Break-a-Hundred Q&A

Every year in mid-May, zealous birders everywhere hold contests to see how many birds they can find. Some bird clubs call it their “Big Day,” but Sullivan County Audubon calls it “Break-a-100.” Here are some Q & A about this event.

Q: What is the point of “Break-a-100?”
A: It is a fun contest where participants see how many species of birds they can find in the county in a 24-hour period, hoping to find more than 100 species. It is a challenge that birders take in order to improve their birding skills, and they do it because it is fun.

Q: Why is it held in mid-May?
A: Because the peak of spring migration occurs near that time. The winter birds are mostly gone, though a few may linger, and the spring birds have mostly arrived. Therefore there are more different kinds of birds present in the county than at any other time of the year. (Of course weather factors may make the migration early or late, and we just make our best guess by selecting a weekend near mid-May.)

Q: Why is it held on Mother’s Day?
A: There is nothing here that is anti-Mother. We simply pick the weekend closest to mid-May, and unfortunately that means that in some years we have picked Mother’s Day. (Actually, some Mothers think that looking for birds is a great thing to do on their day.)

Q: Is this a national event sponsored by the Audubon Society or some other group?
A: No, this is a local event held by individual bird clubs. The information gathered is kept locally and is published in our newsletter.

Q: How many kinds of birds were found on “Break-a-100” in 2002?
A: Four teams participated, and Scott Graber’s team led the pack with 126 species, closely followed by Renee Davis and John Haas with 124 species.  Check out the results of all our past “Break-a-100” contests!

Q: Is it essential to do this with a team?
A: Yes. It helps a great deal to have more eyes looking, and you will see and hear many more kinds if you are with another birder. And it’s more fun! Also, if you find a rarity (as seems to happen almost every year) it is essential to make sure that someone else sees it to confirm the identification. For these reasons, we require participants in our “Break-a-100” to have at least one partner. (Of course, anyone can count birds for practice, to see how many they can find, without having a partner or a team.)

Q: Do you have to see the bird to put it on your list, or does hearing it count?
A: You can list both heard birds and birds seen. (You should get a CD or tape of bird songs to help with this!)

Q: How can I participate?
A: If you are a member of Sullivan County Audubon Society, contact for details.

2012 Break-a-Hundred Results   6/7/12

Twenty one people in seven teams searched Sullivan County's fields and skies on Mother's Day weekend, looking and listening for every kind of bird. Their efforts were rewarded with a great combined list of 149 species, a total exceeded only twice in the past 20 years.  Each team had a favorite area or two they searched, but the major part of their day was spent at the Bashakill and nearby hot spots in the valley. Warblers were the main feature this year, as usual, with 27 species found in all. A couple of fall-outs in the first week of May brought huge numbers of migrating birds along with concern that our Break-a-100 would be too late this year, but it clearly was not.

In only their third year of participation in this event, Scott Baldinger's team was able to tie the highly experienced Gourmet team. Each team found 120 species in a tie. The high-powered Baldinger team consisted of Scott, Deb Powell, Joyce Depew, Lee Hunter and Mark Diedrich. They found the only Blue-winged Teal, Greater Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Ring-billed Gulls, Tennessee Warblers, Bay-breasted Warblers, and Orchard Oriole. They walked over 8 miles! And they found 24 kinds of warblers.

The Gourmet team (named for the exotic snacks they always bring on the count) of Kathy Scullion, Scott Graber and Beth Barker found the only Green Heron and Great Horned Owl, plus 22 kinds of warblers.

Two other teams also "broke a hundred:" John Haas' team (John, Lance Verderame and Arlene Borko) had 116 species including the only Sharp-shinned Hawk and Lincoln's Sparrow plus 21 warbler species, and Renee Davis' team (Renee, Marge Gorton & Ruth McKeon) found 113 species including the only Ruffed Grouse, Lesser Yellowlegs, Black-billed Cuckoo and Acadian Flycatcher plus 16 kinds of warblers. The not-so-ruthless team of Shursky and McKeon (Ruth and Ruth) produced a fine list of birds and came close to breaking 100, but only 11 kinds of warblers were found.

Last year we introduced a second division in this event, the Environmentally Green Division which focuses on using little or no gas in finding the birds. This year two teams participated. The Kate & Charles Hyden team, along with Gloria Wagenknecht, found 46 species in 8 hours, reporting the only Ring-necked Duck, while driving only 12.1 miles (on foot the rest of the time). They easily won this competition by finding 3.8 birds per mile driven. The Freer team, including Mary Collier, found 60 species in 6 hours but drove much more (34.5 miles). They came in last place with only 1.7 birds per mile driven, but they were rewarded by finding the only Palm Warblers (2) and the only Olive-sided Flycatcher.

Valerie Freer

2011 Break-a-Hundred Results  

Another SCAS “Break-a-100" contest is now in the books. Twenty birders on seven teams spread out over the county during the mid-May weekend, carefully recording every kind of bird they came upon, and we are pleased to report that every team “Broke-a-100”– meaning that they found 100 or more kinds of birds during a 24-hour period. This remarkable achievement by every team attests to the high level of birding skills, perseverance, and their knowledge of where to find each species in the county.

Occasional showers on Saturday and rain off and on on Sunday made the task more difficult. We heard many comments to the effect that the peak of migration had passed a week or more before. In spite of these handicaps, we were delighted to find that the combined results of all teams reached 156 species, five more than we had ever had before (151 in 2007)!  Another remarkable feature of this contest is the number of species found by every team – 65 species!

Congratulations to the top team, finding 124 species (John Haas, Arlene Borko, and Lance Verderame), birding all day on Saturday. They found 8 unique species: the only Sora (at Haven Rd), Semipalmated Plover at Brown’s Hotel pond, Herring Gull at Neversink Reservoir, Great Horned Owl at the Main boat launch, Fish Crow at Wurtsboro, Golden-cr Kinglet at Cooley Rd bog, Golden-winged W at the deli fields trail, and Blackpoll W. Their closest competition came from the Scullion/Graber/Cutler team, who recorded 119 species, including the only Blue-winged Teal (at Briscoe), a Pheasant at WS Spr, and a Great Egret at the Nature Trail. The Haas/Borko team (on Friday the 13th) found 110 species, including the only Sharp-shinned Hawk and Saw-whet Owl. Only one species behind, the Davis/Gorton/McKeon team found 109 kinds, including the only Broadwings at Renee’s house, two Gr. Black-backed Gulls over the Bashakill, a Mourning Warbler at the Nature Trail, and a Wilson’s Warbler at WS Spr. Team Baldinger (plus Hunter/Powell/Depew) reported 107 species, including the only Ruffed Grouse at Wolf Brook, Horned Grebe at Moosehead Cove and E Screech-Owl at South Rd. The other two teams finding 100 or more species consisted of Collier/Dechon/Bunting/Freer and McKeon/Shursky.

Valerie Freer

2010 Break-a-Hundred Results

Another excellent big day in May migration was enjoyed by 7 teams during the weekend of May 14 to 16. This was the largest number of teams we have ever had in this event, up from 5 or 6 in recent years, and the highest number of participants (21). High winds kept the birds in hiding and made birding difficult on Saturday, but the weather was much more cooperative on Sunday, presenting the Sunday birders with an edge. (We do not want to detract from the considerable birding skills, great determination and good luck of the two winning teams, but in addition to those assets, they did most or all of their birding on Sunday.) One winning team with 121 species consisted of Renee Davis and Marge Gorton, and the other, also with 121 species, was led by Kathy Scullion and included Scott Graber, Beth Barker and Bill Cutler. Congratulations!  Prizes are in the mail.

Every team contributed by finding at least one species not found by others. The Davis/Gorton team found the only Semipalmated Plovers and a Bay-breasted Warbler. The Scullion team had the only Cooper’s Hawk, Fish Crow, Swainson’s Thrush, Nashville and Worm-eating Warblers. The Ruth team (Shursky and McKeon) saw the only Golden-crowned Kinglet. The Freer/Collier team found the only Lesser Yellowlegs and a drumming Ruffed Grouse. John Haas’ Sunday team (102 sp) saw the only Tennessee Warbler, two Black Vultures over the Bashakill and heard 2 Great Horned Owls. Scott Baldinger (104 sp) led a team on Saturday including Paula Baldinger, Debbie Powell and Lee Hunter. They saw the only Sharp-shinned Hawk, Wilson’s Snipe and Ruby-crowned Kinglet, plus a hybrid, a Brewster’s Warbler. John Haas’ Saturday team found 114 species, including a 3 am Least Bittern heard from Haven Rd and a Raven. See Bird Notes in this issue for details on these sightings.

Valerie Freer

2009 Break-a-Hundred Results

Our annual “Break-a-hundred” event on May 9-10 was a great success by any measure. Six teams (14 people) scoured all the best birding spots in the County, and the birds cooperated.  Surprisingly, 8 kinds of ducks, 8 of hawks and 7 of shorebirds showed themselves, along with 6 woodpeckers, 6 flycatchers, and an abundance of warblers (26 kinds!).

Most of the teams did find over 100 species, and the Haas-Borko-Verderame team led the pack with 131 species. Their very effective two-part strategy was 1. to scout many areas in advance, and 2. to start at 4 am on Haven Rd and to stay out until 9 pm the same day (17 hours total). Their total of 131 is the largest ever for this event, and it ties with their own results of 2007. This team found the only Buffleheads, Green-winged Teal, Pied-billed Grebe, N. Harrier, Cape May Warbler, and Lincoln’s Sparrow.

The second team (Scullion-Barker-Graber-Cutler) found 120 species (a total that would have been the leader in 4 out of the last 7 years). They found the only Ruffed Grouse, Barred Owl, Winter Wren and Worm-eating Warbler of the weekend. And they clearly got the least sleep of any team, since they were out for 21 hours total.

The Davis-Gorton team found 111 kinds of birds on Saturday evening and Sunday, including the only Palm Warbler. The Verderame-Haas team found 103 species on Sunday, including the only Black Vultures, Blackpoll, and Orchard Orioles. The Freer-Collier-Bunting team of relaxed birders came up with Least Sandpipers, a Nashville Warbler and an uncountable hybrid (Brewster’s type). The Two Ruths team (Shursky and McKeon) contributed a Great Egret at Morningside and Cedar Waxwings at Wurtsboro plus many other birds.

The combined lists of all teams added up to 149 species, not the highest we have had, but second only to 151 species in 2007. 

Valerie Freer

2008 Break-a-Hundred Results:  Every Team Wins!

Our 2008 Break-a-Hundred event was great fun and a success by any measure. For the first time ever, all six of the participating teams not only "broke a hundred" but did even better than that: every team found at least 110 kinds of birds in the county! The two winning teams (it was a tie) each found "only" 118 species, so there was a difference of only 8 species between the shortest and the longest lists. A total of 18 people on six teams searched in their favorite local places during any 24-hour period of the May 9 to 11 weekend.

The (tied) Grand Prize goes to the team of Renee Davis and Marge Gorton who found 118 species, including the only Brant, Northern Harrier, Least Sandpiper and Eastern Meadowlark of the weekend. The Co-winners, also with 118 species, were the team of John Haas, Lance Verderame, Arlene Borko and Ed Debellevue, who started their day at 3:30 am on Saturday. They found the only Sora of the event.

An enthusiastic team consisting of Valerie Freer, Mary Collier, and two upstate visitors, Rick Bunting and Chris Cumming, found 111 species. Patrick Dechon, who led an even more enthusiastic team which included Jamie Lo and Ruth McKeon, found 112 kinds. Another team with 112 species consisted of John Haas, Bill Fiero, Lance Verderame, and California visitor Ed DeBellevue. They searched all day Sunday, and found 7 unique species: the only Hooded Merganser, Cooper's Hawk, Pectoral Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull, Worm-eating Warbler, Hooded Warbler, and Golden-winged Warbler of the event. They also found a bonus Lawrence's Warbler (a hybrid). This team found the most warblers, 23 species, and therefore win the "2008 Warbler Prize."  (Most other teams found only 17 kinds.)

The 6th team, sometimes called the "Gourmet Birders," consisted of Kathy Scullion, Beth Barker and guest David Lemmon (plus Scott Graber for a few hours). They came up with 110 species, including the only American Pipits of the weekend.

When the lists were all tallied and combined, we came up with a grand total of 148 species, the second highest we have ever found (tied with 2005 and topped only by 151 species last year).

At the countdown dinner there was talk of re-naming this event to "Break-a-110." After due consideration, we agreed not to make the change, since even at that level, every team would still be a winner.

Valerie Freer

2007 Break-a-Hundred Results:  New High Numbers

A total of 16 people participated in our annual peak of spring migration count on May 12 & 13, coming up with record-breaking results. Each of the six teams went to their favorite bird spots in the county during a 24-hr period of their choice, keeping a list of the kinds of birds they encountered.

The winning team of John Haas, Lance Verderame and Arlene Borko came up with 131 species, a new high for this event, beating out the previous high of 130 species found twice before: in 1998 (Scott Graber’s team) and 2005 (Renee Davis’ team). Their winning strategy seems straightforward enough: they started very early on Saturday (4 am) at the Bashakill and worked longer than some other teams. It paid off in a very early Least Bittern, plus a Goshawk, Hooded Merganser, Snipe, Ring-necked Duck, Mourning Warbler, and White-crowned Sparrow–all missed by the other teams.

Scott Graber’s team of Kathy Scullion, Beth Barker, Bill Cutler, and Tim Redman found 120
species, including the only Black Vulture, Cerulean and Worm-eating Warblers, and an amazing Snow Bunting!  Renee Davis and Marge Gorton found the only Brant, Meadowlark, Black Tern, and Red-shouldered Hawk,  tying with the Collier/Freer/Dechon/Bunting team at 114 species. The latter team was the only one to find a Bay-breasted Warbler, and they had the largest list of warblers, 23.

John Haas and Lance Verderame competed as another team again on Sunday (now called the “Tired Team”), and their total was 104 species. They added a Northern Harrier to the composite list. The “Ruth” team of Shursky/McKeon found a very respectable 84 species on Saturday and contributed the only Black-billed Cuckoo to the list.

When we tallied the combined list for the weekend, we had a grand total of 151 species, topping the previous high of 148 species in 2005. We had very good weather, we are learning more about the best places to find birds in Sullivan County, and our skills are improving!

Valerie Freer

Break-a-Hundred Report - 2006

May 12th through the14th this year had us on the edge of our seats. Not often do we have to deal with cool weather with the threat of showers for our annual May event. This year we had both. Temperatures ranged from the high 40s to the middle 60s with cloud cover and drizzle most of the time. That didn’t stop us though, fifteen of us managed to find many birds that just migrated in the night before. We did not find high numbers of birds but were able to find many species.

Ruth McKeon and Ruth Shursky found the only Northern Harrier, Merlin, Snow Goose and Pine Siskin in the county that weekend. My teammates Arlene Borko, Phyllis Jones and John Haas found the only Lesser Yellowlegs, Cedar Waxwing, Cape May Warbler, Meadowlark, and Orchard Oriole. Valerie Freer, Mary Collier, Jamie Lo, and Patrick Dechon had the only Hooded Merganser and Kestral. John Haas along with Jane and Bill Fiero found a Willow Flycatcher, a Purple Martin, Marsh Wren, Mourning Warbler and a Lincoln’s Sparrow. Scott Graber, Kathy Scullion and Beth Barker found a Pied-billed Grebe, Dunlin, a Barred Owl, Winter Wren, Brown Thrasher, and a Cerulean Warbler.

The five teams clocked 828 miles among them. With the price of gas these days that was an expense we never had to face before. Ouch! Our grand total of species was 148, not bad considering that migration seemed to be a little later than usual. Team “Ruth” ended up finding 72 species, team Freer found 110 species, team Haas found 117, team Davis found 118 and the million dollar winning team---with only two hours of sleep---Scott, Kathy and Beth with 118 species. Congratulations, the check’s in the mail!

Renee Davis

Break-a-Hundred Report - 2005

Once again SCAS held our annual "Break-a-100" Day in mid-May, and the weekend seemed to perfectly coincide with the peak of migration. Four teams searched the county to find as many kinds of birds as possible, and all came up with outstanding results.

The combined total for all teams (148 species) set a new record for Sullivan County, beating the previous record of 146 species set in 1994 (and tied in 1996).

For the first time, every team not only "Broke-a-100" but had high enough numbers to have been the winner in most previous years. For example, John Haas and Arlene Borko found 119 kinds on Saturday, which was high enough to have beaten every other team in four of the last five years! The gourmet group (Scott Graber, Kathy Scullion, Beth Barker and Pete Salmonsohn) came up with 125 species on Saturday; John Haas, Arlene Borko & Bill Fiero found 128 on Sunday; and the team of Renee Davis, Valerie Freer, Phyllis Jones and Ruth Shursky found 130, winning the event and the coveted "Break-a-100" trophy. (Their list of 130 species was not a new record; it tied the record set by Scott Graber's team in 1998.)

We think that the numbers found in this event keep inching upward because our birding skills have improved and we have learned of more great places to look in the county, and besides, we are just lucky. The best finds of the event included Lincoln's and Grasshopper Sparrows, Acadian and Olive-sided Flycatchers, Black Tern, Sora, Saw-whet Owl, Semipalmated Plover, and 26 kinds of warblers!

Valerie Freer

BIG DAY CONTEST WINNERS - 2004

Our annual “Break-a-100" was held once again during the weekend of May 15-16.  Four teams were in the field searching for every kind of bird they could find in the county.

The winning team with 112 species was led by Scott Graber.  His team (the “Gourmet Gobblers”) enjoys fine snacking while birding; their menu this year included the traditional vegetarian and crab sushi, black bean dip on onion flatbread, organic fruit spritzers, brownies with peanut butter, and other international treats.  It is easy to see why so many people want to be on this team.

We have a dynasty here!  Scott and his team have won the coveted “Break-a-100" trophy in 10 out of the last 12 years.  His total this year was low compared to other years, but still was one more than the next team.  Scott has led many different team members over the years.  This year the team included Beth Barker, Kathy Scullion, John Stowell, Pete Salmansohn, and Bob Andreucci.

The combined total for all teams was 136 species, the second lowest compared to other years.  Scott’s team found 23 species of warblers including the only Bay-breasted, Nashville, and Worm-eating.  John Haas and Bill Fiero added Hooded and Canada to make a total of 25 warblers.  (Every team was able to find the Kentucky Warbler at Stonefields.)

We looked at the cumulative species list for the past 12 years and found that it now contains 189 species.  Three new species were added to that list this year:  Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and Hooded Warbler–all found by the John Haas/Bill Fiero team.

Other participants were Renee Davis, Valerie Freer, Dick Hirschman, Phyllis Jones, and Ruth Shursky.

Valerie Freer