Big Day Results: Big Success … But No Record
May 27, 2014 – The Raven Luna-ticks√ made the most of their Big Day Challenge last week, tallying 188 species but falling short of the team’s Connecticut record (192) and also of the long-shot goal of 200 species.
The team actually hit the road twice in five days (raving lunatics, indeed), and saw 188 species both times. It wasn’t all for fun, though – the Big Day Challenge is a fundraiser for Connecticut Audubon Society’s Coastal Center, supporting its outdoor science education and conservation programs.
The goal was $5,000. We’re only $500 from hitting that mark, and there’s still time to donate, so please consider helping!
The Raven Luna-ticks√ consist of Coastal Center Director Frank Gallo along with Nick Bonomo, Patrick Dugan, Dave Tripp, and Fran Zygmont. They had two awesome days in the field, and we thank them sincerely (and we hope they’ve caught up on their sleep). Here’s what Frank told us about the day:
“We had a great run until we hit Stratford/Milford in the late afternoon. Logistically, it was the best run we’ve ever done. We picked up nine species we didn’t have on Saturday [the day of the trial run], yet ultimately, we came out at the same number, 188. To put this in perspective, 186 was the state record for close to 20 years before we finally broke it with 192, three-four years ago. We’ve come close, tied, or beaten the old record ever since. I think our new average is 185. We’re set to make the leap to the next level, mid 190s or better, and ultimately 200; we’re getting the route down now… we just need the right day.
“Challenge birds that we found were Green Heron (4-5), American Woodcock (several), and Ruffed Grouse (1), … we didn’t find Blue Grosbeak or Red-necked Grebe, both of which would be rarities dropped here by divine intervention. Some highlights for the day included both King and Common Eider, all three scoters, all three mergansers, both scaup, 2 bufflehead, an Iceland Gull, Mourning Warbler, both bitterns, and four species of rails, including the last bird of the day, a King Rail. A bird we’ve never gotten on the day itself. We’ve found them scouting, but not on the day. Our night run was amazing… We hit all but two of the targets the first night. That’s unheard of…. No team, as far as I remember, has ever done two full Big Days in a week. Others have done partial dry runs, but we did two complete days … and broke the old record twice. Two hundred is doable with the right conditions … but it’s going to have to be an amazing day.”
