This month’s eBirder of the month challenge, sponsored by Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, is all about the Global Big Day. As you may have seen or heard over the past couple weeks, May 9th is the inaugural Global Big Day, where eBird and the Cornell Lab are trying to record 4,000 species of birds in a single day, while raising $500,000 for global bird conservation. To encourage participation in this, our challenge this month revolves around submitting checklists towards the Global Big Day effort. The eBirder of the month will be drawn from eBirders who submit at least 5 complete checklists from May 9th. These checklists must be entered by May 12th in order to qualify for the drawing. Winners will be notified by the 10th of the following month.
To keep up with Global Big Day news, check out our official Global Big Day page, which will be updated as the event draws nearer, until it is displaying live results on the day itself, as thousands of checklists pour in from eBirders like you.
All across the world, over 50 countries have already declared their participation in this global event. Some countries have gone above and beyond – with Peru fielding at least 90 (!) birding teams at the time this article was published, and perhaps that number will grow further. India is celebrating their own version, called Endemic Bird Day, where they’re targeting the 226 South Asian endemic species. One of the eBirders in India was so inspired by this that he created a wonderful piece of art signifying many of the regional endemics, as seen below. Thanks to Bird Count India and Rohan Chakravarty for this illustration!
Artwork courtesy of Rohan Chakravarty
We look forward to seeing what you are able to go out and find on May 9th for the Global Big Day, and thank you in advance for contributing to global bird conservation!
Each month we will feature a new eBird challenge and set of selection criteria. The monthly winners will each receive a new ZEISS Conquest HD 8×42 binocular.
Carl Zeiss Sports Optics is a proven leader in sports optics and is the official optics sponsor for eBird. “Carl Zeiss feels strongly that by partnering with the Cornell Lab we can provide meaningful support for their ability to carry out their research, conservation, and education work around the world,” says Mike Jensen, President of Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, North America. “The Cornell Lab is making a difference for birds, and from the highest levels of our company we’re committed to promoting birding and the Lab’s work, so there’s a great collaboration. eBird is a truly unique and synergistic portal between the Lab and birders, and we welcome the opportunity to support them both.”
Find out more: