The Loons

Crossing Dingman's Ferry Bridge into North Jersey

Highlights from today's scouting included:

• A singing Swainson's Thrush - a first for me in Jersey, normally they are only seen or heard making call notes at night during migration
• Hooded Mergansers - always a hard bird to find
• Lots of Warblers

Support The Nature Conservancy's Migratory Bird Program!

The Four Loons are asking you to help us support The Nature Conservancy's Migratory Bird Program. Please consider a donation!

Download the form below, and mail along with a check payable to "The Nature Conservancy in Pennsylvania", to this address:

Scott Fraser
Portico Systems
518 East Township Line Road
Suite 100 Blue Bell, PA 19422

THANK YOU!

P.S. - Please send your form and check to the address above, or directly to your favorite Loon, so that we can tally the funds raised as a part of this event.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR DONATION FORM

The Loons in the Philadelphia Daily News

In a vain attempt to quench our insatiable appetite for further media coverage, the Loons were interviewed as part of a Philadelphia Daily News story written by Jason Nark. My favorite quote from the story:

(...) most birders won't stop to eat the entire day of the competition and the most hardcore won't even take a bathroom break.

"There's none of that," said Bill Reaume, a school counselor from Delaware County and member of The Four Loons team. "You pack your food and pack a roll of toilet paper. It's a little nuts. It's birding for A types."

Click here to read the complete Philadelphia Daily News story.

The Four Loons - 2009 Edition

The Four Loons are back for the World Series of Birding in 2009! This will be the team's 12th year - can you believe it? Joining us for this years adventures is none other than Chris Walters. A former DVOC president - we are not worthy!!! Chris has done this event before, years back. Somehow we dragged him out of WSB "retirement". How was this accomplished? Well... um... Never mind, that's a whole other story. Let's just say someone found an old roll of film.

Art "Doc Peregrine" McMorris is back for some more fun, and as usual Bill Reaume and yours truly.

Now for some REALLY BIG NEWS. News I just know you have been waiting to hear all these many loonless months. Who won the cherished Loon of the Year award? Well, that would be none other than Art McMorris. Again. Sigh. To deserve this honor he had north of 320 ABA species in 2008. To quote any random 5-year old (just pick one), "No Fair!"  Here is Art (on the left), receiving the coveted trophy from team captain Bill:

After out first official late night team meeting, we took a group photo. They made me wear the hat. I swear.

(Pictured above: Chris, Bill, Art and Scott)

So that's it for now from the loony bin. We start our official scouting this weekend, and look forward to seeing lots of birds, and hopefully besting our fund raising record for The Nature Conservancy from last year.

Revealed to the World at Last - The Loons 2008 Checklist!

That burning question is finally and authoritatively answered... That's right, the one I know many of you have - nagging and begging, demanding attention, pleading for a coherent answer!

Exactly what does an official World Series of Birding Check List look like?

Today's your lucky day! Here is ours from 2008... enjoy!

Loons finish the day with 191 Species

All Loons are home safe and sound after another exciting World Series of Birding. More tales and photos to post later, but we had a blast despite a snafu during the prime morning hours that forced us to cut part of our planned route.

We had fun, raised money for and awareness of The Nature Conservancy, and managed to place in the top 10. So all in all, it was a great success and we are already looking forward to next year!

Scott Fraser, Art McMorris, Connie Goldman, and Bill Reaume

Time for Sleep

Scouting is wrapping up for the week as we get ready for the big day on Saturday.

A traditional "swap meet" was held up North where tall tales and tips were shared. It sounded like everyone had enjoyed a great week out in the field.

My highlights today included excellent looks at a male Cape May Warbler, watching and filming a Brown Creeper enter it's amazing nest (a short clip below - check it out!), meeting the team from Spain, and getting to enjoy more birding in the field with some of the countries best birders.

Thanks again for your support!

Scott Fraser

Scouting Loonacy Continues

Another great day in the field - weather was beautiful, and the birds cooperative.

The picture below is a shot from scouting today at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, where The Loons will start their big day on Saturday. Highlights included great looks at a very seldom seen bird, the American Bittern. Jeremiah Trimble, member of the Bushnell team and Curator of Birds at the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology called in Virginia Rails by the 6-pack with an amazing technique involving a kissing sound on the back of his hand. Really, it was something quite remarkable.

So a great day, and now it's time to rest before our last full day of scouting. A special thanks to the "Sub-adult Skuas" team for the ride down to the swamp today!

Scott Fraser

P.S. - The Nature Conservancy has posted a story about our efforts here.

Scouting Madness is Upon Us!

A swarm of crazed loons is scouting the State of New Jersey with many of the birding world's finest as we prepare for the big day on Saturday! It is an exciting opportunity for all of us to see many of the most scenic parts of New Jersey during the peak of Spring migration, and to bird side-by-side with some amazing ornithologists. Speaking for myself, I always learn so much during the week leading up to the big day, and that's because of the insane level of skills (some amateur, some "semi-pro", some scholarly) many of the teams have deployed in the field this week. And everyone's here in the name of conservation! Very cool.

You might notice our website has been spruced up a bit - please check out the new pictures link on the right to get some visuals as to what it's like out here, and if you want to get a feel for the mad pace of scouting up North, check out the "Tweets" link up on the top right to follow my scouting notes real time.

Scott Fraser

The Loons 2008 Team Photo

Here's the team for 2008! Pictured from left to right:

Bill Reaume, Art McMorris, Connie Goldman, and Scott Fraser