Annual Kiptopeke Challenge

 In this fun and friendly team birding competition, teams compete to identify the greatest number of bird species in a single day. The primary goals of the KC are to raise funds for the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory (CVWO) and to raise awareness of fall bird migration on the Eastern Shore and along the coastal plain of Virginia. The KC takes place each year during peak migration when birds sing little and many have molted their breeding plumages. Add in hatch-year birds, and you’ll understand why the event is called the Kiptopeke Challenge! The Challenge is open to anyone. Participants can form their own team or a single individual can request to be placed with an existing team.

What are the categories?

    · 24-Hour

    · 3-Hour

    · Youth (age 18 and under)

    · Special Venue

There is no fee to participate, however, all teams are encouraged to secure sponsors for donations, such as per species or flat-rate pledges from individuals, bird clubs and businesses. All funds raised are used to support CVWO’s field research and environmental education programs. The geographic count area includes the land, rivers, ocean, and bay areas of the entire coastal plain of Virginia (the area east of the Fall Zone or roughly the area east of Interstate 95).