Global Big Day 2024 was a remarkable success, showcasing the dedication and enthusiasm of birders worldwide. On May 11, 2024, 1.3 million birders from around the globe participated in this 24-hour celebration of birds organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This year’s event—the tenth annual Global Big Day to date—saw impressive participation and results, setting new benchmarks for participatory science.
Globally, more than 63,000 birders submitted 156,000 checklists, contributing to the observation of more than 7,725 bird species. Colombia led the species count with an astounding 1,526 species recorded, followed by Peru with 1,428 species, and Brazil with 1,201 species. eBirders participated from 203 countries around the world, more countries birding in a single day than ever before!
One of the highlights of this year’s Global Big Day was the milestone achievement: more than 1 million people have now shared their bird observations on eBird. This remarkable accomplishment underscores the platform’s impact on birding and the significance of our collective contributions to scientific research.
These incredible achievements are thanks in large part to the efforts of local and regional conservation groups around the world including the eBird regional collaborator network and the Global Birding team. We appreciate working with these inspiring groups. Thanks also to Carl Zeiss Sports Optics for their continuing sponsorship of eBirder of the Month, including the opportunity to win Zeiss SFL binoculars by participating in Global Big Day.
Global Big Day by the numbers
- 1.2 million people identified birds with Merlin Bird ID—the most ever in one day, doubling last year’s Global Big Day participation through Merlin!
- 156,000 eBird checklists submitted
- 63,220 eBirders from 203 countries—more countries participating than ever before
- 7,725 species reported
- 82,550 photos shared with the Macaulay Library
- 4,820 audio recordings shared with the Macaulay Library
Explore more Global Big Day results
The event is more than just a bird count; it fosters community and encourages a shared passion for birding. Participants of all ages, from seasoned birders to beginners, contributed to the collective effort, making discoveries and sharing their experiences on social media with the hashtag #GlobalBigDay. Below are some of the inspiring stories from eBirder’s around the world.
A Day of Firsts
Although this is the 10th annual Global Big Day, 2024 was a year filled with firsts for eBird and birding around the world. While breaking records for the most number of participants, checklists, observations, and species contributed on a single day, this weekend also marked a tremendous milestone for the eBird platform: more than a million eBirders since eBird’s inception in 2012. To the nearly 4,400 eBirders who submitted their first eBird checklist on Global Big Day, welcome! We’re glad to have you on the team.
Bolivian birders celebrated the country’s first report of Harpy Eagle on a Global Big Day. This important find represents just the 29th eBird report of this globally threatened species from Bolivia, and only the fourth observation of this species with media in the country. “This sighting represents a significant milestone,” writes eBirder and biology student Nicole A. Avalos. “We believe that sharing this information will not only contribute to the understanding and appreciation of bird biodiversity in Bolivia but also inspire other birdwatchers to participate in future Global Big Day events.”
As the video above shows, neighboring Plush-crested Jays were considerably less enthusiastic about the juvenile Harpy Eagle’s presence. Check out the full gallery of media from this observation.
The Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh, India, hosted its first ever public birding event on Global Big Day and nearly doubled the number of checklists submitted during last year’s Global Big Day. As environmental education organization Aum Kinnaur writes, “what better time to host a public event than Global Big Day when communities across the globe are celebrating the birds.” We couldn’t agree more!
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From Sun-up to Sunset
For many, Global Big Day is a chance to see how many species you can find in 24 hours. TikTok user @avesurbanasscz and Instagram user @ptt.wangchanforest summarize the “Big Day” experience: start before dawn, enjoy the sights and sounds of birds, keep birding no matter the conditions, and appreciate nature in the process.
@avesurbanasscz Global Big Day 2024 – Espejillos/Agua Dulce #aves #santacruzdelasierra #bolivia #ornitologia #nature #naturaleza #fypシ ♬ Glimpse (Slowed + Reverb) – Gabriel Albuquerqüe
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The Cornell Lab’s Team Sapsucker finished their 22-hour long Big Day with a combined total of 203 species between groups in Chicago and upper Michigan. These regions along the Great Lakes were selected for their importance to migrating birds across three flyways and to raise awareness of the hazards that migratory birds face each year from building collisions, habitat degradation, and more. See the results of Team Sapsucker’s efforts in their Great Lakes Big Day Trip Report.
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- Team Sapsucker—Chicago. Photo by Jenna Curtis.
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- Team Sapsucker—Michigan. Photo by Marshall Iliff.
Of course, when birding all day, it’s important to take the occasional moment to rest. After finding 19 species on their first Global Big Day, the Pajareritos (little birders) of Putumayo took a quick snack break to recharge before hitting the trail:
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Celebrating Birds
Global Big Day isn’t just about how many species you find or how long you spend birding. Global Big Day is about celebrating our shared love for birds and the joy they bring into our lives. This day is an opportunity to connect with nature, contribute to vital scientific research, and be part of a global community of bird enthusiasts. Every observation, no matter how small, helps us better understand and protect bird populations.
There are many ways to celebrate birds on Global Big Day. The #sketchybirders team always inspires with their field sketches and nature journaling.
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Additionally, Museo de la Independencia Casa del Florero held “Manos a la huerta: Taller de ilustración de aves migratorias”, a workshop which commemorated Global Big Day efforts through watercolor illustrations.
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Sometimes art takes a tasty twist, check out these creative Global Big Day cookies baked by @coconaorito!
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Connecting Community
We are grateful to the many volunteers and mentors who chose to spend their Global Big Day sharking their knowledge about the importance of birds and their habitats. From beginning bird walks to public workshops and hands-on activities, the coordinators and participants of these community birding events are the true heroes of Global Big Day.
Coastal Solutions Fellow Juanita Fonseca shared the shorebird conservation efforts of the Coastal Solutions Fellows Program at an Environmental Expo in Mazatlán, Mexico, helping to raise community awareness for birds on Global Big Day and sparking the interest of young conservation scientists.
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Within Colombia, Meta is the subregion leader for both checklists and species. Birding programs in each of the 29 municipios (regional territories) of Meta, Colombia on Global Big Day brought people together in a shared love of birds.
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Michigan birder Marisa (@disabledinnature) reminds us of the importance of accessibility and that birding, like Global Big Day, is for everyone. For Marisa, the highlight of birding events is “all of the cool people from around the world that we get to share in the birds with,” Marisa adds, “Anyone can be a birder!”
The relationships created while birding, including those formed on Global Big Day, can last a lifetime. Global Birding shared this flashback to the 1980s:
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Craving even more Global Big Day community highlights? Tune in to the eBird Costa Rica “top ten” best checklists of Global Big Day as nominated by the Costa Rica birding community. The results will be broadcast live on 24 May via the eBird Costa Rica Facebook page.
Whether birding from backyards, parks, or remote locations, each eBird checklist submitted on 11 May helped create a comprehensive snapshot of bird populations worldwide. The data collected is crucial for scientific research and conservation efforts, providing insights into bird migration patterns, habitat needs, and population trends. Global Big Day 2024 not only set new records but also inspired a new generation of birders to appreciate and protect our feathered friends.
Across Land, Sea, and Sky
From land to sea, eBirders like Cristiano Voitina and Rodrigo Bicudo celebrated Global Big Day on the open ocean. In their eBird checklist, they document pelagic species like Cory’s Shearwater, Brown Boobies, and South Polar Skua.
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Birders documented their Global Big Day celebrations in Iguaçu National Park, Brazil. The group shared their use of Merlin Bird ID to help identify species and eBird to document sightings.
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Listen and enjoy the amazing sounds of Capuchinbird from Iwokrama International Research Center, Guyana:
Across the Northern Hemisphere, migratory birds are returning to their breeding grounds. 257 million birds were predicted to migrate over the United States in the night leading up to Global Big Day. See the live bird migration map for Saturday morning.
Thank you
As we reflect on another tremendous Global Big Day, we are humbled by your incredible contributions to data collection and birding. Each checklist you submitted offers invaluable insights, aiding in our collective understanding and protection of birds.
Every day spent birding with eBird and Merlin is an opportunity to make a difference, we appreciate you choosing to make that difference on May 11th. Whether you spent a few minutes or several hours observing birds, your efforts were, and continue to be, crucial. Together, we are helping birds around the world.
THANK YOU for being an essential part of this global community and for your unwavering commitment to birds and science.
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