[va-richmond-general] FW: [Va-bird] Kiptopeke Challenge Results

From: "Janice Frye" <jjfdc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <va-richmond-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:08:53 -0400

My prediction-Arun and Allen beat us all next year!

 

Jan

 

  _____  

From: va-bird-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:va-bird-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Taberzz@xxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, October 23, 2009 8:51 AM
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Va-bird] Kiptopeke Challenge Results

 

I am positing the Kiptopeke Challenge results for Paul Nasca, who once again
coordinated this great event for Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory....if
anyone would like further information, please contact Paul or me directly.

 

Brian Taber

 

 

Dear Kiptopeke Challenge Supporters and Virginia Birders;

 

On September 26, 2009, Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory (CVWO) held its
15th annual Kiptopeke Challenge.  The Kiptopeke Challenge (KC) is a fun and
friendly team birding event and the primary fundraiser for CVWO.  Once
again, the high caliber of competitors, the unpredictable weather, and the
non-breeding plumage of most birds gave real meaning to the word "Challenge"
in the event's title. To help celebrate the KC's milestone anniversary, 11
teams competed in three separate categories - 24-Hour, 3-Hour and Special
Venue.  

 

In the 24-Hour category, eight teams scoured Virginia's Eastern Shore of
Accomack and Northampton Counties, to identify the most birds.  Team Wild
Birds Unlimited - Williamsburg (Brian Taber, Calvin Brennan and Paul Nasca)
narrowly edged out the other teams to take first place with 114 species.
The highlight species included the only Northern Bobwhite identified in the
event and the first ever KC record of Cave Swallow!  Placing second, were
the defending champions, Augusta Bald Eagles (Allen Larner, Janice Frye, and
Ed & Nancy Lawler), who tallied an impressive 111 species, including the
only Ruddy Duck and Virginia Rail in the event and KC firsts - Canada
Warbler and White-throated Sparrow. Wow!  Taking third place with 107
species were newcomers to the KC, team Widely Wandering Wrynecks (Arun Bose
and Allen Bryan).  They located such event rarities as Least Sandpiper,
Horned Lark, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and the only Black-throated Green Warbler
identified in the competition.  Gulls Gone Wild - Williamsburg Bird Club
(Shirley Devan, Bill Williams, Susan Powell, Alex Minarik, and Lee Schuster)
scored the only Wilson's Warbler to bring their total to 103 species.
Veteran KC teams Laughing Falcons (Bob Ake, David Clark and Dorie Stolley)
and The Brown Headed Nut Cases - Virginia Beach Audubon (Peter Doherty and
Sheila Scoville) each posted a final tally of 100 species.  The Falcons
located such rarities during the event as Snow Goose, Wild Turkey and
Prairie Warbler.  The Nutcases found the only American Golden Plover and
Dunlin to be had that day.  The Awesome Ostriches (Renee Hudgins, John Young
and Margaret Odell) spied the event's only Pectoral Sandpiper to bring their
total to a respectable 88 species.  The VSO Roving Ravens (Alan Schreck and
Linda Fields) gave it their best, but unfortunately had to withdraw after
only a couple of hours due some bad "bird seed" ingested a few nights
before.

 

From Florida came team Birding Adventures (Captained by Paddy Cunningham and
her crew of seven) to be unrivaled in the 3-Hour category.  The team birded
the Nature Conservancy's Brownsville Farm property, tallying an impressive
49 species.  These included the competition's only Wood Duck, as well as
goodies like Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Magnolia Warbler and Swamp
Sparrow.  

 

Competing in the Special Venue category were the two hawkwatch teams - The
CVWO Platformers (Bob Anderson and Harry Armistead) at Kiptopeke SP and The
CVWO Seasiders (Zack Poulton and others) at the Eastern Shore of Virginia
NWR.  The Platformers won out with 65 species, including the event's only
Chimney Swift, Purple Martin and Summer Tanager.  The Seasiders raked in
rarities like Glossy Ibis, Marsh Wren and the only Vesper Sparrow.

 

On behalf of the CVWO I'd like to extend a sincere "Thank You" to all of the
participants who helped make the 15th annual KC a success and to everyone
who made a financial donation to one of the teams or the event!  

 

Also a big "Thank You" goes out to the business and organizations that
supported the event, particularly Wild Birds Unlimited of Williamsburg, MAO
Consulting,  The Nature Conservancy, Wetlands Studies and Solutions and
Southeast Expeditions.

 

The presentation of team awards and the recognition of all participating
teams will be made at the CVWO Annual Meeting on Saturday, November 7, 2009,
from 3-6pm at the Kiptopeke State Park Cabins.  If you would like to attend
the Annual Meeting, please contact CVWO President, Brian Taber at
taberzz@xxxxxxxx

 

Best Birds,

 

Paul Nasca       Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory
Kiptopeke Challenge Coordinator   P.O. Box 1225 
nasca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    Virginia Beach, VA 23451

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[va-richmond-general] FW: [Va-bird] Kiptopeke Challenge Results

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