Birding-related activities have proved themselves a great distraction in 2020. The IOS Big Sit taking place from Sep 24-26 was a big hit with individuals seeking a bit of fun, social interaction, outdoor activities and good-humored competition while easily distancing and remaining safe.
Maybe the team names should have been subject to competition, given their creative nature! Sedentary…sharpies? Pelicans gone batty. No Egrets. Or this one, that came with a nearly one-page explanation: Big Marsh Zugun-Sitta!
One team however had the name and the number of species to take the overall lead in the competition! Kudos to Colin Dobson, Aerin Tedesco and Zachary Sutton of the COVID coRvids for a highly productive Big Sit at Lake Shelbyville in Moultrie County yielding 92 species of birds, including 13 species of shorebirds and 12 species of Warblers. Wondering if Aerin will follow with a Covid Corvids band?
On the financial front and from the onset, one team crushed the fundraising aspect of the Big Sit. The Rollin’s Raptors, led by legendary green birder Beau Schaefer and including Andy Stewart, Gustavo Ustariz, Steve Mulhall and Jerry Hampton brought in $1202! Hurray for the Rollin’s Raptors!
Our current and past Illinois Young Birders stepped up to the challenge, with 3 Bruhs with Some Bins and the Youthful Jaegers battling it out at Montrose Point. The name was an oracle of sort, as the Youthful Jaegers stole the show on both species (84) and funds ($589) achieved.
Our young winners will receive beautiful handmade peanut feeders very generously donated by Tim Joyce of Wild Birds Unlimited in Glenview.
The IOS board is deeply grateful to every Big Sit participant, as well as to each donor, for their energy, enthusiasm and great generosity. Together we raised $5255, which will enable IOS to continue strengthening our key offerings, such as our Illinois birds scientific research grants, our Illinois Young Birders programs, the Meadowlark journal and our field trips.
| TEAM/LOCATION |
ORGANIZER | TOTAL SPECIES |
TOTAL RAISED |
| Rollin’s Raptors
Rollins Savannah Forest Preserve (Lake) |
Beau Schaefer | 79 | $1,202 |
| Tamima’s Backyard Larks
Evanston Backyard (Cook) |
Backyard Larks | 38 | $1,041 |
| Youthful Jaegers*
Montrose Point (Cook) |
Simon Tolzmann | 84 | $589 |
| Sedentary Sharpies
Fort Sheridan Hawkwatch (Lake) |
Adam Sell | 85 | $575 |
| 3 Bruhs with Some Bins
Montrose Point (Cook) |
Jake Cvetas | 70 | $555 |
| The Thatchers
Thatcher Woods (Cook) |
John Leonard | 44 | $422 |
| Pelicans Gone Batty
Downers Grove Backyard (DuPage) |
Vera Miller | 26 | $360 |
| COVID coRvids**
Lake Shelbyville (Moultrie) |
Aerin Tedesco | 92 | $244 |
| Big Marsh Zugun-Sittas
Big Marsh (Cook) |
Matt Igleski | 71 | $201 |
| No Egrets
Middle Fork Forest Preserve (Champaign) |
Mike Avara | 53 | $42 |
| Southern Screamers
South Shore Cultural Center (Cook) |
Jacob Drucker | 84 | $21 |
| Total Funds Raised: | $5,252 |
