Special event

Take part in the Global Big Day on 8 May and see how many bird species you can log in a single day.

Global Big Day, 8 May

HERE’S something that you might consider a challenge or a bit of fun, individually or as a team – and it has a serious purpose. A bit like birding’s answer to Comic Relief.

This is a day for birders worldwide to show their dedication and support for wildlife conservation, joining around 50,000 others, by getting out in the field on 8 May (as COVID-19 regulations permit, needless to say) and logging all the birds they see using the eBird app. The aim is for participants to between them record a total of at least 6,500 species on that one day.

You can use the event as a peg on which to hang a fundraising exercise for BirdLife International’s Flight for Survival campaign.

This worthy cause aims to raise money to help protect birds along their migration routes.

Teams can also donate directly to the fund.

Global Big Day is organised by Global Birding – founded by Tim Appleton of Birdfair fame – in association with eBird and Swarovski Optik. You will need a free eBird account to take part. Then go to www.globalbirding.org to find out more, register your team and read up on the other teams taking part. Have fun! Rob Hume