The Twitchers in the 2025 Superbowl of Birding
The 2024 Twitchers out of the Rye, (left to right) Susan Wrisley, Kathryn Frieden, Becky Suomala (captain), and Jenna Rosen.
While football fans are gearing up for the big game, the most dedicated birders will brave the cold to compete in the Superbowl of Birding, an event hosted by Mass Audubon. This exciting contest challenges teams to spot as many bird species as possible during a 12-hour period in Rockingham County, NH and/or Essex County, MA. Some teams compete for the coveted Townie Award–the most species in a single town.
NH Audubon’s team has always competed in just one town. Led by captain Becky Suomala, they are ready to take on the challenge once again. Known informally as the “Twitchers,” they’ll be birding from before sunrise to well after sunset, all to raise funds for NH Audubon’s Conservation Department and its birding publication, New Hampshire Bird Records. Last year the Twitchers competed in Hampton, NH and spotted 62 species and earned 108 points, with rarer birds earning higher point values. You can read their full account below. They haven’t picked their town this year, so stay tuned!
You can support the Twitchers by making a donation today! You can choose to support NH Bird Records or Conservation Science, both of which will help people discover and learn more about New Hampshire’s birds.
Catch them on the New Hampshire coast on Saturday, January 25, and cheer them on in spirit as they showcase their birding prowess.
Thank you for supporting NH Audubon and the “Twitchers!”
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 62 | 108 | Hampton | View Summary article (pdf) |
| 2023 | 13 | Antarctica | View Summary article (pdf) | |
| 2022 | 62 | 106 | Rye | View Summary article (pdf) |
| 2021 | Three – COVID | View Summary article (pdf) | ||
| 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 2024.
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