On Saturday 7 May the Maryland-DC  Important Bird Areas Birdathon Team (David Curson, Mikey Lutmerding, David Yeany II and Dave Ziolkowski) completed the 2nd annual IBA Birdathon, spending approximately 21 hours covering top birding spots from Susquahanna down to the Lower Eastern Shore. It was a great day. I'll give just a quick summary here, and I'll send out a longer account a little later.

Our day total was 174 species, with a couple of the highlights being: a Common Moorhen at Swan Harbor (heard), and 2 Parasitic Jaegers chasing terns off Assateague Island. Our big miss of the day was definitely Downy Woodpecker (how did we manage that!). Warbler migration was rather slow but we had a good showing of the expected species with both nightjars, 4 rail species (King, Clapper, Virginia and Sora) in addition to the moorhen, and few late wintering species like Surf Scoter, Red-throated Diver, Brant.

Thanks to all those who have sponsored the Birdathon. The pledges so far come to a little over $3,000, in support of support Audubon's Important Bird Areas Program in Maryland-DC.  For anyone who would still like to make a pledge, you can do so online at http://mddc.audubon.org/  The online giving page is now working!

I'll send out a more complete account of the Big Day soon.

Good birding.

Dave

David Curson, PhD
Director of Bird Conservation,
Audubon Maryland-DC.
2901 E. Baltimore St,
Baltimore, MD  21224
Tel: (410) 558 2473.
E-mail: 



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