ABA/Leica Tropicbirds Progress

Follow your favorite Tropicbirds team(s) as they race the clock during their big day competition!

Greetings from Texas--

The ABA/Leica Tropicbirds team recorded a stunning 206 species in the Lower Coast region of Texas on Saturday, April 22, covering a range of habitats from the dry uplands around Falcon Dam to the coastal prairie near Brownsville. Though learning about and birds and their habitats is the fundamental goal of the Tropicbirds, rather than the listing competition, the Tropicbirds' total eclipsed those of other teams in their division, and even significantly bested the adult teams birding the Lower Coast region, an indication of just how hard and how well this team worked.

Everywhere they went, the team did an excellent job of efficiently recording the great majority of species present, devoting a bit of extra effort to those that were difficult, then moving on to the next area without bogging down and spending too much time. They were able to record a high species total with a less than spectacular number of migrants along the coast (only 7 warbler species and 1 thrush all day, for example), a doubly impressive feat.

Thanks to all who helped make this event such a success.

From left to right are Tropicbirds team captain Ethan Kistler of Ohio, Saraiya Ruano of Colorado, Andy Bankert of Florida, and Jesse Pakkala of Ontario

The World Series of Birding Report

Thanks to a great weather day with lots of migrants, the sharp eyes and ears of the kids, and lots of planning help from Michael O'Brien and Louise Zemaitis, the Tropicbirds were able to tally 178 species of birds entirely within Cape May County. This officially ranked the Tropicbirds third among teams in their Division (9th - 12th graders), an impressive finish, even more so considering the first and second place teams covered the entire state of New Jersey. From the Marsh Wren that sang at Jake's Landing just after midnight to the Great Cormorants that provided a wonderful, sunset cap to the day, a great many fine birding moments were packed into 24 hours.

ABA/Leica Tropicbirds & chaperones, 2007 World Series of Birding l to r: Jonathan Lautenbach, Jeffrey Gordon, Chris West, Liz Gordon, Neil Gilbert, Jacob Guettler (team captain) photo by Michael O'Brien

The Great Texas Birding Classic – 21 April 2007

Total $'s pledged/donated to date as of 07/12/2007: $12.67

The World Series of Birding – 12 May 2007

Total $'s pledged/donated to date as of 07/12/2007: $12.82

Total Tropicbirds program donations as of 07/12/2007: $10,395

Thank you to our generous donors!

The Tropicbirds teams cannot truly succeed without your generous support of the American Birding Association, Education Program. A special thanks to you all!

Debbie Ackley - Colorado Springs, CO
Robert & Dorothy Adel - Fort Collins, CO
Betsy Albert - South Milwaukee, WI
Shazia Ali - Colorado Springs, CO
Margaret Alyea - Warren, MI
Leif Anderson - Hector, AR
Doris Applebaum - Oak Park, MI
Helga Ashkenaze - Lynnwood, WA
Jan Auburn - Ridgeville, OH
Edith Auckland - St. Thomas, ON
Beverlee Babcock - Macomb, MI
John Baird - Houston, TX
Dave Bakalar - OH
Nancy Baker - St. Thomas, ON
Dave Bakke - Midland, MI
Barb Baldinger - Clinton Township, MI
Laura & Dennis Barbour - Rochester Hills, MI
Robert Barnes - Ridgecrest, CA
Becco Chiropractic - Colorado Springs, CO
Jeffrey Becco - Colorado Springs, CO
Berry Hill Ltd. - St. Thomas, ON
Doug Bevan - OH
George Bing - Livermore, CA
Bill Blakeslee - Atlanta, GA
Irene Bouris - Sparta, ON
DHM & Joy Bowen - Bethesda, MD
Diana Brookens - Midland, MI
Ann Brown - Midland, MI
Margaret Buckwalter - Shippenville, PA
Kenneth Burton - McKinleyville, CA
Stacey Buszka - Hemlock, MI
Ray Butterworth - Colorado Springs, CO
John Cameron - OH
Richard Campbell - Midland, MI
Christi Carlson - OH
Neva Carmichael - Fingal, ON
Anna Casella - Gainesville, FL
Ron Casier - St. Thomas, ON
D. Cerven - St. Thomas, ON
Dean Chacon - Fountain, CO
Jill Chambers - Midland, MI
Lisa Chapman - Euclid, OH
JF Charbonneau - Warren, MI
Allen Chartier - Inkster, MI
Sue Chester - OH
Betty Lou Clark - Macomb, MI
Lisa & Jeremy Clark - Westford, MA
Margaret Clark - Midland, MI
Susan L. Clasen - Bethesda, MD
Hans Clebsch - Shaker Heights, OH
Clarissa Coate - Colorado Springs, CO
Delores Cole - Lyndhurst, OH
Norma Cook - St. Thomas, ON
Coronado Environmental Club - Colorado Springs, CO
Coulee Region Audubon - La Crosse, WI
Joshua Criner - Midland, MI
Hope Curtis - Santa Fe, NM
Sheri DeHaven - Warren, OH
Stephen DeRees - Midland, MI
Cathy Devendorf - Midland, MI
Richard & Kay Devoogd - Grand Rapids, MI
Daniel & Debra Devoogd - Grand Rapids, MI
Marcia Dilling - Midland, MI
Fred & Cheryl Dinkelbach - Sagamore Hills, OH
Frank Dodge - Colorado Springs, CO
Mrs. Donley - OH
Mindy Doty - Midland, MI
Doug Tarry Ltd. - St. Thomas, ON
John Drummond - Monument, CO
Ann Duey - Scottsbluff, NE
Steve Durance - Midland, MI
Sherrie Duris - Perrysburg, OH
Bill Duston - Charlotte, NC
John Edwards - Rocky River, OH
Lisa Edwards - Falcon, CO
Dave Elwonger - Colorado Springs, CO
Dr. Carol Ferguson - Arlington, TX
Hilary Ford - Walworth, WI
James Forrest - Sun City West, AZ
Henry Fortlage - OH
Dr. Kenneth Frieswyk - Grand Rapids, MI
Lori Fujimoto - Colorado Springs, CO
Terry & Marci Fuller - San Benito, TX
Dr. Douglas Furuyma - Stony Brook, NY
Ellen Gald - Burlington, WI
Matthew Garvey - Brookline, MA
Dennis Geiler - Newport Beach, CA
Susan German - Sanford, MI
John & Carol Gilbert - Orange, CA
Laura Gilchrist - Kansas City, MO
Gary Gillian - Point Stanley, ON
John Gluth - Brentwood, NY
Pam Godfrey - Woodland Park, CO
Mike & Margaret Goethe - Rochester Hills, MI
Janice Goodall - Midland, MI
Terry Gorges - OH
Sarah Gornicki - Midland, MI
Grand Rapids Audubon - Grand Rapids, MI
Joan Grant - Green Bay, WI
Mary Greeley - Midland, MI
Theodore Greene - Cheshire, CT
Perry Grove - Aurora, IL
Linda Grunder - OH
Jacob Guettler - Midland, MI
Doris Guettler - Hemlock, MI
Annette Guettler - Hemlock, MI
John Guettler - Midland, MI
Ron and Carol Gutberlet - Flint, TX
Dean Hale - Bend, OR
Michael & JoAnn Hamm - Danville, KY
Sharon Harbarak - St. Thomas, ON
Deborah & Leslie Hardy - Camarillo, CA
Susan Hardy - Harvard, MA
Rick Harrison - Colorado Springs, CO
Patty Harvey - OH
Neil Harvey - St. Thomas, ON
Sylvia Harvey - St. Thomas, ON
Hawk Cliff Foundation - Stanley, ONT
Healthy Treasures, Inc. - Newton Falls, OH
Tom Heatley - Clinton Township, MI
Jeanne Henderson - Midland, MI
Anthony Hess - Seven Hills, OH
Jan Hintermeister - Santa Clara, CA
Colonel Dennis Hodsdon - Sierra Vista, AZ
David Hoernerman - Midland, MI
Susan Holroyd - Grand Rapids, MI
Pete & Leslie Holzmann - Colorado Springs, CO
Cheryl Horsley - Denair, CA
Betty Ann Hough - Beaver Falls, PA
Marg Hulls - Dutton, ON
Allen & Phyllis Janis - Monroeville, PA
Clair Johnson - Cleveland Heights, OH
Linda Johnson - Shaker Hts, OH
Clifford Jones - Mechanicsburg, PA
Joanie Jones - Manitou Springs, CO
Anna Julnes - South Euclid, OH
Joyce Kartz - Midland, MI
Kim Kaufman - OH
Mr. Kerner - OH
Bill and Anne Ketterman - Coffeyville, KS
Allan & Nadine Kirby - Colorado Springs, CO
Dallas & Darlene Kistler - Newton Falls, OH
Matt Klug - Midland, MI
Kent Knauf - OH
Mrs. Knepp - OH
Lee Koski - Midland, MI
Craig Kovich - OH
Randy Kursinsky - Midland, MI
Patty Kurth - OH
Jennifer & Geoffry Kusch - Midland, MI
Kaye Lafreniere - Colorado Springs, CO
Toni Lagalo - Midland, MI
Mike Lanham - Midland, MI
Rachel Larimore - Midland, MI
Todd Laughner - Midland, MI
Daniel Lautenbach - Grand Rapids, MI
Robert & Hazel Lautenbach - Grandville, MI
David & Jane Lautenbach - Grand Rapids, MI
Mike & Sheryl Leestma - Grand Rapids, MI
Rosa Lemas - Colorado Springs, CO
Sharon Lenarcic - OH
Wade & Sandy Leonard - Clinton Township, MI
Stephen Lettieri - OH
Brian Linkhart - Colorado Springs, CO
Janea Little - Midland, MI
Paula Lozano - Lakewood, OH
Kathleen Ludwig - Midland, MI
Karen Martin - Midland, MI
Rodney Martin - Midland, MI
Jamie, Brenda & Eric McArthur - St. Thomas, ON
Carolyn McDermott - Star, NC
Bill McGovern - Sagamore Hills, OH
Kevin McKown & Nancy Fuller - Madison, WI
Jeri McMahon - Fort Gibson, OK
Michaela - St. Thomas, ON
Madeline Miles - Bradford, PA
Mary Ellen Moore - Colorado Springs, CO
Katherine Moyd - Pasadena, CA
Mike & Andrea Mroz - New Haven, MI
Bonnie Martin Mulligan - Lanham, MD
Blair Nikula - Harwich Port, MA
Bonita & Steve Olesen - Troy, MI
Karen Pakkala - St. Thomas, ON
Ken Pals - Colorado Springs, CO
Robert Petersen - Cambridge, MA
Thomas Pienkowski - Cleveland Heights, OH
David Potter - Richland Center, WI
Edwin Powers - Roanoke, IN
Annis Pratt - Birmingham, MI
Frederick Pratt - South Duxbury, VT
Margaret & Carl Qualmann - Troy, MI
Kai Reed - N Egremont, MA
Matt Reid - Rockville, MD
Nancy Renkert - Shaker Heights, OH
Larry Richardson - Westlake, OH
Ken Ridout - Port Rowan, ON
Cecilia Riley - Lake Jackson, TX
Yan Rui - Colorado Springs, CO
Sue Rummel - Midland, MI
Maryann & Jerry Ruthruff - Bellvue, WA
Steve Rutledge - Palo Alto, CA
Ruth Ryan - Midland, MI
Paul Schroll - Midland, MI
Patricia Scott - Wilton, CT
Patricia Seeburger - Midland, MI
Ashley Shankool - Midland, MI
Susan Shapiro - Norwell, MA
Julie Shieldcastle - OH
Robert & Susan Spahn - Webster, NY
Steve Stachouiak - Highlands Ranch, CO
Brad Steger - Manitou Springs, CO
David Strong - Penfield, NY
Paul Suchanek - Douglas, AK
Joanna Taylor - Arlington, VA
Harry Tow - Visalia, CA
Donald & Donna Traver - Webster, NY
Helen Traylor - Grand Junction, CO
Mark Tuttle - Yarmouth Port, MA
Lewis Ulrey - Boise, ID
Marion & John Vance - Woodland Park, CO
Caroline Wallace - Colorado Springs, CO
Bob & Jean Warneke - Austin, TX
Sandra Weigold - Peyton, CO
JoAnn & Richard Wilber - Colorado Springs, CO
Erika Wilson - Sierra Vista , AZ
Robert & Janet Witzeman - Phoenix, AZ
Irwin Woldman - Studio City, CA
George Wood - Haverford, PA
Jan Wyrick - Harlingen, TX
Virginia Zelezny - Rollins, MT

Donor list as of 12 July 2007.

View 2006 Progress Page and Donor List