Virginia’s annual birding competition has concluded with The Thrashers claiming the top prize in the state’s 3rd Annual Virginia Birding Classic, marking another year of record-breaking participation and fierce competition throughout the state.
During the competition period from April 15 through May 15, participating teams ventured across Virginia’s public lands with the goal of spotting as many different bird species as they could within a single 24-hour timeframe. This year’s competitors managed to document more than 200 species total, demonstrating both Virginia’s rich bird diversity and the dedication of the state’s birding enthusiasts. The 2026 competition has also strengthened what appears to be an emerging competitive rivalry within the Virginia Birding Classic.
Following their Cardinal Cup victory in 2025 as part of the Birdbrains team, Chopper Dawson came back with many of the same team members but operating under their new identity as The Thrashers, successfully holding onto their championship status. At the same time, June McDaniels and Andrew Baldelli of the Twitchers maintained their impressive track record by securing second place once again, after claiming victory in the competition’s first year in 2024.
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has announced the final standings for the 2026 Virginia Birding Classic Cardinal Cup winners:
1st Place — 135 Species
The Thrashers
Chopper Dawson, Ewa Greene, Todd Dixon, Allen Cumbia, and George Arnold
2nd Place — 124 Species
Twitchers
June McDaniels and Andrew Baldelli
3rd Place — 101 Species
WAYOUT
Joan Mashburn, Jim Pearson, Carol Mullen, and Evan Pannkuk
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources expressed gratitude to all competing teams, supporters, partners, and volunteers whose contributions led to another successful year for the event. Each year brings continued growth for the Virginia Birding Classic while showcasing the exceptional birdwatching and public land access opportunities found across Virginia.
