Three passionate teenage bird enthusiasts recently took on one of the most demanding challenges in the birding world during New Jersey’s premier avian competition.
The high school students, who go by the team name The Pete Dunnelins, participated in the 43rd annual World Series of Birding, where competitors race against time to spot and identify as many different bird species as they can find throughout New Jersey in just 24 hours.
Among the team members are 16-year-old Otys Train and 17-year-old Jack Trojan, who were photographed searching for various bird species at High Point State Park in New Jersey on May 9th during the intense competition.
The event challenges participants to travel across New Jersey’s diverse habitats and ecosystems, from coastal areas to forests and wetlands, in their quest to document the greatest variety of bird species within the strict time limit.
This annual competition draws birding enthusiasts from across the region who test their knowledge, endurance, and strategic planning skills in what many consider the ultimate test of birding expertise.
