Special Event: Saturday, January 31
5:00 am-5:00 pm
Do you have what it takes to bring home the Joppa Cup?
Each January, Joppa Flats' Superbowl of Birding brings birding teams together to compete in a 12-hour race to spot as many bird species as they can. The friendly competition fosters our love of winter birding and the outdoors, while also raising awareness of the importance of bird habitats in the Massachusetts North Shore and surrounding areas.
End the evening with a pizza party at Joppa Flats Education Center for all participants beginning at 5:30 pm. Come and enjoy good cheer as teams talk about their day and all the great birds observed.
Winners of the competition will be announced at a virtual awards ceremony for all participants the evening following the contest. Winners will also be announced on Massbird, NHBird, and Mass Audubon's website.
2026 Results
On Saturday, January 31, the Joppa Flats Education Center held its annual event, the Superbowl of Birding. The Superbowl of Birding is a unique competition conducted in Rockingham County, NH, and Essex County, MA. Over 12 hours, teams of birders of all ages and abilities aim to identify the most avian species and earn the most points based on the rarity of the birds recorded. It was a fantastic day, with 18 teams totaling more than 80 people participating. Here are the results:
- Joppa Cup: Team with the greatest number of points.
Return of the Great Auks (160, 80 species). Captain, David Bates - Dave Larson Award: Team with the greatest number of species.
Harris Center Kestrels (77 species). Captain Phil Brown - Essex County Award: Team with the greatest number of points in Essex County only.
Gordon College Kingpishers (141 points). Captain, Greg Keller - Rockingham County Award: Team with the greatest number of points in Rockingham County only.
4th and Longspurs (160 points). Captain, Steve Mirick - Seekers Award: First team to find all species on Seekers Checklist.
Avian Avarice (25/30 species). Captain, Dan Poalillo - Fledgling Award: First team (at least two team members 16 years old or younger) to find all species on the Fledgling Checklist.
Joppa Juncos (20/20 species). Captain, Lisa Hutchings - Parker River NWR Award: Team with the greatest number of points on the Parker River NWR only.
The Wahblahs (71 points). Captain, John Raleigh - Townie Award: Team with the greatest number of species in a single municipality (town or city).
The Wild Cardinals (64 species). Captain, Jim Sparrell - Newbies Award: Team with two or more members, 16 years of age or younger, with the greatest number of points.
Bohemian See-Hawks (106 points). Captain, Gavin Young - Sitting Duck Award: Team with the greatest number of points in one location.
Big Sit Brant (25 points). Captain, Kari Sasportas - Lifer Award: Individual who sees the most new birds (“life birds”) during competition.
Chloe - Bohemian See-Hawks, 23 lifers
How to Compete in the Superbowl of Birding
All ages, levels of experience, and competitiveness are welcome at the Superbowl of Birding. Points are assigned to each bird species counted based on how commonly or uncommonly they are found in our area at this time of year.
We ask that competitors respect the birds and habitats that they visit and thoroughly review our competition rules ahead of entering.
Once you’ve familiarized yourself with our checklist and competition rules, it’s time to join the fun!
Superbowl of Birding Team & Award Categories
Birders of all ages and abilities have a chance to bring home an award.
Youth Teams
If your team includes at least two members 16 years or younger, you qualify as a youth team.
Youth teams are eligible to compete for the Newbies Award. This award goes to the youth team that earns the most points.
Youth teams are also eligible to compete for the Fledgling Award. This award goes to the first youth team to find all the species on the Fledgling Checklist.
New & Beginner Birding Teams
If your team is starting to get into birding and you’re not yet able to identify all or most species in our area, the Seekers Award is a more manageable challenge. The award goes to the first team to find all the species on the Seekers Checklist.
Teams with Limited Mobility or Capacity to Travel
The Sitting Duck Award goes to the team that identifies the most species while staying in one place—either from within a building or from a single 25-foot diameter circle outdoors. Whether you compete from your backyard, a balcony, porch, or kitchen window—choose your spot, stay put, and let the birds come to you!
Superbowl of Birding Awards
The Lifers Award goes to the individual in the contest, on any team, who sees the most species for their first time (these are called “lifers” or “life birds” in the birding community).
Geographically tied awards are presented to teams with the most points scored in Essex County, the most points scored in Rockingham County, and the most points scored on the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. The Townie Award goes to the team that identifies the most significant number of species within a single city or town.
The Dave Larson Award celebrates the team that has logged the most species seen overall.
And for the team with the most overall points in the 12-hour period, the coveted Joppa Cup Award is presented.
Big Sit: Accessible Birding Team
The Big Sit Superbowl birding team is designed to be inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities. The team will be competing in the 'Sitting Duck Award' category, which means members stay in one spot the whole time and tally birds from there.