By Wendy Schultz, WSO BIGBY Birding Coordinator
WSO would like to congratulate ALL the BIGBY birders of the state, for the many MILES they put on their bikes and their feet, and for the birds they found, photographed and e-Birded in 2024. They can be proud of their accomplishments as they continue to inspire the rest of us to get outside and take a hike or ride your bike. For the record, we now have 40 people on the “spreadsheet”, the place where BIGBY birders keep track of each other’s bird sightings in this low-key and very friendly competition.
CONGRATULATIONS goes to newcomer Jon Peacock of Madison (Dane County) who came in FIRST PLACE with 221 species, 6 miles of walking and 1484 miles of biking! Although he had been birding and biking in 2023, he joined the BIGBY spreadsheet in 2024 as a fun thing to do in his retirement.
His summary of the year:
“2024 was the first year of my full retirement, and I resolved in January to use my increased free time to substantially increase my birding, while significantly decreasing my carbon footprint and hopefully also my waistline! That led me to join the Green Big Year Challenge and to set three targets: doing the vast majority of my Wisconsin birding outings by bike, finding at least 210 species during those outings, and losing 15 pounds.
The very mild weather early in the year helped me get off to a great start. By January 10 my BIGBY list was already up to 54 species, including Red-necked Grebe, White-winged Scoter, Greater Scaup and Screech Owl.
As a Madison birder, I had several things going for me. Most importantly, an extensive network of bike trails providing access to a wide variety of habitats, and a very large number of birders who share their sightings through eBird and Telegram. Their observations enabled me to see many of the scarcer species on my list. Examples of those include Western Grebe and Red-throated Loon on Lake Monona, a Summer Tanager in Muir Woods, a Yellow-breasted Chat at Cherokee Marsh, a Ruddy Turnstone along the shore of University Bay, and a Eurasian Wigeon at Nine Springs.
However, for me the most memorable birds are almost always the unexpected ones that I find on my own. Those highlights of my 2024 list included a Hooded Warbler in mid-April at Carpenter-Ridgeway Park, several Red Crossbills at Cherokee Marsh South, and a Bobolink at Lake Farm Park. The biggest surprise came at Tenny Park on a November morning, when I saw a southbound Short-eared Owl that was apparently taking a shortcut across the southeast corner of Lake Mendota.
Over the course of the year, I biked nearly 1,500 miles to my birding destinations. Thanks to that investment of time and effort, rather than birding expertise, my BIGBY list reached 221 species! I was also very pleased that by early fall I reached my goal of losing 15 pounds. Unfortunately, I’ve gained back some of those pounds over the last couple of months, but that’s extra motivation to do another Green Big Year in 2025.”
What a great story and WAY TO ROCK RETIREMENT, JON!
SECOND PLACE winner is one of our SUPREME BIGBY veterans— Steve Thiessen of Stoughton (Dane County) who saw 213 species, putting on 601 biking and 38 hiking miles to see them. Congratulations once again, Steve.
We had a tie for THIRD PLACE--Mary Murrell of Madison (Dane County) and Ross Mueller (Outagamie County) who both saw 197 species! Mary walked 50 miles and biked 340 miles while Ross walked 18 miles and biked 480. Both put out impressive effort for their birds. Congratulations Mary and Ross!
First place winner Jon Peacock is also this year’s WINNER of the highly coveted and critically acclaimed DRINKING GLASS! Just to clarify the DRINKING GLASS prize, you can only win it ONE TIME which means it continues to go down the list to the person with the highest number of birds who HAS NEVER WON IT BEFORE. In other words, the person next-in-line. We are hoping this adds extra incentive to for those who live farther away from hotspots, or for those who are still working or have small children at home (or whatever it is) to CONTINUE GREEN BIRDING because eventually it might be YOUR turn to win the glass! So hang in there, GET OUT THERE and be proud of your efforts!
PAST BIGBY CHAMPIONS
2024: Jon Peacock (Dane) 221
2023: Ross Mueller (Outagamie) 205
2022: Steve Theissen (Dane) 227
2021: Steve Theissen (Dane) 235
2020: Steve Theissen (Dane) 223
2019: Steve Theissen (Dane) 210
2018: Emily Weiser (LaCrosse) 238
2017: Ross Mueller (Outagamie) 219
2016: Ross Mueller (Outagamie) 243
2015: Tom Schultz (Green Lake) 231
2014: Ross Mueller (Outagamie) 230
2013: Alex Stark (La Crosse) 220
2012: Jesse Ellis (Dane) 215
2011: Dan Schneider (Dane) 240
2010: Scott Baughman (Sheboygan) 234
