Cornell Team Sets New U.S. Birding Record
"Perfect storm" of weather and timing produces stunning species total
For release: April 26, 2013
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Team Sapsucker (L-R): Marshall Iliff, Tim Lenz, Jessie Barry, Chris Wood, Brian Sullivan, and Andrew Farnsworth. Photo by Tim Gallagher. |
Ithaca, NY--In a race against time, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Team Sapsucker obliterated the previous U.S. record for the number of bird species identified in a 24-hour period. These six intrepid birders, all members of the Lab’s staff, went on a blitz through Texas on Thursday, April 25, finding a stunning 294 species—far above the previous record of 264 which the same team set in Texas two years ago and matched last year. This extreme birding effort, traditionally called a “Big Day,” is also one of the largest fundraisers of the year for the Cornell Lab.
Thanks to sponsorship by Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, LLC, all the money raised helps advance bird conservation efforts. Some comments from the team about the rare combination of events that led to a once-in-a- lifetime birding experience:
Andrew Farnsworth:
“One of the keys to our success this year was a truly unique weather phenomenon: a cold front with wind and rain that dropped through Texas the day before, colliding head-on with birds migrating north from Central and South America, where, conversely, conditions were great for birds to take off on their journeys. It resulted in what we call a ‘fallout’ on High Island along the Gulf Coast east of Galveston. An incredible variety of species all hunkered down to refuel and wait for better conditions. The trees and the ground were just dripping with fantastic birds!”
Chris Wood:
“Texas is an incredible state for birds—really the crossroads for all the species you might find in North America. You can get everything from grassland and prairie birds, to desert birds, and even Eastern forest birds…all in one state.”
Brian Sullivan:
“I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to come close to having this kind of birding experience in North America again. I really think this is a record that will be nearly impossible for us to beat. I hope the wonderful habitats that are here for birds will be preserved so we can continue to see all these species 10 or 20 years from now.”
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First bird of the day: Ross’s Goose (midnight)
Final bird of the day: Virginia Rail (11:41 p.m.)
The members of Team Sapsucker are Chris Wood (captain), Jessie Barry, Tim Lenz, Marshall Iliff, Brian Sullivan, and Andrew Farnsworth. Last year Team Sapsucker raised $250,000 for bird conservation. To help them break this fundraising record for birds, supporters can donate at birds.cornell.edu/bigday.
Team Sapsucker is sponsored by Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, LLC.
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Media Contact:
Pat Leonard, Cornell Lab, (607) 254-2137, pel27@cornell.edu
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