The Golden Bird
And the Prize Goes to...
SWAROVSKI OPTIK annually sponsors The Golden Bird Award and all Big Sit teams are eligible. A North American bird species is selected randomly by the New Haven Bird Club at its December meeting. All Big Sit teams that spotted that bird are placed in a hat for a random drawing. The team that wins The Golden Bird Award receives $500 from Swarovski, which can be donated to a conservation cause or project of its choice.
Thank you to SWAROVSKI OPTIK for sponsoring The Golden Bird!
The Big Sit! 2012 Golden Bird
Sedge Wren
At the New Haven Bird Club's December meeting, the sedge wren was randomly drawn as The Golden Bird! for 2012. It was seen by two circles. The winning circle is the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge "Wingers" led by Dwight Cooley.
The Big Sit! 2011 Golden Bird
Reddish Egret
At the New Haven Bird Club's December meeting, the reddish egret was randomly drawn as The Golden Bird! for 2011. It was seen by three circles (all in Florida). The winning circle is Ding Darling, led by team captain Jeff Combs.
The Big Sit! 2010 Golden Bird
Red Crossbill
At the New Haven Bird Club's December meeting, the red crossbill was randomly drawn as The Golden Bird! for 2010. It was only seen by one circle, so there was no second drawing among circles who had seen it. The red crossbill was spotted by the Loony Tuners in Washington state, led by team captain Jim Flynn.
The Big Sit! 2009 Golden Bird
Chukar
At the New Haven Bird Club's December meeting, the chukar was randomly drawn as The Golden Bird! for 2009. It was only seen by one circle, so there was no second drawing among circles who had seen it. The chukar was spotted by the Lucky Peak Hawkwatch, led by Jon Kauffman in Boise, Idaho.
The Big Sit! 2008 Golden Bird
Caspian Tern
At the New Haven Bird Club's December meeting, the Capsian tern was randomly drawn as The Golden Bird! for 2008. Eleven circles had reported spotting the bird, so a second drawing was made to determine the winner of the prize from Swarovski. The recpients are the Perigrine Pushers from Delaware, led by team captain Forrest Rowland.
The Big Sit! 2007 Golden Bird
Commmon Moorhen
At the New Haven Bird Club's December meeting, the common moorhen was randomly drawn as The Golden Bird! for 2007. This year's winning circle is the Insomniacs, led by Janine Mccabe in Kino Springs, Nogales, Arizona.
The Big Sit! 2006 Golden Bird
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
At the New Haven Bird Club's December meeting, the yellow-bellied sapsucker was randomly drawn as The Golden Bird! for 2006. This year's winning circle is the Lighthouse Point Park Hawkers, led by Steve Mayo at Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven, Connecticut.
The Big Sit! 2005 Golden Bird
Northern Pygmy-owl
At the New Haven Bird Club's December meeting, the Northern pygmy-owl was randomly drawn as The Golden Bird! for 2005. This year's winning circle is the Twitch Whiffers, led by George Chaniot in Ukiah, California.
The Big Sit! 2004 Golden Bird
Bald Eagle
At the New Haven Bird Club's December meeting, the bald eagle was randomly drawn as The Golden Bird! for 2004. This year's winning circle is The Old Coots led by team captain Larry Michael in Horicon, Wisconsin.
The Big Sit! 2003 Golden Bird
White-tailed Hawk
At the New Haven Bird Club's January meeting, White-tailed Hawk was randomly drawn as The Golden Bird! for 2003. The Golden Bird! was seen by only one circle. This year's winning circle is The Brazosport Birders led by team captain Charles Brower in Quintana, Texas. They will donate the $500 to the The Gulf Coast Bird Observatory.
