World Series of Birding team flies to success

BOONTON — The Land Conservancy of New Jersey's birding team, The Highlands Hawks, had a most successful World Series of Birding Big Day on May 9.

Not only did they identify 175 different species of birds within a 24-hour period, they placed fourth in the overall state wide completion. The Highlands Hawks consisted of team captain Dennis Miranda, Steve Kloiber, Michael Schall, and Corinne Schall.

The team began at midnight at the Crystal Spring mashes in Sussex County, where they spotted a mourning dove and a long-ear owl. They also spotted a very rare American bittern at Pochuck Creek marshes on the Appalachian Trail in Vernon.

The event, sponsored yearly by the New Jersey Audubon Society, helps focus attention on New Jersey's strategic importance to migrating birds and helps organizations like the Conservancy raise money to protect natural habitat.

This was the 19th year the conservancy participated in the event.

As a result of the number of birds identified, the team was able to raise more than $12,000 through pledges made for each species they spotted. The money raised will be used to help the conservancy continue its efforts to preserve open space lands and protect water resources in New Jersey.