $15,000—thanks to everyone who has donated! While the birding is over (for now), if you haven’t yet made your pledge, or if you were waiting to donate “per bird”, you can do that today.
Finally, the event would also not have been a success without our sponsors: Wiscoy for Animals, Appalachian Outdoors, Lost Creek Optics, Purple Lizard Maps, Bobby Rahal Honda, and Collegiate Pride.
Thank you!
Full Team List
Not every team can take home a trophy, but all 25 teams bring something special to the Cup, with their keen senses, fun personalities, and sense of community. Also, so many of them stuck to just one county this year — not to mention the Birding Boot teams who used only non-motorized transportation, or the Micro Cup teams who stuck to a limited, walkable area — the planet appreciates the minimal use of fuel! Thanks to all of them:
Double Downy – 54 [Micro Cup]
The Mating Pair and the Night Owl – 68 [Micro Cup]
Two Cuckoos – 129 [Micro Cup]
Supernatural SEEDlings – 57 [Potter Mug, Birding Boot, County Cup]
Fowl Play – 37 [Birding Boot]
The Wanderlings – 104 [Birding Boot]
Whip-poor-wheels – 107 [Birding Boot]
Bad Optics – 122 [County Cup]
Cardinal B’s – 98 [County Cup]
Caw & Order: Special Finches Unit – 99 [County Cup]
Easily Emused – 104 [County Cup]
Huntingdon Hawkeyes – 110 [County Cup]
Juniata Juncos – 123 [County Cup]
Not So Swifts – 78 [County Cup]
Psycho Killdeer – 145 [County Cup]
Raiders of the Lost Lark – 135 [County Cup]
Stork Raven Mad – 118 [County Cup]
Tea Time Towhees – 97 [County Cup]
The Dukes of Harrier – 119 [County Cup]
Tick McGreer & the Kickers – 125 [County Cup]
Attempted Birder – 82
Iccorrigible Galinulic Ornithological Rapscallions (IGOR) – 89
Indigo Hunting – 110
No Egrets – 80
The Wing Nuts – 144
Species List
At least 194 birds were seen this year — an incredible number of species to record in central Pennsylvania. Here’s the full list!
GEESE, SWANS & DUCKS
Snow Goose
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
White-winged Scoter
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
GAMEBIRDS
Northern Bobwhite
Ruffed Grouse
Wild Turkey
LOONS, GREBES & CORMORANTS
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
HERONS
American Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
VULTURES, EAGLES, & HAWKS
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Northern Goshawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
RAILS & SHOREBIRDS
Virginia Rail
Sora
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Least Sandpiper
Dunlin
Wilson’s Snipe
American Woodcock
GULLS & TERNS
Bonaparte’s Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Common Tern
DOVES to WOODPECKERS
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Black-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Barn Owl
Eastern Screech Owl
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Common Nighthawk
Whip-poor-will
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
PERCHING BIRDS
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Acadian Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great-Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Rough-winged Swallow
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Winter Wren
Marsh Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Swainson’s Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
American Pipit
Cedar Waxwing
Ovenbird
Worm-eating Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Blue-winged Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Henslow’s Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Purple Finch
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
OTHER SPECIES
Surf Scoter
Forster’s Tern
Snowy Egret
Bird photos by Ali Cook
Team photos by Jen Emigh