Global Big Day is here soon! Read our top tips to help prevent your birdwonza from falling off the rails.
Global Big Day This is the most anticipated bird watching event of the year. Birders around the world head to their backyards, neighbourhoods, forests and marshlands and submit observations via eBird checklists to see birds. It sounds easy, right? Well, not always! Birds can be unpredictable, and surprises like sudden rain or dead phone batteries can throw you out of your game.
But don’t worry! There’s no need to be stressed out. If you’re excited, but a little overwhelmed, you’ve come to the right place! First of all, thank you for stepping up as a citizen scientist. All checklists sent through eBird help scientists track bird populations, understand migration patterns, identify locations where conservation efforts are urgently needed, and protect key habitats before they are lost. Your participation isn’t just fun. It’s powerful.
Top tips from veteran Birds Caribbean Gbders what do not have doso you can avoid common pitfalls and focus on looking at birds.
Just don’t make it into a wing!
It’s not just a flurry of “find a bird” plan! If you want a fun day filled with amazing bird sightings, consider planning your route or scouting if it’s a place you’ve never been to before. Think about where you want to go and what you want to see.
Are you aiming to maximize your species count? Then you definitely want to bird another habitat! eBird Hotspots will tell you the best places to find a particular bird. You also need to think about the environmental factors that affect the birds you may see. Please check the weather forecast. Is it predicted early in the morning? Maybe there are still places where birdwatches are available that are less of a problem!
One of the great benefits of joining us Birdscaribbean Global Big Day Team Team leaders often coordinate bird efforts to a variety of habitats in forests, marsh, coastlines and even urban areas, and maximize the number of species found.
You can’t plan everything! What would you do if you asked about rare birds on eBird Grapevine? You need to change your plans! A sudden storm? Why not take a break for shelter and refueling (even in your car you know that you might find something great through a rain-wet windshield!). Stay flexible!
eBird or Bust
So you’ve seen a lot of birds and you’re basking in the glow of adding “lifers” to your big day list. But remember – you need to get your bird sightings on eBird for them to count! Submitting your checklist to eBird will turn birdwatching into real data that will encourage preservation. Use these useful resources to make sure your eBird is ready before your big day.
Enter your sightings on eBird Mobile– Install the app, adjust settings, and download “packs” for your island or state region. (pack This is a list of birds that are likely to be found in certain parts of the world.
Also, check with your team leader to make sure the checklist has been added to the official team Travel Report Therefore, every bird you log increases your chances of finding most species in your team!
There are two ways to ensure that the checklist is included:
- Please participate in the travel report in advance. Invite them to be team leaders. Please be sure to click when you receive the email Join the travel report (top right corner of the page). That’s all. All checklists are automatically added to allow you to watch your team’s progress throughout the day. (Find the team’s travel report link in line e))
- Manually share each checklist. Use the team username in column b Share each checklist. This also works, but the results may not be displayed immediately as team leaders need to manually accept each.
Isn’t it one of our islands or multinational teams? What are you waiting for? Join now Givebutter!
Pro tips: Once you’ve joined the Team Trip Report, you can obsessively refresh the page and check the total team seeds throughout the day, but we highly recommend spending your time bird watching.
One list doesn’t control them all
You have the eBird app, you are in your team travel report, you make a plan and you are excited and ready to birds! However, don’t start your checklist as a sunrise on your big day. And just stop when you’re exhausted in bed! The best way to do eBird is to run multiple lists.
What locations and habitat types have been changed? Start a new list.
Have you been stationary for more than an hour? New list.
Do you want to travel more than a mile? New list.
Have you changed the type of birdwatching you’re doing (i.e., do you mean static to travel counts, or vice versa)? You guessed it – a new list! (The T-shirt will come soon.)
eBird explains it simply and best. The shorter the duration and distance of the checklist, the more valuable the data is. A long checklist covering a wide area makes it difficult to pinpoint exactly where and when birds exist. Click on other best practices here.
Looking at the team’s contributions to the eBird Trip report, you can easily see all the species you can see from day to day across all lists!
Pro tips:Please make sure you have a checklist completion (i.e. report all species that can be identified by visual or sound) to obtain the best scientific value.
Gear up or go home
Nothing kills a good birdwatching moment like forgotten binoculars or dead phones. Test the gear in front You hit the trail. Charge everything. I know how it works. Thank you later.
We recommend packing lights, but we recommend packing them smartly. Your GBD survival kit must include:
- Phone (with ebird app)
- Field Guide
- Binoculars or range
- Camera (Please install the memory card!)
- Battery (Charging)
- Water (don’t forget to maintain your hydration champion!)
- medicine
- snack
- Spare clothes, and
- Other things you need to be comfortable and focused on the field
A little preparation will go a long way to make your day smooth and successful.
Pro tips: At GBD snacks, it’s not just snacks, it’s just for morale! And trust us, you need a lot morale If you’ve been putting out birds for a long time. Fill in trail mix and gummies.
Smart bird watching is a safe bird watching
FOMO is real, but just adjust the pace yourself. Injuries and fatigue do not help you see more birds. To keep you and your team safer, check the weather (and, if relevant, tide) before you go out. If you’re skipping solos, stick to places you know well to avoid unexpected challenges or get lost.
Don’t forget to take regular breaks. Take this time to stay hydrated, chat with other birders, maximize snack intake, and post social about your #BirdScaribglobalbigday experience. we Make a claim You tag @birdscaribbean with your photos and videos so we can support you.
Pro tips: Lieing on the ground in the field is a great way to rest. Turn your binoculars towards the sky and tell people you are checking the bird’s treetop (be careful of ants when following this tip!).
Don’t miss out on the night shift
Who doesn’t love the owl with round, careful eyes and quiet flight? ! Include some bird watching in the darkness to add an attractive nighttime species to your list. Choose a well-known location in the sunshine and plan your route in advance. Exploring unfamiliar places at night can be dangerous, so stick to familiar ground to stay safe and make the most of your nocturnal birdwatching adventures.
Carry a flashlight – it helps you find your way and choose wildlife in the dark (but don’t use it to interfere with birds and other animals!)
Use your ears. This is the best way for night birds. Listen to nocturne calls and see if you can identify the birds you hear!
bonus: Nighttime birdwatching is creepy, magical, and roughly underrated.
Things you don’t know can hurt (your species count)
You’ve checked and double-checked your field guide, but you’re still not just what that little brown bird is. Don’t go alone! You can use the Merlin ID app to nail the species ID or, even better, share photos and audio recordings with your precious team. Remember you are all together.
Pro tips: In “All about birds” Similar species can be compared side-by-side to assist with Cornell page IDs.
Final Thoughts: Please embrace the excitement! Not everything goes as planned, but that’s part of the fun. Global Big Days are adventures, unexpected moments, and of course incredible birds. Keep your mind high, enjoy the experience, and remember: all observations (What you submit to eBird)count!
Go out and boldly bird. We’re rooting for you!
Do you have a question or do you need help?
Check with the team leader Listed here.
I’ll reach out to Lisa Sorenson, Jeff Gelbrachtor Christel Mohamed.
