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

Although there has been a change atiop the laederboard, we have to say the birding must have been a tad slow in June.

Congrats to all for competing. We hope you are having fun close to home, and we hope you start seeing new species again real soon.

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 June 30 follows below (just to heighten the suspense).  Also posting the standings as of May 31 below…

1. Mike Newhouse 162 (NJMC naturalist, setting a target number for competitors)
2. Chris Takacs:  161  (lives in district; counting birds within district boundaries, not district towns)
3. Ray Duffy:  147 (as of May 31, lives in district) 
4. Doug Morel: 137 (out of district).
5. Julie McCall: 136 species  (lives in district)
6. Ramon Gomez 126 (out of district)
7. Jim Wright: 120 (NJMC staff)
8. Dennis Cheeseman: 118 (out of district)
9. Roy Woodford: 110 (out of district)
10. Lillian Rivera: 101 (out of district)
11. Rob Fanning: 97 (out of district)

Here were the standings as of May 31:

1. Chris Takacs:  161  (lives in district; counting birds within district boundaries, not district towns)
2. Mike Newhouse 160 (NJMC naturalist, setting a target number for competitors)
3. Ray Duffy:  146 (lives in district) 
4. Julie McCall: 135 species  (lives in district)
5. Doug Morel: 135 (out of district)
6. Ramon Gomez 126 (out of district)
7. Jim Wright: 118 (NJMC staff)
8. Roy Woodford: 101 (out of district)
8. Dennis Cheeseman: 101  (out of district)
10. Lillian Rivera: 100 (out of district)
11. Rob Fanning: 94 (out of district)