January eBirder of the Month Challenge
This month’s eBirder of the month challenge, sponsored by Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, gives you an excuse to start strong with your eBirding in 2018 and see what you can find! In order to qualify as the first eBirder of the Month in 2018, all you have to do is submit one eBird checklist for each day in January. The more eyes looking, the merrier. This is a perfect way to wrap winning free binoculars into a New Year’s Resolution! The eBirder of the month will be drawn from eBirders who submit at least 31 eligible checklists in January. Winners will be notified early in the following month.
January 1st. The beginning of a new year, and a new year list! This year, it is also the beginning of several ways to win free binoculars for your birding.
We hope to encourage appreciation of birds in this fresh year through these fun opportunities, giving you added incentive to get out each day and see what you can find—as if you needed one! It is a great excuse to visit a new place, perhaps a new eBird Hotspot: try exploring hotspots near you. Maybe you got a new camera or smartphone during the holiday season and are documenting your sightings for the first time: learn how to add your photos to eBird checklists, or use eBird Mobile. Most importantly, no matter where you go or what you see, have a blast! The birds are waiting to be eBirded and enjoyed.
Importantly, if you meet the challenge to submit 31 checklists in January 2018, then you will be on pace for our Checklist-a-day challenge as well!
Each month we will feature a new eBird challenge and set of selection criteria. The monthly winners will each receive a new ZEISS Conquest HD 8×42 binocular. In 2018 we will also be featuring an eBirder of the Year—drawn randomly from the eBirders who qualify for all 12 monthly challenges throughout the year.
Carl Zeiss Sports Optics is a proven leader in sports optics and is the official optics sponsor for eBird. “Carl Zeiss feels strongly that by partnering with the Cornell Lab we can provide meaningful support for their ability to carry out their research, conservation, and education work around the world,” says Mike Jensen, President of Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, North America. “The Cornell Lab is making a difference for birds, and from the highest levels of our company we’re committed to promoting birding and the Lab’s work, so there’s a great collaboration. eBird is a truly unique and synergistic portal between the Lab and birders, and we welcome the opportunity to support them both.”