The First Ever Philadelphia Bird Race

From May 9th to 17th in 2015, BirdPhilly hosted the first ever Philadelphia Bird Race and it was a marvelous success. The goal of the Philadelphia Bird Race (PBR) is to get area residents outside and engaged in nature while raising funds for regional conservation and outreach initiatives. During the course of the PBR this year close to 200 people participated in the event.

The Big Green Hour group at Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed led by Audubon Pennsylvania's Keith Russell.

The most popular way to participate was through the "Big Green Hour". A game practiced by young birders and adult birders for years, the concept was given its name by Bill Stewart, the founder of the Delaware Bird-a-thon. The idea is to get a group of people together (2 or 20 people) and try to see as many bird species as possible within one hour. The key is you have to remain on foot, so no gas-powered vehicles can be used. During the PBR this year dozens of kids in school groups, and several dozen adults also submitted Big Green Hours. The highest total came during the very last BirdPhilly-led  Big Green Hour at Bartram's Garden just an hour before the Finish Line when that group tallied 51 species during a loop around the historic grounds.

The Big Green Hour group at Bartram's Garden on May 17th tallied 51 species in one hour.

Bartram's Garden was an excellent and fitting host for the PBR Finish Line. Rich in history, the site inspired the work of the father of American Ornithology, Alexander Wilson. With gorgeous grounds, and providing a wonderful view of the city, Bartram's was the perfect setting to recognize PBR participants.

Awards and kudos were given out, and renowned author and world birder Richard Crossley of the Race for Birds Foundation was on hand to present awards to kids that won in the youth categories. With categories for elementary school-aged kids, middle school and high school, Richard and the R4B Foundation provided signed copies of his ID Guide books to the winning kids. Other winners were posted to the BirdPhilly Facebook page.

Richard Crossley (left) presents signed copies of his book
to a couple of R4B PBR winners, as their birding mentor
Brian Quindlen (right) looks on.

Thanks are due to Richard Moncrief at Zeiss Sports Optics for providing a gorgeous set of Terra binoculars for the winner of the photo contest, won by Scott Fraser for his image of a Spotted Sandpiper. Also a huge thanks to Anita and Paul Guris of See Life Paulagics and Cathy Norrbom of Tobin's Feed & Seed for supporting this event. And finally thanks to Zach Webber and Joel Fry at Bartram's Garden for hosting us at the Finish Line. Thanks a million!

And a special thanks to all of you who participated and donated. Come back in 2016, bring your friends, and let's do it again and make the Philadelphia Bird Race even bigger and better.

If you want to support the PBR, BirdPhilly and the DVOC, donations are accepted through the end of the month (click here), until June 1st.

- George Armistead
On behalf of Tony Croasdale, Holly Merker, Brian Quindlen and Ann Reeves.

Bartram's Garden curator Joel Fry shares with bird racers some of Bartram's historical treasures.

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were fixtures at just about every outing during the PBR.

Lucky birders found gorgeous birds like this Blue-winged Warbler.

Birders along the Schuylkill River are captivated
by a Green Heron. (Photo © Brian Quindlen)

Robin captures a bird image through his binoculars with his phone
as Tykee looks on. (Photo © Brian Quindlen)

Some folks tallied sightings of Greater Yellowlegs
at the Heinz National Wildlife Refuge.

Wild West Philly teammates celebrate with Richard Crossley.
(Photo © Brian Quindlen)

Wood Ducks were seen widely throughout the 5-county area during the PBR.

PBR participants at Bartram's Garden pose in front of the Bartram's most famous discovery, the Franklinia.