2025 Birdathon Team Summaries
Check out what’s happening with the 2025 Birdathon teams and other Celebrate Birds events. And don’t forget to donate to support your favorite team.
Veteran Birdathon Team Snap! Grackle! Pop! (Karenna Awtry, Steve Chance and Linda Colucci) explored familiar territory and new locations as well, to spot an amazing 91 species of birds. They visited: Algonkian Park, Ball`s Bluff, Broadlands Wetlands, Rust Nature Sanctuary, Beaverdam Reservoir Park, and Sweet Run State Park.
.
Photo by Karenna Awtry
,
,
,
#loudounwildlifeconservancy #lwcbirdathon #lwcbirdathon2025
The All Gull Band (Anne Ellis, Katy Offutt, Miriam Klein and Amy Ritter) Birdathon Team, headed out with travel mugs of coffee and found 79 bird species throughout the day, including an astounding number of warblers.
.
Photo by John Ellis
.
.
.
#loudounwildlifeconservancy #lwcbirdathon #lwcbirdathon2025
The Wonderland Woodpeckers (Tom, Joanie, Evan and Dylan Kercheval) had a ton of fun on their very first Birdathon! With the help of the Merlin app and one pair of binoculars, this family team of birding newbies headed to Algonkian Park and Ball’s Bluff. While they only spotted 17 species of birds, they found something more important: “a renewed sense of awe and wonder for the beauty of nature that’s just outside our door, just beyond the screens we spend way too much time gazing into”.
.
Photos by Tom Kercheval
.
.
.
#loudounwildlifeconservancy #lwcbirdathon #lwcbirdathon2025
First time Birdathon Team Blue Heron Cult (Elizabeth and Greg Scheib, and Jess E. and Jess B. Unger) counted 61 bird species including this Red-headed Woodpecker. They visited Algonkian Park, Broad Run Stream Valley Park, and Banshee Reeks.
.
Group photo by Jess Unger
Woodpecker photo by Gregory Scheib
.
.
.
#loudounwildlifeconservancy #lwcbirdathon #lwcbirdathon2025 #redheadedwoodpecker
For the Taking Terns team (Justin and Gwendolyn Ellis-Joyce, Ryan Christensen, Carla Nicolini, Thomas Ravenscroft and Lauren Warning), the Birdathon was their first time of birding together. They got great looks at this Common Yellowthroat along with three surprise sightings:
– Trumpeter Swans that earned a rare bird notification on eBird
– an unexpected Common Loon
– a Peregrine Falcon, chasing an unlucky bird
.
Photos by Justin Ellis-Joyce
.
.
.
#loudounwildlifeconservancy #lwcbirdathon #lwcbirdathon2025 #birdsofloudoun #commonyellowthroat
20-year Birdathon veteran team Shrike Force (Joe Coleman, Mary Ann Good, and Laura and Liam McGranaghan) found 108 species of birds during their 48-hour bird search. This team’s adventure included:
* A standoff between Liam and a very large Eastern Rat Snake on the park road in Algonkian which ended up crawling into Joe’s engine cavity in his car.
* Seeing large Five-lined Skink in Algonkian, so elderly it had lost its lines.
* Admiring the sky at dusk while being serenaded by a Grey Tree Frog.
.
Team photo by Spring Ligi
All other photos by Laura McGranaghan
.
.
.
#loudounwildlifeconservancy #lwcbirdathon #lwcbirdathon2025
Our “20 in Two” campaign is on! We`re aiming to sign up 20 teams in the next TWO weeks (April 2-16) for our upcoming Birdathon — and we need YOU! Whether you`re a seasoned or fledgling birder, this is your chance to have fun, get inspired, and make a difference for wildlife!
The Birdathon is like a “walk-a-thon,” but instead of counting miles, you’ll count bird species while raising vital funds to support Loudoun Wildlife`s mission: to PROTECT, PRESERVE, and RESTORE wildlife habitat.
The Birdathon happens during “Celebrate Birds” (April 19-May 18), our month-long celebration of spring migration.
Learn all the details and sign up your team TODAY (it`s free) at:
https://bit.ly/LWC-Birdathon
Join teams like “Shrike Force,” “Whiskey Drinking Warbler Watchers,” and “Flying Kites”—and help us hit 20 teams in TWO weeks!
The Countdown to Counting starts NOW! 
#lwcbirdathon2025
#Birdathon
#celebratebirds
#springmigration
Our “20 in Two” campaign is on! We’re aiming to sign up 20 teams in the next TWO weeks (April 2-16) for our upcoming Birdathon — and we need YOU! Whether you’re a seasoned or fledgling birder, this is your chance to have fun, get inspired, and make a difference for wildlife!
The Birdathon is like a “walk-a-thon,” but instead of counting miles, you’ll count bird species while raising vital funds to support Loudoun Wildlife’s mission: to PROTECT, PRESERVE, and RESTORE wildlife habitat.
The Birdathon happens during “Celebrate Birds” (April 19-May 18), our month-long celebration of spring migration.
Learn all the details and sign up your team TODAY (it’s free) at:
https://bit.ly/LWC-Birdathon
Join teams like “Shrike Force,” “Whiskey Drinking Warbler Watchers,” and “Flying Kites”—and help us hit 20 teams in TWO weeks!
The Countdown to Counting starts NOW!
#lwcbirdathon2025
#Birdathon
#celebratebirds
#springmigration”
data-video=””
data-carousel=””
data-id=”sbi_18064392832805069″ data-user=””
data-url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/DH9layKBDK5/” data-avatar=””
data-account-type=”business”
data-iframe=”
data-media-type=”feed”
data-posted-on=””
data-custom-avatar=””>
Open post by with ID 18064392832805069
The Birdathon is like a “walk-a-thon,” but instead of counting miles, you’ll count bird species while raising vital funds to support Loudoun Wildlife’s mission: to PROTECT, PRESERVE, and RESTORE wildlife habitat.
The Birdathon happens during “Celebrate Birds” (April 19-May 18), our month-long celebration of spring migration.
Learn all the details and sign up your team TODAY (it’s free) at:
https://bit.ly/LWC-Birdathon
Join teams like “Shrike Force,” “Whiskey Drinking Warbler Watchers,” and “Flying Kites”—and help us hit 20 teams in TWO weeks!
The Countdown to Counting starts NOW!
#lwcbirdathon2025
#Birdathon
#celebratebirds
#springmigration”>
The Birdathon is like a “walk-a-thon,” but instead of counting miles, you’ll count bird species while raising vital funds to support Loudoun Wildlife`s mission: to PROTECT, PRESERVE, and RESTORE wildlife habitat.
The Birdathon happens during “Celebrate Birds” (April 19-May 18), our month-long celebration of spring migration.
Learn all the details and sign up your team TODAY (it`s free) at: https://bit.ly/LWC-Birdathon
Join teams like “Shrike Force,” “Whiskey Drinking Warbler Watchers,” and “Flying Kites”—and help us hit 20 teams in TWO weeks!
The Countdown to Counting starts NOW!
#lwcbirdathon2025
#Birdathon
#celebratebirds
#springmigration
Loudoun Wildlife’s Birdathon happens from April 19-May 18. “20 in TWO” is our campaign to field 20 Birdathon teams within two weeks, and that two weeks is up on April 17! As of today, we’re still 10 away from the goal. Help us get there!
The Birdathon is like a walk-a-thon, but instead of counting miles, we count bird species! Forming a team is easy and free, and all are welcome, from fledgling birders to seasoned experts. It’s a fun way to bond with family and friends (and make new friends) while raising funds to support Loudoun Wildlife’s vital mission to PROTECT, PRESERVE, and RESTORE wildlife habitat. Learn more and sign up at https://bit.ly/LWC-Birdathon.
Big thanks to our current teams:
Flying Kites
Fully-palmated Birders
Gone Pishing
Kind of a Big Teal
Shrike Force
Snap! Grackle! Pop!
Taking Terns
The All Gull Band
The TowHEE-HEE`s
Whisky Drinking Warbler Watchers
Add your team to the list TODAY!
#lwcbirdathon2025
#CelebrateBirds
The Birdathon is like a walk-a-thon, but instead of counting miles, we count bird species! Forming a team is easy and free, and all are welcome, from fledgling birders to seasoned experts. It’s a fun way to bond with family and friends (and make new friends) while raising funds to support Loudoun Wildlife’s vital mission to PROTECT, PRESERVE, and RESTORE wildlife habitat. Learn more and sign up at https://bit.ly/LWC-Birdathon.
Big thanks to our current teams:
Flying Kites
Fully-palmated Birders
Gone Pishing
Kind of a Big Teal
Shrike Force
Snap! Grackle! Pop!
Taking Terns
The All Gull Band
The TowHEE-HEE`s
Whisky Drinking Warbler Watchers
Add your team to the list TODAY!
#lwcbirdathon2025
#CelebrateBirds
Reports from the Field: Team Summaries
The 2025 Birdathon took place from April 19 to May 18, 2025. As the teams report in you can read about their adventures below.
The Flying Kites Squeeze in Time for Their Fourth Birdathon
This year marked the fourth Birdathon for the Flying Kites (Eric, Kiersten, Abigail, Rua, Sadie and Henry Anderson). It was a busy year for the team with many competing events. Read more…
Fully-palmated Birders Visit 11 Locations to Find 118 Species
The Fully-palmated Birders reconvened for the 2025 edition of the Birdathon on May 3 and 4 with last year’s team intact. Kevin Denice joined Michael Sciortino, John Denice, Mike Scott, and Mer Mietzelfeld to round out the team. Read more…
Kind of a Big Teal Toughs It Out in the Rain for 65 Species
Kind of a Big Teal, a brand new team made up of Aljoscha Nern, Arthur Tsang, Heather Dionne and Alys Jarvela, set out for our first Birdathon on the only possible day our schedules allowed: May 4. Read more…
All Gull Band Finds 14 Species of Warblers
At the crack of 7:30 am on May 10, the All Gull Band (Anne Ellis, Katy Offutt, Miriam Klein and Amy Ritter) grabbed travel mugs of coffee and set out to see a few birds. Read more…
Wonderland Woodpeckers Make Their Debut
The Wonderland Woodpeckers (Tom, Joanie, Evan and Dylan Kercheval) didn’t have vast (or even intermediate) birding knowledge. But one thing the Kercheval family did have on our very first Birdathon was a ton of fun. Read more…
Taking Terns Team Finds Trumpeter Swans
For the Taking Terns team (Justin and Gwendolyn Ellis-Joyce, Ryan Christensen, Carla Nicolini, Thomas Ravenscroft and Lauren Warning), the Birdathon was their first time of birding together. Read more…
New Locations and 91 Species for Snap! Grackle! Pop!
The Birdathon began for Snap! Grackle! Pop! (Karenna Awtry, Steve Chance and Linda Colucci) on April 29th with the team exploring familiar territory: Algonkian Park. Read more…
Blue Heron Cult Congregates for the Count
On May 17 Blue Heron Cult (Elizabeth and Greg Scheib, and Jess E. and Jess B. Unger) gathered in the drizzle at the Algonkian Park Boat Ramp to start counting the first of 61 species for the day. Read more…
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers Team Enjoys First Birdathon
May 9 was the start of the first Birdathon for the Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers team (Kristin and Jonathan Morales). Read more…
Gone Pishing Team’s Hits, Misses and the Unexpected
This year Gone Pishing (Allison Gallo, Bryan Henson and Jane Yocom) welcomed a fourth team member, Gerco Hoogeweg. Like most of our past Birdathons, this year offered up fun, camaraderie, and exhaustion. Read more…
Shrike Force Completes Its 20th Birdathon with 108 Species
Shrike Force (Joe Coleman, Mary Ann Good, and Laura and Liam McGranaghan) began its 20th Birdathon on May 1 and wrapped up 48 hours later. Read more…
The TowHEE-HEEs Team Introduces Two Newbies to Marathon Birding
This was the first Birdathon for the TowHEE-HEEs (Sean and Porter Blackford, Danielle Wilkinson and Rachel Cates) and the first time birding for Danielle and Rachel. Read more…
Whisky Drinking Warbler Watchers Almost Reach Their Goal
It was a beautiful Mother’s Day weekend for the Whisky Drinking Warbler Watchers (Robert Justin, Peter Lyttle, David Manning, Scott Harris and Linda Millington) to enjoy birding all around Loudoun County. Read more…
The Swifties Team Finds 54 Species for Their First Birdathon
The Swifties (Liz Witmer, Joshua, Sydney & Harper Dudman, Chada Davis, Nichole Thorton) team is composed of six birding newbies. They ventured forth on April 20 and 21 for their Birdathon. Read more…
The post 2025 Birdathon Team Summaries appeared first on Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy.
