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SVC Birding Team participates in World Series of Birding

SVC Birding Team participates in World Series of Birding

by Public Relations | May 22, 2024

LATROBE, PA ­– Dr. James Kellam’s World Series of Birds class participated in New Jersey Audobon’s World Series of Birding in Cape May, NJ. The eight students along with Dr. Kellam, associate professor of biology and environmental science in the Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing, departed Wednesday, May 8, and returned Sunday, May 12.SVC’s team poses for a group photo during the competition. Top row, from left: Jonah Weaver; Kristen Prince; Cassandra Lanza; Arianne Winkleblech, C'20; and Grace Scoville

The World Series of Birding is an annual competition with the goal of finding the most species of birds in Cape May as possible in a single 24-hour period.

The group from Saint Vincent split up into three teams: the SVC Benedictine Ravens, the SVC Wimmer Waxwings and the SVC Bearcat Harriers. Each team finished strong, spotting 116, 104 and 95 species over the course of the competition, with 116 being the highest total a Saint Vincent Team has gotten since the College began participating in the World Series of Birding in 2017.

One of the most exciting sightings for the group was when a student spotted a bald eagle. “One of my student team members gave an audible gasp,” recalled Dr. Kellam. “At that moment, I knew he would always remember his participation in the World Series. It was a connection between student and bird that I strive for.

“The competition doesn't matter at all if I can give students experiences that connect them to the awesomeness of birds,” Dr. Kellam said.

The eight students who participated in this year’s competition were Mike Azinger, senior psychology major, of Pittsburgh; Jonah Weaver, sophomore public history major, of Danville; Teresa Grimm, freshman aviation management major, of Gibsonia; Cassie Lanza, junior computer science major, of Shermans Dale; Mary McConville, freshman finance major, of Alexandria, VA; Kristen Prince, junior environmental engineering major, of Prince Frederick, MD; Grace Scoville, junior biology major, of Broadview Heights, OH; and Carolina Walters, sophomore philosophy major, of Latrobe.SVC’s team on the lookout. From left: Azinger; Weaver; Walters; Grimm; Lanza; Scoville; and Jim Wilson, C'72

Dr. Kellam’s World Series of Birds class is taught every spring semester. The meetings for the class involve learning to identify 200 species of birds by sight and sound, and several 15-hour Saturday field trips are offered for students to put their skills into practice. Enrollment began at just three students and has steadily climbed each year.

SVC’s participation in the World Series of Birding is funded by the Biological Sciences Department, a private donor and friend of the College who wants to promote ornithology through her gifts and a Saint Vincent alumnus.

“Jim Wilson, C’72, called me out of the blue and encouraged me to send some students to New Jersey Audubon’s World Series of Birding at the peak of the spring migratory season,” explained Dr. Kellam. The World Series of Birds class was also born of that request: “[The class] helps students prepare for the yearly competition. The fun of my World Series of Birds course now acts as a gateway into my fun but more rigorous Ornithology course, since students who sign up for one end up coming back for more.”

 

-David Collins, C’24

 

PHOTO 1:  SVC’s team poses for a group photo during the competition.

Top row, from left: Jonah Weaver; Kristen Prince; Cassandra Lanza; Arianne Winkleblech, C'20; and Grace Scoville

Bottom row, from left: Dr. Jim Kellam, Michael Azinger, Teresa Grimm, Carolina Walters and Mary McConville

PHOTO 2: SVC’s team on the lookout.

From left: Azinger; Weaver; Walters; Grimm; Lanza; Scoville; and Jim Wilson, C'72

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