Birdwatchers Establish New Global Record, Recognizing Over 7,800 Bird Species within One Day
**October Big Day 2024: A Worldwide Birdwatching Spectacle Sets New Records**
For passionate birdwatchers around the world, the October Big Day presents a distinctive chance to engage, give back, and take part in an exhilarating birding challenge. Commonly, a “Big Year” in the birdwatching realm refers to a year-long effort to view and record as many bird species as achievable within a designated area. On the other hand, the Big Day compresses this thrilling endeavor into a single 24-hour period, motivating bird enthusiasts from all over the globe to document bird species with remarkable outcomes.
This year’s October Big Day occurred on October 12, 2024, and it broke records, with birders from more than 200 countries collaborating to identify an impressive 7,800+ species in just one day. The event significantly enhanced citizen science initiatives and highlighted the worldwide passion for birdwatching.
### An Enormous Participation: 748,000 Participants
Organized by eBird, a worldwide bird-recording system supported by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, alongside birding applications such as Merlin, the Big Day challenge attracted nearly 748,000 participants. This represented one of the largest participatory birding events recorded. Birdwatchers shared their findings through eBird’s robust web and mobile platforms, resulting in nearly 100,000 birding checklists being uploaded.
The increasing participation rate underscored the unwavering excitement for birdwatching as a hobby and its growing significance in conservation initiatives. Birdwatchers contributed to monitoring bird populations, supplying crucial data for ornithologists and ecologists to evaluate migratory trends and global avian health amid climate change and habitat loss.
### 7,800+ Species Recorded
Arguably the most thrilling aspect of this year’s event was the documentation of over 7,800 distinct bird species, marking a world record for the highest number of species recorded in a single day. This extensive effort resulted in a staggering collection of images and videos — almost 62,000 photos and more than 2,000 videos uploaded to the Macaulay Library, a digital repository for avian media. These contributions further enhance public awareness and provide essential scientific records vital to conservation programs globally.
Records such as these are more than mere celebrations. They showcase the incredible diversity of birdlife across the planet. Moreover, the information is essential for organizations dedicated to avian conservation, assisting in identifying vulnerable species and tracking subtle shifts in global bird populations over time.
### A Closer Examination: Countries that Stole the Spotlight
Colombia stood out as the star of the occasion, owing to its reputation as a biodiversity hotspot with the highest number of endemic bird species worldwide. The birdwatchers in Colombia contributed an exceptional array of species, greatly enhancing the day’s record-setting total.
Brazil also made notable contributions, recording over 1,240 bird species. Its rich birding landscape, characterized by expansive rainforests and unique ecosystems such as the Amazon Basin, creates an ideal setting for spotting numerous bird species in one day.
Other regions experienced significant increases in birdwatching participation as well. Italy reported a remarkable 93% boost in participants compared to the previous year, while the Philippines experienced an 89% rise. In Africa, over 1,500 species were documented for the first time, highlighting the growing involvement of the birding community throughout the continent.
### Global Response Highlights Participatory Science
The success of October Big Day 2024 emphasized the strength of participatory science, or “citizen science.” By rallying global birdwatchers, initiatives like this one facilitate the rapid and efficient compilation of comprehensive data — a task that would be nearly impossible for individual researchers or small teams.
As eBird’s team noted in their reflections on the event, “The remarkable number of recorded species serves as proof of the efforts of observers around the globe and the resources developed by the international birding community.” The collected data will aid in informing essential conservation decisions, species safeguarding, and the overall health of birds and their habitats worldwide.
### What Lies Ahead? May Big Day 2025
The excitement is far from over! Save the date, as the next Big Day is scheduled for May 10, 2025. The increasing enthusiasm for such events promises to turn it into yet another record-setting occasion, particularly as awareness of the impact and significance of these birding marathons grows.
Whether an experienced birder or a budding birdwatcher, there is a role in this challenge for anyone curious about nature. From lush rainforests to city parks, birdwatchers are united by a shared passion for accommodating birds and studying them while also contributing to an expanding body of scientific research.
### Advocating Conservation Through Birding
Birdwatching events like October Big Day highlight not only the rich diversity of birds but also empower a community of individuals deeply passionate about conservation. These events also promote