2025 Birding Cup Results
| Category | Winning Team | Team Members | Species Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birding Cup | Bad Optics | Laurie McLaughlin, Mark McLaughlin, Doug Wentzel, Rob Neitz, Matt Shumar | 134 |
| County Cup | Raiders of the Lost Lark | Paul Brigman, Will Malan, Matt Schenck | 130 |
| Birding Boot | Whip-poor-wheels | Joshua Potter, Julian Avery, Dave Miller, Mik Oyler, Matt Marshall, Ellory Potter, Nathan Holmes | 112 |
| Potter Mug | Gulls Just Wanna Have Fun | Mary Krupa, Haley Hatch, Elyse Johnson | 89 |
| Micro Cup | The Rebel Bird Club | Joe Whitehead, Alex Suleski | 104 |
Additional details:
- 121 individual birders
- 34 teams
- 279 species identified worldwide
- Read the full recap: The 2025 Birding Cup Restores Critical Habitat
History of Each Competitive Category
The Birding Cup is awarded to the team that identifies the most bird species.
- 2025: Bad Optics (134 species)
- 2024: Raiders of the Lost Lark (136 species)
- 2023: Mifflin County Mockingbirds (135 species)
- 2022: Mifflin County Mockingbirds (132 species)
- 2021: n/a
- 2020: n/a
- 2019: Psycho Killdeer (145 species)
- 2018: Psycho Killdeer (152 species)
- 2017: Psycho Killdeer (142 species)
- 2016: Tick McGreer & the Kickers and Raiders of the Lost Lark: Temple of Loon (146 species each)
- 2015: Raiders of the Lost Lark Pt. II: In Search of the Holy Rail (140 species)
- 2014: Nemesis Birders (157 species)
- 2013: Nemesis Birders (140 species)
- 2012: Nemesis Birders (151 species)
- 2011: Bad Optics (137 species)
- 2010: The Wing Nuts (130 species)
- 2009: The Wing Nuts (141 species)
- 2008: The Wing Nuts (142 species)
- 2007: Common Loons (144 species)
- 2006: Birding the Midnight Oil (160 species)
- 2005: Birding the Midnight Oil, Common Loons, and Wing Nuts (134 species each)
- 2004: Common Loons (139 species)
- 2003: Common Loons (129 species)
- 2002: Pisshed Off (137 species)
- 2001: Corky’s Team (120 species)
- 2000: Pisshed Off (143 species)
- 1999: Pisshed Off (129 species)
- 1998: Corky’s Team and Bad Optics (107 species each)
The County Cup is awarded to the team that identifies the most bird species within one county.
- 2025: Raiders of the Lost Lark (130 species)
- 2024: The Miffco Mockingbirds (129 species)
- 2023: Raiders of the Lost Lark (128 species)
- 2022: Raiders of the Lost Lark (120 species)
- 2021: n/a
- 2020: n/a
- 2019: Raiders of the Lost Lark (135 species)
- 2018: Bad Optics (134 species)
- 2017: Keg Chukars (129 species)
- 2016: Bad Optics (141 species)
- 2015: Bad Optics (126 species)
- 2014: Juniata Juncos (120 species)
- 2013: Bad Optics (111 species)
- 2012: Bad Optics (136 species)
- 2011: The Wing Nuts (128 species)
- 2010: Bad Optics (122 species)
- 2009: Common Loons (140 species)
- 2008: Huntingdon Hawkeyes (123 species)
- 2007: Birding the Midnight Oil
- 2006: Common Loons (140 species)
- 2005: Huntingdon Hawkeyes (103 species)
- 2004: Huntingdon Hawkeyes (116 species), JVAS Gnatcatchers (116 species)
- 2003: Common Loons (129 species)
- 2002: JVAS Gnatcatchers (132 species)
The Birding Boot is awarded to the team that identifies the most bird species without use of motorized transportation.
- 2025: Whip-poor-wheels (112 species)
- 2024: Whip-poor-wheels (102 species)
- 2023: Whip-poor-wheels (99 species)
- 2022: Feathered Body Inspectors (93 species)
- 2021: Whip-poor-wheels (97 species)
- 2020: n/a
- 2019: Whip-poor-wheels (107 species)
- 2018: Red-rumped Irruptives (127 species)
- 2017: Weekend Migrants and Feathered Body Inspectors (110 species each)
- 2016: Red-rumped Irruptives (126 species)
- 2015: Red-rumped Irruptives (118 species)
- 2014: 101 Ways to Use a Shoveler (104 species)
- 2013: 101 Ways to Use a Shoveler (101 species)
- 2012: Red-rumped Reducks (103 species)
- 2011: Red-rumped Irruptives (116 species)
- 2010: Red-rumped Irruptives (97 species)
- 2009: Red-rumped Irruptives (102 species)
- 2008: Timberdoodles (40 species)
- 2007: Vagrants (94 species)
The Potter Mug is awarded to the team where all members have fewer than two years of birding experience.
- 2025: Gulls Just Wanna Have Fun (89 species)
- 2024: Dark Side of the Loon (88 species)
- 2023: Against Owl Odds (86 species)
- 2022: Flirty Flamingos (37 species)
- 2021: Delta Fly (70 species)
- 2020: n/a
- 2019: Supernatural SEEDlings (59 species)
- 2018: Fearless Fledglings (87 species)
- 2017: Ahh, Frigate! (106 species)
- 2016: Snap Grackle Pop (111 species)
- 2015: Gone Pishing (100 species)
- 2014: Indigo Hunting (116 species)
- 2013: The Loonatics (97 species)
- 2012: 3-Dog Night (125 species)
- 2011: The Kingpishers (77 species)
- 2010: Turnstones (106 species)
- 2009: Team Awesome (95 species)
- 2008: Nasal Bristles (115 species)
- 2007: The Phantom Inspectors (93 species)
- 2006: Block Birds (96 species)
- 2005: Chiva Divas (82 species)
- 2004: Last-minute Marvels (8 species)
- 2003: Stinkbugs (82 species)
The Micro Cup is awarded to the team of two birders that identifies the most bird species in a single 1-mile diameter circle.
- 2025: The Rebel Bird Club (104 species)
- 2024: The Rebel Bird Club (83 species)
- 2023: Rare Birds (85 species)
- 2022: Honey Nut Vireos (54 species)
- 2021: Feathered Body Inspectors (104 species)
- 2020: n/a
- 2019: Two Cuckoos (122 species)
- 2018: Two Cuckoos (124 species)
Results by Year
| Category | Winning Team | Team Members | Species Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birding Cup | Raiders of the Lost Lark | Paul Brigman, Will Malan, Matt Schneck | 136 |
| County Cup | The MiffCo Mockingbirds | Christopher Yoder, John David Byler, Jon Kauffman, Daniel Kanagy, Titus Peachey | 129 |
| Birding Boot | Whip-poor-wheels | Joshua Potter, Julian Avery, Dave Miller, Mik Oyler, Matt Marshall, Jeremy Bean, Ellory Potter | 102 |
| Potter Mug | Dark Side of the Loon | Julia Hamilton, Eva Hamilton, David Coder | 88 |
| Micro Cup | The Rebel Bird Club | Joe Whitehead, Alex Suleski | 83 |
Additional details:
- 113 individual birders
- 31 teams
- 185 species identified worldwide
- Read the full recap: 2024 Birding Cup Breaks Down Barriers
| Category | Winning Team | Team Members | Species Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birding Cup | Mifflin County Mockingbirds | Jon Kauffman, John David Byler, Christopher Yoder, Daniel Kanagy, Titus Peachey | 135 |
| County Cup | Raiders of the Lost Lark | Paul Brigman, Will Malan, Matt Schenck, Paul Bartell | 128 |
| Birding Boot | Whip-poor-wheels | Joshua Potter, Julian Avery, Dave Miller, Nathan Holmes, Ellory Potter, Matt Marshall | 99 |
| Potter Mug | Against Owl Odds | Amy Welshimer, Caitlin Daley, Samantha Bryn | 86 |
| Micro Cup | Rare Birds | Jen Anderson, Andy Moyer | 85 |
Additional details:
- 158 individual birders
- 37 teams
- 292 species identified worldwide
- See entire species list: 2023 Birding Cup Spans Continents to Fundraise for Conservation Efforts
| Category | Winning Team | Team Members | Species Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birding Cup | Mifflin County Mockingbirds | Jon Kauffman, John David Byler, Daniel Peachey, Titus Peachey, and Christopher Yoder | 132 |
| County Cup | Raiders of the Lost Lark | Matt Schenck, Paul Bartell, Will Malan, and Paul Brigman | 120 |
| Birding Boot | Feathered Body Inspectors | John Carter, Brian Schmoke, and Sean Herrmann | 93 |
| Potter Mug | Flirty Flamingos | Jacob Sholtis, Kyra Monsam, Nick Smith, and Logan Clancy | 37 |
| Micro Cup | Honey Nut Vireos | Nathan Goldner and Gabrielle Stewart Goldner | 54 |
Additional details:
- 109 individual birders
- 30 teams
- 235 species identified worldwide
- See entire species list: The Birding Cup Is Back
| Category | Winning Team | Team Members | Species Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birding Boot | Whip-poor-wheels | Julian Avery, Jeremy Bean, Nathan Holmes, Dave Miller, Joshua Potter | 97 |
| Potter Mug | Delta Fly | Christian Alberti, Adam Cygan, Avery LeVan, Greg Pizzano | 70 |
| Micro Cup | Feathered Body Inspectors | John Carter, Brian Schmoke | 104 |
Additional details:
- 130 individual birders
- 32 teams
- 20 U.S. states (read one multi-state team’s story: The Re-Terns Return)
- 1 other country (Guatemala)
- 290 species identified worldwide
- See entire species list: Return of the Global Birding Cup
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Birding Cup dropped the competitive aspect and welcomed birders from across the globe. During a 24-hour period, the Shaver’s Creek “global community” came together to celebrate unity and hope.
The 2020 Birding Cup involved:
- 276 individual birders
- 86 birder groups
- 21 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. (read one long-distanced birder’s story: Dispatches from New York: Birding in the City)
- 4 other countries (Canada, Italy, Kenya, and Australia)
- 419 species identified worldwide (see entire species list: Birding Cup 2020: More than a “Virtual” Success!)
- 42,561 individual birds logged in eBird
| Category | Winning Team | Team Members | Species Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birding Cup | Psycho Killdeer | Carl Engstrom, Jon Kauffman, Joe Verica, Dennis McGillicuddy, Lewis Grove | 145 |
| County Cup | Raiders of the Lost Lark | Paul Brigman, Will Malan, Paul Bartell | 135 |
| Birding Boot | Whip-poor-wheels | Dave Miller, Julian Avery, Matt Toenies, Joshua Potter, Ellory Potter | 107 |
| Potter Mug | Supernatural SEEDlings | Bridget Petkac, Davis Michael, Billy Sellers | 59 |
| Micro Cup | Two Cuckoos | Deuane Hoffman, Carolyn Blatchley | 122 |
Additional details:
- 194 total species seen
| Category | Winning Team | Team Members | Species Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birding Cup | Psycho Killdeer | Carl Engstrom, Jon Kauffman, Joe Verica, Dennis McGillicuddy | 152 |
| County Cup | Bad Optics | Doug Wentzel, Laurie McLaughlin, Nate Shipley, Matt Shumar, Mark McLaughlin | 134 |
| Birding Boot | Red-rumped Irruptives | Dave Miller, Julian Avery, Jeremy Bean, Mik Oyler, Joshua Potter | 127 |
| Potter Mug | Fearless Fledglings | Scott Taylor, Duncan Wentzel, Brian McLaughlin, Dylan Wentzel, Sean McLaughlin, Andrew Penn, Maddie Giovagnoli | 87 |
| Micro Cup | Two Cuckoos | Deuane Hoffman, Carolyn Blatchley | 124 |
Additional details:
- 189 total species seen
| Category | Winning Team | Team Members | Species Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birding Cup | Psycho Killdeer | Jon Kauffman, Lewis Grove, Joe Verica, Dennis McGillicuddy | 142 |
| County Cup | Keg Chukars | Ian Gardner, Deuane Hoffman, Ted Nichols, Vince Pantanella | 129 |
| Birding Boot (tie) | Weekend Migrants Feathered Body Inspectors |
Jen Steigerwalt, Matt Marsden, Lucy McClain, Nate McKelvey, Ben Steines Brian Schmoke, John Carter, Lindera Carter, Sean Herrmann, Allie Causey |
110 |
| Potter Mug | Ahh, Frigate! | Joe Whitehead, Kyler Sonney, Dale Sonney | 106 |
Additional details:
- 194 total species seen
| Category | Winning Team | Team Members | Species Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birding Cup (tie) | Raiders of the Lost Lark: Temple of Loon Tick McGreer & the Kickers |
Paul Brigman, Will Malan, Matt Schenck Brian Sedgwick, Brad Peroney, Bill Voigt, Jerod Skebo, Ralph Crewe, Jerod Benefield, Alex Lamoreaux |
146 |
| County Cup | Bad Optics | Doug Wentzel, Mark McLaughlin, Laurie McLaughlin, Rob Neitz, Matt Shumar | 141 |
| Birding Boot | Red-rumped Irruptives | Joshua Potter, Jeremy Bean, Dave Miller, and Nathan Holmes | 126 |
| Potter Mug | Snap Grackle Pop | Alexa Sarussi, Kirstin Waldkonig, Joseph Seebode, Ben Steines, Maris Wilson and Torri Withrow | 111 |
Additional details:
- 189 total species seen
- Blog: Record-breaking 2016 Birding Cup Results
| Category | Winning Team | Team Members | Species Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birding Cup | Raiders of the Lost Lark Pt. II: In Search of the Holy Rail | Paul Brigman, Will Malan, Kevin Ber | 140 |
| County Cup | Bad Optics | Doug Wentzel, Mark McLaughlin, Laurie McLaughlin, Matt Shumar | 126 |
| Birding Boot | Red-rumped Irruptives | Joshua Potter, Jeremy Bean, Mik Oyler, Dave Miller, and Nathan Holmes | 118 |
| Potter Mug | Gone Pishing | Mark Bonta, Ian McGregor, and Catherine Kilgus | 100 |
Additional details:
- 186 total species seen
- Blog: 2015 Birding Cup Champions
| Category | Winning Team | Team Members | Species Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birding Cup | Nemesis Birders | Alex Lamoreaux, Ian Gardner, Matt Sabatine, Mark Mizak | 157 |
| County Cup | Juniata Juncos | Chad Kauffman, Vern Gauthier, Aden Troyer, Ramsay | 120 |
| Birding Boot | 101 Ways to Use a Shoveler | Jon Kauffman, Matt Marsden, Lucy McClain, Nate McKelvey | 104 |
| Potter Mug | Indigo Hunting | Bill Jester, Christie Jester, Zachary Jester, Caleb Jester, Greg Herman, Matthew Herman, Emma Herman | 116 |
Additional details:
- 188 total species seen
- Blog: Birding Cup 2014 Results
- Blog: Tweetin’ about #BirdingCup
| Category | Winning Team | Team Members | Species Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birding Cup | Nemesis Birders | Drew Weber, Alex Lamoreaux, Nate Fronk, Josh Lefever, Ian Gardner | 140 |
| County Cup | Bad Optics | Laurie McLaughlin, Mark McLaughlin, Doug Wentzel, Matt Shumar, Molly McDermitt | 111 |
| Birding Boot | 101 Ways to Use a Shoveler | Jon Kauffman, Matt Marsden, Lucy McClain, Julie Dahl | 101 |
| Potter Mug | The Loonatics | Melissa Freed, Clinton Rupeka, Liz Short, Justine Weber | 97 |
Additional details:
- 169 total species seen
- Blog: 2013 Results