The Twitchers Go Viral in 2021
Becky Suomala, the “Townie Solitaire” in frigid Antarctic Seabrook adding the newly discovered “Hampton-Seabrook Penguin” to her list after “Twitch-n-Dip” in Hampton first spotted them. Photo by Susan Wrisley.
Twitchers Win Two Awards!
The “Twitcher” Teams had a great day in the Semi-Superbowl of Birding on January 30, 2021. Despite a cold day with wind chills as low of -5 degrees, “Birding with Impunity” in Rye took home the coveted Rockingham County Award with a whopping 121 points, and the “Townie Solitaire” won the Townie Award in Seabrook with 64 species. Wow!
There were 21 teams in the competition this year, ten competing for the Townie Award. It was great to have so much competition this year. It was so interesting to see how the three Twitcher teams did on the coast and then compare that to the inland town competitors. Everyone had a great time despite the cold.
Temperatures started out at a very chilly 8 degrees at the 5:00 am start but the wind wasn’t as bad as expected. With three Twitcher teams there were lots of highlights which will be in the summary (posted below as soon as it’s complete). “Birding with Impunity” had three five-point species, and received the three-point bonus on two of them for being the first to call in that species, boosting their point total. Becky Suomala was thrilled to find four owl species, a first for the Twitchers. The three teams combined had 83 species, six of which were new for the Twitchers.
The tally:
“Birding with Impunity” in Rye, Pam Hunt and Unity Dienes, 63 species, 121 points
“Townie Solitaire” (aka The Lone Twitcher) in Seabrook, Becky Suomala, 64 species, 118 points
“Twitch-n-Dip” in Hampton, Susan Wrisley and Jenna Pettipas, 58 species, 96 points
Click here to read an expanded summary of the Twitchers 2021 results.
One of five owl species tallied by the Twitcher teams! Photo by Rebecca Suomala.
Thanks to everyone who pledged their support. There were some very creative pledges and we had fun trying to fulfill them (i.e. a bonus for an ostrich! – you just never know what the Twitchers will find, with a little help from Photoshop). All donations go to support New Hampshire Bird Records and NHeBird (the team pays its own way).
It’s not too late to support the Twitchers!
Click here to pledge online, or click here to pay online for a pledge you have already made, or contact Becky Suomala at rsuomala@nhaudubon.org.
Past Years’ Results
To read the expanded summary, see the full list of species, or look at past years’ results, click the links below.
| Year | Species | Points | Town | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 66 | 119 | Hampton | View Summary article (pdf) |
| 2019 | 63 | 118 | Hampton | View Summary article (pdf) |
| 2018 | 59 | 104 | Rye | View Summary article (pdf) |
| 2017 | 59 | 93 | Rye | View Summary article (pdf) |
| 2016 | 59 | 95 | Rye | View Summary article (pdf) |
| 2015 | 59 | 100 | Rye | View Summary article (pdf) |
| 2014 | 58 | 104 | Rye | View Summary article (pdf) |
| 2013 | 62 | 106 | Rye | View Summary article (pdf) |
| 2012 | 58 | 95 | Rye | View Summary article (pdf) |
| 2011 | 57 | 94 | Rye | View Summary article (pdf) |
| 2010 | 53 | 78 | Rye | View Summary article (pdf) |
| 2009 | 63 | 112 | Rye |
View a chart showing the species list and points from 2009 through 2019.
Listen to the NHPR story recorded by Annie Ropeik on the 2018 Twitchers: https://www.nhpr.org/post/birding-bowl-2018-audubon-showdown-draws-flock-nh-seacoast#stream/0