On Saturday, May 12, Upper Main Line Y's high school birding team, the B.B. Kingfishers, crossed the World Series of Birding finish line just before midnight as winners of their division and the "Pete Dunne Future Leaders in Birding Award".
The team, lead by captain Danielle Smith, Ben Bussmann, and Nathaniel Sharp, tallied 173 species with their 24-hour full state run, birding north to south throughout New Jersey. The win capped a celebration of ten years of participation by the Upper Main Line YMCA in New Jersey Audubon Society's World Series of Birding. This was the first win by an UMLY high school team in the very competitive high school division. UMLY's high school teams had finished in 2nd place the previous two years. The high school team joins four UMLY middle school teams that have won over the last ten years (2004, 2006, 2007, 2011).
UMLY B.B. Kingfishers, 2012 High School Champions.
From left to right: Mike Mostello (YESC staff), Nathaniel Sharp, Danielle Smith, Ben Bussmann, Shanna Babiak (YESC staff), Brian Raicich (Team Leader of Youth Development).
Danielle Smith, team captain, addresses the awards banquet with Eric Stiles, New Jersey Audubon Society's President and CEO.
The 173 species tallied was 7th overall when placed with the adult teams. For Danielle Smith, a graduating senior from Great Valley High School, this was her final World Series of Birding as a youth participant. Smith has participated on UMLY's youth birding teams since 7th grade. Joined by Ben Bussmann, a junior at Conestoga High School, and Nathaniel Sharp, a sophomore at Strath Haven High School, the team has a combined 17 years of World Series of Birding experience.
UMLY's middle school team, Duck Duck Duck Duck Duck Brant!, finished with 135 species for 5th in the middle school division. Captain Austin Smith was joined by Tyler DiAndrea, Liam Gallagher, and Yusuf Romaine-Elkhadri.
UMLY's 2012 Youth Birding Teams
"One of the best highlights was a Screech Owl, in the Lake Ocquittunk area (Stokes State Forest, Sussex County), leaning out of a tree cavity in the daylight. That was awesome." Danielle Smith shared at the awards banquet. She also thanked UMLY's Environmental Education Center, the team's drivers and Y Earth Service Corps staff Mike Mostello and Shanna Babiak, and Marleen Murgitroyde and Sheila Lego of New Jersey Audubon Society and organizers of the World Series event. But the biggest thank you went out to Brian "BQ" Quindlen, UMLY's Earth Service Corps Coordinator and mentor for the birding teams. Quindlen was unable to join the teams at the World Series due to an academic conflict - his graduation from Temple University's College of Education.
Quindlen participated as a student in the World Series from 2003-2006 with UMLY and now leads the birding program with Y Earth Service Corps. He leads weekly classes, starting back in January, to teach UMLY's youth teams to identify over 200 birds by sight and sound in preparation for the World Series. In May 2002, BQ and I walked into the Cape May Bird Observatory asking how UMLY could participate in the World Series of Birding. The next year we had our first two teams competing on the Big Day and the rest is history.
This program provides leadership development opportunities for students while working within a team structure. They learn about the importance of land conservation, within New Jersey and throughout the Philadelphia region, that provides vital habitat for birds and wildlife. The World Series of Birding places them right in these wild areas to see and hear first hand the great diversity of bird life these parks, forests, and preserves support. Connecting kids with nature to develop an appreciation of the natural world is a goal of youth development at Upper Main Line YMCA. I am very proud of the accomplishments of this year's students and all previous participants that have made the last ten years of this youth birding program at UMLY such a success. Congratulations to all!
Brian Raicich
Team Leader of Youth Development
Upper Main Line YMCA
