Photo: Eastern bluebird pair
Team Patel Meyer & Blue Crew made their World Series of Birding debut in 2024, tallying 74 species across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. This year, they’re back for round two — determined to beat their prior record by spotting at least 75 species!
Patel and Meyer, both lawyers, became birders five years ago when they discovered that “ornitherapy” is a highly effective (and much-needed!) stress reliever. As avid “citizen scientists,” they track their sightings through eBird checklists, and their drive to expand their “life list” each year certainly fuels their competitive streak!
But the true stars of the team are the Blue Crew, the lively Eastern Bluebird family that has made Meyer’s mother’s backyard their home. Mama and Papa Blue have fledged more than a dozen Baby Blues from their nest box over the past two summers, and they’ll happily secure their spot on the team’s World Series of Birding checklist — as long as the mealworm feeder stays fully stocked on May 10th!
