This Saturday, October 10th, you can join birders from about 200 countries around the world to spend some time birding as a part of the biggest birding team while visiting a favorite birding site or a few hotspots, or as they participate from home. All this to add to our collective knowledge of "where the birds are" during a peak migration day in October – during October Big Day. Birders will join together Saturday to identify and count the birds they see, and share their bird list online at eBird. Last year birders found 7,962 different species of birds during October Big Day, but even more important is where each species is found. And it's all done in a spirit of community and shared online, where you can view what other birders are reporting on eBird.
While enjoying time in the natural world, on your own or with others, please do appreciate the beauty of how you are joining something very special that brings people together through our common interest in birds! And enjoy yourself in the process, as well as the birds and other people around you – it's a very special day for us all, this October Big Day. You can learn more details about how to participate and enjoy your October Big Day experience to the fullest at October Big Day—10 Oct 2026 - eBird
To get a jolt of enthusiasm, even before you get started, see what birders in Asia and Australia have reported on eBird, and follow the progress of birders in Africa and Europe in real time too. Because the event begins at the International Date Line in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and progresses east around the globe as the day follows time zones toward the Americas. See how the total bird count increases, as well as what kinds of birds are being reported, and watch the numbers of people who are participating increase in live time at October Big Day. (Until Friday October 9th the results from 2025 are posted on this site, but the 2026 results will begin to post after midnight at the International Date Line on October 10th.)
Also check the progress after you add your eBird report to the expansive mix, and take a look at some of the photographs and sound recordings too. Then check back Sunday too, as late checklists continue filter in. Our fellow Americans in Hawaii will be among the last to get started, but they will surely add some unique birds – some Hawaiian endemics. Let the countdown begin toward this year's exciting October Big Day!