The contest to guess the correct number of boreal birds that the Boreal Birders identified during the 2005 World Series of Birding on May 14 closed on May 18.

The Boreal Birders found 116 species of boreal birds out of the total of 197 species identified. These included species like Common Loon, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, and Canada Warblers, Swainson's Thrush, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Solitary Sandpiper, and Short-billed Dowitcher.

Maine birder Rich Eakin came the closest with an amazing guess of 117 species! Second closest was Matthew Ream with a guess of 126 species. Whoops! I have just been corrected from contest headquarters in Seattle that Matthew actually came in third place and Edward James Raynor from Maine came in second place with a guess of 109 species.

Rich, Edward, and Matthew will each receive a copy of the incredible bird encyclopedia, "A Birdwatcher's Companion" by Chris Leahy and published by Princeton University Press who graciously provided the prizes.