We now have tallies through August for the folks involved in the Meadowlands Big Year competition.

Congrats to all for competing. We hope you are having fun close to home, and we hope you are seeing new species again now that the fall migration is in full swing.

If you're name's not on the list, please e-mail Jim Wright at jim.wright (at) njmeadowlands.gov. It's not too late to participate!

The leader board as of August 31 follows below (just to heighten the suspense).  Also posting the standings as of June 30 below…

1. Chris Takacs:  174  (lives in district; counting birds within district boundaries, not district towns)
2. Mike Newhouse 173 (NJMC naturalist, setting a target number for competitors)
3. Ray Duffy:  158 (lives in district)  
4. Julie McCall: 142 species  (lives in district)
5. Doug Morel: 141 (out of district)
6. Ramon Gomez 143 (out of district)
7. Jim Wright: 131 (NJMC staff)
8. Dennis Cheeseman: 128  (out of district)
9. Roy Woodford: 119 (out of district)
10.Rob Fanning: 112 (out of district)
11. Lillian Rivera: 109 (out of district)
     

The leader board as of July 31

      1. Chris Takacs:  165  (lives in district; counting birds within district boundaries, not district towns)
       2. Mike Newhouse 164 (NJMC naturalist, setting a target number for competitors)
       3. Ray Duffy:  149 (lives in district) 
       4. Julie McCall: 137 species  (lives in district)
       5. Doug Morel: 137 (out of district)
       6. Ramon Gomez 136 (out of district)
       7. Jim Wright: 125 (NJMC staff)
       8. Roy Woodford: 113 (out of district)
       9. Dennis Cheeseman: 126  (out of district)
      10.Rob Fanning: 105 (out of district)
      11. Lillian Rivera: 102 (out of district)