[Charity] Support Rev Ray in the 2024 World Series of Birding

[Rev Ray]

I will once again be participating in the 2020 World Series of Birding with the Hackensack Riverkeeper team, the RiverCreepers, doing a about 16 hours of birding on Saturday May 9th.  Our run in the in the watershed of the Hackensack River, basically in the eastern parts of Bergen County and Hudson County as part of a fund raiser for the Hackensack Riverkeeper, an environmental group in my area.

Since I've been on the team we've done the mid-120 species in one day range most years except the one time we got fogged in pretty bad. 

This year will be a little challenging due to COVID-19, we're going to have to do social distancing and take 2 cars.  Fortunately we went from having every county and state park closed to them starting to open, hoping that we don't run into park capacity issues due to reduced parking and head count allowed in at a time.

 

Donation Page: https://tinyurl.com/yym6fskl

About the Organization: http://www.hackensackriverkeeper.org/

About the Event: http://worldseriesofbirding.org/

Daily Show bit with Steve Carrel about the event from 2000: http://www.cc.com/video-clips/cxiky4/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-the-world-series-of-birding

[OSJ]

I was thinking of you as I put up the hummingbird feeders, does that count?

Now find us an Ivory-billed Woodpecker! I just know that motherfucker is out there somewhere!

[Rev Ray]

This year's tally:

1	White-throated Sparrow	Schmidt's Woods	4:23 AM	09 May 2020
2	Greater Yellowlegs	Meadowlands IBA--Mill Creek Point	4:29 AM	09 May 2020
3	American Robin	Meadowlands IBA--Mill Creek Point	4:29 AM	09 May 2020
4	Song Sparrow	Meadowlands IBA--Mill Creek Point	4:29 AM	09 May 2020
5	Red-winged Blackbird	Meadowlands IBA--Mill Creek Point	4:29 AM	09 May 2020
6	Killdeer	Disposal Rd.	5:13 AM	09 May 2020
7	Gray Catbird	Disposal Rd.	5:13 AM	09 May 2020
8	Common Yellowthroat	Disposal Rd.	5:13 AM	09 May 2020
9	Northern Cardinal	Disposal Rd.	5:13 AM	09 May 2020
10	Canada Goose	US-New Jersey-Kearny-780 Belleville Turnpike - 40.761x-74.117	5:23 AM	09 May 2020
11	Mute Swan	US-New Jersey-Kearny-780 Belleville Turnpike - 40.761x-74.117	5:23 AM	09 May 2020
12	Mallard	US-New Jersey-Kearny-780 Belleville Turnpike - 40.761x-74.117	5:23 AM	09 May 2020
13	Mourning Dove	US-New Jersey-Kearny-780 Belleville Turnpike - 40.761x-74.117	5:23 AM	09 May 2020
14	Ring-billed Gull	US-New Jersey-Kearny-780 Belleville Turnpike - 40.761x-74.117	5:23 AM	09 May 2020
15	Least Bittern	US-New Jersey-Kearny-780 Belleville Turnpike - 40.761x-74.117	5:23 AM	09 May 2020
16	Great Egret	US-New Jersey-Kearny-780 Belleville Turnpike - 40.761x-74.117	5:23 AM	09 May 2020
17	Osprey	US-New Jersey-Kearny-780 Belleville Turnpike - 40.761x-74.117	5:23 AM	09 May 2020
18	Red-tailed Hawk	US-New Jersey-Kearny-780 Belleville Turnpike - 40.761x-74.117	5:23 AM	09 May 2020
19	Tree Swallow	US-New Jersey-Kearny-780 Belleville Turnpike - 40.761x-74.117	5:23 AM	09 May 2020
20	Marsh Wren	US-New Jersey-Kearny-780 Belleville Turnpike - 40.761x-74.117	5:23 AM	09 May 2020
21	Common Grackle	US-New Jersey-Kearny-780 Belleville Turnpike - 40.761x-74.117	5:23 AM	09 May 2020
22	Yellow Warbler	US-New Jersey-Kearny-780 Belleville Turnpike - 40.761x-74.117	5:23 AM	09 May 2020
23	Rock Pigeon	601 Schuyler Avenue, Lyndhurst, New Jersey, US (40.8, -74.116)	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
24	Red-bellied Woodpecker	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
25	Downy Woodpecker	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
26	Northern Flicker	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
27	Blue-headed Vireo	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
28	Red-eyed Vireo	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
29	Blue Jay	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
30	Black-capped Chickadee	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
31	Tufted Titmouse	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
32	Veery	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
33	Swainson's Thrush	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
34	Wood Thrush	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
35	House Sparrow	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
36	Baltimore Oriole	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
37	Ovenbird	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
38	Northern Waterthrush	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
39	Blue-winged Warbler	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
40	Black-and-white Warbler	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
41	American Redstart	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
42	Northern Parula	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
43	Magnolia Warbler	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
44	Black-throated Blue Warbler	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
45	Yellow-rumped Warbler	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
46	Black-throated Green Warbler	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
47	Scarlet Tanager	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
48	Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
49	Indigo Bunting	Borg's Woods	5:50 AM	09 May 2020
50	American Crow	419 Washington Avenue, Township of Washington, New Jersey, US (40.995, -74.048)	6:12 AM	09 May 2020
51	Carolina Wren	419 Washington Avenue, Township of Washington, New Jersey, US (40.995, -74.048)	6:12 AM	09 May 2020
52	House Finch	419 Washington Avenue, Township of Washington, New Jersey, US (40.995, -74.048)	6:12 AM	09 May 2020
53	Double-crested Cormorant	Lake Tappan	6:25 AM	09 May 2020
54	Great Blue Heron	Lake Tappan	6:25 AM	09 May 2020
55	Bald Eagle	Lake Tappan	6:25 AM	09 May 2020
56	Eastern Kingbird	Lake Tappan	6:25 AM	09 May 2020
57	Warbling Vireo	Lake Tappan	6:25 AM	09 May 2020
58	Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Lake Tappan	6:25 AM	09 May 2020
59	Barn Swallow	Lake Tappan	6:25 AM	09 May 2020
60	Cliff Swallow	Lake Tappan	6:25 AM	09 May 2020
61	Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Lake Tappan	6:25 AM	09 May 2020
62	House Wren	Lake Tappan	6:25 AM	09 May 2020
63	Brown Thrasher	Lake Tappan	6:25 AM	09 May 2020
64	American Goldfinch	Lake Tappan	6:25 AM	09 May 2020
65	Prairie Warbler	Lake Tappan	6:25 AM	09 May 2020
66	Eastern Wood-Pewee	Meadowlands IBA--Losen Slote Creek Park	7:41 AM	09 May 2020
67	Great Crested Flycatcher	Meadowlands IBA--Losen Slote Creek Park	7:41 AM	09 May 2020
68	Fish Crow	Meadowlands IBA--Losen Slote Creek Park	7:41 AM	09 May 2020
69	European Starling	Meadowlands IBA--Losen Slote Creek Park	7:41 AM	09 May 2020
70	Northern Mockingbird	Meadowlands IBA--Losen Slote Creek Park	7:41 AM	09 May 2020
71	Eastern Towhee	Meadowlands IBA--Losen Slote Creek Park	7:41 AM	09 May 2020
72	Worm-eating Warbler	Meadowlands IBA--Losen Slote Creek Park	7:41 AM	09 May 2020
73	Louisiana Waterthrush	Meadowlands IBA--Losen Slote Creek Park	7:41 AM	09 May 2020
74	Nashville Warbler	Meadowlands IBA--Losen Slote Creek Park	7:41 AM	09 May 2020
75	Chestnut-sided Warbler	Meadowlands IBA--Losen Slote Creek Park	7:41 AM	09 May 2020
76	Hairy Woodpecker	Poplar Rd. Wildlife Sanctuary	8:09 AM	09 May 2020
77	Cedar Waxwing	Poplar Rd. Wildlife Sanctuary	8:09 AM	09 May 2020
78	Belted Kingfisher	Harrington Park, Kolder Way	9:11 AM	09 May 2020
79	White-breasted Nuthatch	Harrington Park, Kolder Way	9:11 AM	09 May 2020
80	Savannah Sparrow	Harrington Park, Kolder Way	9:11 AM	09 May 2020
81	Chimney Swift	635 Pomander Walk, Teaneck US-NJ 40.88913, -74.03225	9:20 AM	09 May 2020
82	Green Heron	635 Pomander Walk, Teaneck US-NJ 40.88913, -74.03225	9:20 AM	09 May 2020
83	Turkey Vulture	635 Pomander Walk, Teaneck US-NJ 40.88913, -74.03225	9:20 AM	09 May 2020
84	Least Flycatcher	635 Pomander Walk, Teaneck US-NJ 40.88913, -74.03225	9:20 AM	09 May 2020
85	Brown-headed Cowbird	635 Pomander Walk, Teaneck US-NJ 40.88913, -74.03225	9:20 AM	09 May 2020
86	Common Merganser	Oradell Reservoir and Emerson Woods	9:22 AM	09 May 2020
87	Spotted Sandpiper	Oradell Reservoir and Emerson Woods	9:22 AM	09 May 2020
88	Great Horned Owl	Oradell Reservoir and Emerson Woods	9:22 AM	09 May 2020
89	Black-crowned Night-Heron	Indian Pond	9:43 AM	09 May 2020
90	Lesser Yellowlegs	New Bridge Landing	10:10 AM	09 May 2020
91	Peregrine Falcon	New Bridge Landing	10:10 AM	09 May 2020
92	Wild Turkey	Borg's Woods	10:44 AM	09 May 2020
93	Hermit Thrush	Borg's Woods	10:44 AM	09 May 2020
94	Wilson's Warbler	Borg's Woods	10:44 AM	09 May 2020
95	Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Palisades Park IBA--Alpine Section	11:04 AM	09 May 2020
96	Herring Gull	Palisades Park IBA--Alpine Section	11:04 AM	09 May 2020
97	Black Vulture	Palisades Park IBA--Alpine Section	11:04 AM	09 May 2020
98	Chipping Sparrow	Palisades Park IBA--Alpine Section	11:04 AM	09 May 2020
99	Gadwall	Disposal Rd.	11:37 AM	09 May 2020
100	Solitary Sandpiper	Disposal Rd.	11:37 AM	09 May 2020
101	White-crowned Sparrow	Disposal Rd.	11:37 AM	09 May 2020
102	Palm Warbler	Disposal Rd.	11:37 AM	09 May 2020
103	Northern Shoveler	Richard W. DeKorte Park	12:09 PM	09 May 2020
104	Least Sandpiper	Richard W. DeKorte Park	12:09 PM	09 May 2020
105	Semipalmated Sandpiper	Richard W. DeKorte Park	12:09 PM	09 May 2020
106	Laughing Gull	Richard W. DeKorte Park	12:09 PM	09 May 2020
107	Forster's Tern	Richard W. DeKorte Park	12:09 PM	09 May 2020
108	Snowy Egret	Richard W. DeKorte Park	12:09 PM	09 May 2020
109	Bank Swallow	Richard W. DeKorte Park	12:09 PM	09 May 2020
110	Bobolink	Richard W. DeKorte Park	12:09 PM	09 May 2020
111	Pileated Woodpecker	Tenafly Nature Center	12:27 PM	09 May 2020
112	Monk Parakeet	Overpeck County Park	1:30 PM	09 May 2020
113	American Black Duck	Meadowlands IBA--Harrier Meadows (restricted access)	2:09 PM	09 May 2020
114	Green-winged Teal	Meadowlands IBA--Harrier Meadows (restricted access)	2:09 PM	09 May 2020
115	Northern Harrier	Meadowlands IBA--Harrier Meadows (restricted access)	2:09 PM	09 May 2020
116	Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Meadowlands IBA--Harrier Meadows (restricted access)	2:09 PM	09 May 2020
117	Great Black-backed Gull	Richard W. DeKorte Park	3:38 PM	09 May 2020
118	Caspian Tern	Richard W. DeKorte Park	3:38 PM	09 May 2020
119	Brant	Liberty SP	4:46 PM	09 May 2020
120	Bufflehead	Liberty SP	4:46 PM	09 May 2020
121	Red-breasted Merganser	Liberty SP	4:46 PM	09 May 2020
122	American Oystercatcher	Liberty SP	4:46 PM	09 May 2020
123	Boat-tailed Grackle	Liberty SP	4:46 PM	09 May 2020
124	Lesser Scaup	WMCA Radio Towers/Sawmill Creek	6:06 PM	09 May 2020
125	Least Tern	Clay Ave. Wetland (Tessie McNamara Park)	6:41 PM	09 May 2020
126	Yellow-crowned Night-Heron	Secaucus - Hackensack Riverfront	6:58 PM	09 May 2020
127	Clapper Rail	Laurel Hill Park	7:24 PM	09 May 2020
128	Swamp Sparrow	Meadowlands IBA--Mill Creek Point	8:35 PM	09 May 2020

 

 

A pretty good haul but  a weird year.  We had a split squad due to basically them laxing a lot of rules due to social distancing requirements.  We did a split squad with me and team Captain Hugh in 2 cars birding together as  a team and by the rules, a 3rd team mate Hugh's son Dan birding in different locations.  As a two man squad, Hugh and I racked up 110 species with Dan getting 18 species we did not see.  Rough day, it felt like 28 degrees (IN MAY) at 4am when we started.  We actually had snowflakes falling at points in the day.  We were also dealing with high winds, with gusts in the 30mph range during the day.

First Bird:  White-throated Sparrow

 

 

Last Bird:  Swamp Sparrow:

 

[Rev Ray]

Bit of bad news, the Riverkeeper had a fire in the neighboring store that apparently has done a number on their offices.  They are the blue building on the right.  Nobody was hurt and their boats are not at the location but they had like 2 feet of water in their basement and it is unknown at the time of the email how bad the structural damage to the shared wall is.  So if you were on the fence about helping, every little bit will help.

[Ryan]

There's a mama mallard about to hatch 10 eggs in the next 5 days that's literally feet from this house. I can stand on the deck and look at her. Does that count as birding?

[Rev Ray]

https://www.hackensackriverkeeper.org/wsb/

 

This happening again on Saturday.   Send money.

[Rev Ray]

Real sports is supposed to be doing a story on the world series of birding (in a weird pro wrestling type connection Ariel halwani is the reporter).  My team captain was apparently on the list to be interviewed but they did get back to him.

[Rev Ray]

Hey fellow teens, Rev Ray here with the worst sales pitch ever. As some of you know  I do the birding thing, this Saturday is the world series of birding and I participate as part of a fundraising team for the Hackensack Riverkeeper.   If you can only contribute to only one thing, by all means contribute to the gofundme for Dean's family, otherwise any support is appreciated.   We usually tally about 125 species, our high score is 134.

https://www.hackensackriverkeeper.org/wsb/

[Rev Ray]

https://ebird.org/tripreport/127044

 

From 4am til about 830pm we covered parts of hudson and Bergen County in New Jersey covering the watershed tallying 134 species,  actually setting a new team high score of 134 species (our previous high was 131).  Best birds were probably Wilson's phalarope and a merlin.  Big misses were wild turkey and great horned owl.

[Rev Ray]

https://www.hackensackriverkeeper.org/donate-1

 

I'm participating in World Series of Birding again next Saturday.   Support appreciated.