Want to help make a difference in bird conservation this summer? Maybe you’re looking for something the entire family can enjoy together? Well, look no further than the annual Global Big Day of Birding.
Every year on the second Saturday in May, birdwatchers around the world participate in this event. Participants are essentially citizen scientists, who record all the birds they see during a 24-hour period and enter it into a database via the eBird app.
This year, it takes place Saturday, May 11. It also coincides with World Migratory Bird Day, a yearly event which offers events all around the world. “It’s also chance to for people to learn how to use the Merlin and eBird ID and tracking apps,” says Jody Allair, the director of community engagement for Birds Canada.
“May is a great time of year for migration,” he says. “So the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology thought, ‘Why not get as many eBirders as possible around the world to all go birding the same day to see how many species we can see?’”
While the information gathered on the day may not be used to determine hard scientific data, such as population trends over time, it can get people more engaged with the natural world. The apps are free to download and straightforward to use; however, you don’t need to have a smartphone to participate. You can record your sightings on paper and then register online through your computer to enter the data. Participants can stay in one spot or change locations to record bird sightings.
“You can do it from your kitchen window while drinking coffee, looking out at your backyard feeders,” says Allair. “And you can go for as long as you want.”
The event is becoming more popular each year. In 2023, 58,700 people participated around the world, an increase of 7,000 from the previous year. They recorded 7,636 bird species worldwide. Canadians contribute a significant amount of that data. U.S. participants submitted just over 76,000 checklists last year, Canada provided the second-most, with more than 14,000. “If you plug that in per capita, the percentage is way higher than for the Americans,” says Allair. “All that data can work together to help us understand birds,” says Allair.
If participating in a Global Big Day whets your appetite for more, Birds Canada offers many other citizen science activities throughout the year.
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