Piping Plover seen at Cape May Point State Park

The Holy Order of Loggerhead Shrikes Pronatura Veracruz Team had a great day competing in the 23rd annual World Series of Birding in Cape May, New Jersey on May 13, 2006.

The Shrikes were poised at the edge of a salt marsh as the clock struck midnight. Immediately a Clapper Rail called, signaling the start of WSB 2006. This was followed by the world's most persistent Chuck-will's-widow and Black-crowned Night-Heron. A propitious start to say the least.

This was undoubtedly the Shrikes best WSB nightbirding. Before dawn chorus, we had Least Bittern, Yellow-breasted Chat, Great Blue Heron, Ruddy Duck, American Woodcock, Mute Swan, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, and Eastern Screech-Owl also firmly in the plus column. We would have had Black Skimmer as well, except that Gordon and John do not possess bionic eyes. We are currently working with Eagle Optics to perfect infrared birding binoculars that will enable us to keep up with Andy.

Because we were birding Cape Island only (6 square miles at the southern tip of Cape May County) we decided to make a bold move and make Higbee Beach the cornerstone of our landbirding. It quickly became apparent that this was not a great day for finding migrant songbirds at Higbee, so as rain threatened we left Higbee ahead of schedule to hit the jetties which figured to be more productive. Great looks at Surf Scoter and White-winged Scoter were a highlight of the amazing seabird show. The rumored Hairy Woodpecker at Hidden Valley that eluded us all week in scouting proved to be particularly cooperative on game day.

Scouting paid off again when a Northern Bobwhite we found Friday called as we pulled up. Time to kick it up a notch and head for the home stretch. The decision to walk the boardwalks at Cape May Point State Park rather than scope for Little Blue Heron from the hawkwatch platform paid off with Bank Swallow and our first Yellow-rumped Warbler of the day. We closed the day in the South Cape May Meadows where a pair of Wilson's Snipe became the 134th entry on the day's list. But the excitement was not over! An American Woodcock put an exclamation point to the day by buzzing us so close we could feel the wingbeats and landing literally at our feet!

We decided to listen at the Meadows for calling rails and nighthawks. So, we found bench in a nice quiet area by the marsh and sat, waiting quietly and patiently listening. After 10 minutes, two of us had fallen asleep. An executive decision was made and we headed back to the finish line, somewhat refreshed, though still in pain after about 15 miles of walking since midnight.

Our team total of 134 species birding Cape Island was good enough to equal the perennial Cape Island Cup winning team, Zen Zugunruhe for 2nd place in a very strong field. Team members Gordon Gover, John Hubbell, and captain Andy Rabin scored several firsts in this year's event, including first Canada Warbler, first Bank Swallow, first scoter and owl trifectas, and finding the first restaurant that met all Shrike standards for game day nourishment. Plans are already underway to make WSB 2007 even more successful in every way.

The Holy Order of Loggerhead Shrikes raises funds for Pronatura Veracruz, the Mexican conservation organization dedicated to preserving the Veracruz River of Raptors. We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to our loyal donors for their support of Pronatura Veracruz and especially to Dan Hamilton and Ben Lizdas of Eagle Optics. It is a great pleasure to be partners with their great company in the World Series of Birding because they recognize the importance of conserving habitat for future generations. Special thanks also go out to Nancy Gover for helping with the scouting, and especially for bringing the guys lunch in the middle of the exhausting big day. And last but not least, to Don "Lord High Loggerhead" Simonson, who though he couldn't make it this year, helped out a lot with the team logistics, and inspired us to ask, whenever we were in doubt during the big day, "What Would Don Do?" Never mind that whatever the answer was, we always did the opposite...

Sunset at Cape May Meadows