While football fans are gearing up for the big game, the most dedicated birders will be braving the cold to compete in the Superbowl of Birding, an annual event hosted by Mass Audubon. The contest challenges teams to spot as many bird species as possible during a 12-hour period in Rockingham County, NH, and/or Essex County, MA. Some teams (including NH Audubon’s) compete for the coveted Townie Award, focusing their efforts on a single town to record the highest number of species.
Traditionally led by team captain Becky Suomala, NH Audubon’s team will look a little different this year. Becky will be busy birding in New Zealand (and who can blame her?). While she’s searching for kiwis, the Twitchers will be on the New Hampshire coast looking for winter specialties like Snow Buntings, Horned Larks, and even a Snowy Owl. Stepping up in her absence is Grace McCulloch, NH Audubon’s Community Science Project Leader, who will be competing in the Superbowl of Birding for the first time. No need to worry, though—she’ll be joined by veteran team members Susan Wrisley and Jenna Rosen. With Kathryn Frieden also away on a trip, Leo McKillop will round out the team.
Known informally as the “Twitchers,” the team will be birding from 5 am to 5 pm, all to raise funds for NH Audubon’s birding publication, New Hampshire Bird Records, now available online as the Joy of Birding. Last year, the Twitchers competed in Hampton, NH, where they recorded 65 species and earned 109 points, with rarer birds earning higher point values. This year, they’ll return to Hampton once again. Let’s see if they can match or surpass last year’s impressive results.
You can support the Twitchers by making a donation today! Catch them on the New Hampshire coast on Saturday, January 31, or cheer them on in spirit as they showcase their birding skills in support of NH Audubon’s bird conservation and participatory science work.
Thank you for supporting NH Audubon and the Twitchers!