October is an active time for fall migration in the Northern Hemisphere, making it one of the most exciting times of the year to watch birds! Organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, October Big Day is a global birding event where participants find and document as many bird species as possible in 24 hours.

Anyone can participate, from complete beginners to expert birders, by observing birds in their own backyard or traveling to nearby birding hotspots.

To Participate:

• Observe: Spend anywhere from 10 minutes to the entire day looking for and identifying birds.

• Record: Keep track of the species and numbers of birds you see or hear.

• Submit: Log your sightings using eBird or Merlin.

Why It Matters:

Your checklists contribute directly to a worldwide, single-day snapshot of bird migration and population abundance. This critical scientific data helps researchers understand global bird movements, map distributions, and identify conservation needs. Plus it's a lot of fun!