The MOS Yellowthroats were not the only winners from Maryland at the WSB. 
The Steiner Merlins Elementary School team from Centreville came in first 
place for the 3rd year in a row.  Tabitha Lansinger, Charles Lansinger and 
Shannon Pignataro (captain) tallied 121 species for the Big Day.  Highlights 
included hearing a Least Bittern and seeing 5 Clapper Rails within one hour.

Three graduates from last year's winning team, Kiley Pignataro, Kelley 
Jewell and Michelle Long had gotten together and formed an independent team 
in the Middle School Division ... the Golden Crowned Queenlets.  They 
finished the Big Day with 139 species and placed second.  Their highlights 
include hearing a Yellow Rail and seeing a Peregrine Falcon.

These 6 young birders have been preparing for the event since December, 
somtimes meeting 3 times a week to study and get out birding.

Shannon Pignataro was the star speaker at the Awards Brunch on Sunday 
morning.  With perfect timing and great story telling, she had the 500 plus 
people at the brunch rolling in the tightly packed aisles.  Way to go 
Shannon!

And the girls want to give a special thanks to Jim Brighton for the spot for 
Red-headed Woodpecker and Blue Winged Warbler.  They also want to apologize 
for waking him up in Belleplain Forest while they were scouting on Thursday 
morning.  No wait, I probably should not have written that he was sleeping. 
He was probably just sitting there reviewing the birds he needed to find, 
but he did have his eyes closed while doing so.  He probably thinks better 
that way.

Jim Wilson
Queenstown