UNOFFICIAL GLOBAL BIG DAY BIRDER THROWDOWN
We challenge you to a Global Big Day Throwdown. Do you dare to take us
On May 10th, 2025, we’re celebrating the Global Big Day (LINK) with a challenge to birders anywhere and everywhere.
Let’s go birding for a maximum of 18 hours and see as many cool birds as we can find, and add our lists to eBird.
2. On May 10th, go birding anywhere you like, but your team must stick to birding in a circular area with a 50-mile radius (i.e., 100 miles across).
3. Do not spread over to May 9 or 11—all your birds must be seen on May 10th your time. You can break it up or do up to 18 hours in one stretch. Your choice. Please note: you can only count birds seen during your chosen 18 hours.
4. Your team can also bird in pairs to cover more ground but everyone on your team must bird within the same 50-mile radius. At least 2 members of your team must clearly see or hear the bird for it to count.
5. Keep careful track of the birds you see. Please use eBird so we all participate in the Global Big Day.
6, Share at least 4 photos of your team birding and tag @bostonbirdingfest from your birding adventure (or email photos to us at hello@bostonbirdingfestival.org to share on social media. You should also tag #globalbigday
7. While birding, consider picking up at least one bag of trash or invasive plants, photograph your team with the trash, and then dispose of the trash properly
See you out there!
Teams can win in different categories. Winners will be announced on Instagram and Facebook and by email to your team on May 11. We may also decide to host a post-birding Zoom if there is interest. Take lots of pictures to share at this Zoom and BYOB.
SCORING AND JUDGING
Keep a list of all your birds and share them with eBird.
Anything disputed will be resolved by a volunteer panel of judges that includes some birders and some comedians who are not participating in this event.
The team that records the most species of birds.
The team that sees the largest percentage of the species that are recorded in the same 50-mile radius circle as determined by eBird.
The team that records the most unique birds (birds that no other team sees) during the 18 hours of throwdown birding,
Best team name as selected by a public poll on Instagram and Facebook.
Any team where all members have a Big Day.
All team members that achieve a Big Day (100+ species) will receive a little something from the Boston Birding Festival.
The team that wins most of the categories above. If there is a tie, the team with the highest Technical Knockout score will win.
Alas, there are no prizes, except bragging right, though the winning teams in each category will receive a certificate (suitable for framing) from the Boston Birding Festival as a token of our appreciation. And everyone who gets a Big Day will receive a “Big Day Baby” sticker (our stickers are eco-friendly, plastic-free, and 100% compostable).
And in the spirit of good sportsmanship, losing teams are encouraged to congratulate the winners (profusely, creatively, excessively) on Instagram or by email.
Cheers!
MAILING ADDRESS
Registered Agent
The Boston Birding Festival
82 Wendell Ave. Suite 100
Pittsfield, MA 01201 USA
hello@bostonbirdingfestival.org
(617) 329-9518 messages only
COMING SOON
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We challenge you to a Global Big Day Throwdown. Do you dare to take us
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