One of the more common tanagers reported in the tropics of Central America and northern South America were Blue-gray Tanagers. As it was excavating a cavity in Oregon a Pileated Woodpecker was photographed by Anne Sammis during the Global Big Day.

Birders around the world collectively set a new record for the total species of birds observed during the appropriately named Global Big Day! Last Saturday, May 10th, birders observed and reported a new single day record of more than 7,900 species as we went to press Tuesday afternoon! While most birders have reported their species counts, we won’t be able to report a true total until about June 1st, but we wanted to relay some nationals totals recorded by the time we published this issue to keep your enthusiasm for birding throughout May.

The global count as we went to press was 7,916 different species, and it was interesting to study something of the geography of the birds found in different regions of the world. For example, as we published this issue the Western Hemisphere’s total bird species was 4,044, while the Eastern Hemisphere’s count was 4,080 – remarkably similar considering the enormous differences in land masses and more.

Each nation’s totals are exciting to compare too. Colombia continues to lead in total species observed with 1,537, which is more than half the South American total (2,923). Nations that climbed into higher positions in the Top 10 included Venezuela and Panama, while the United States was ranked 9th with 724 species, behind Kenya and ahead of Argentina, so far. Overall, nations closest to the Equator tend to have higher species totals, especially if they also have mountains and ocean coastlines (like Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and others).

This exciting annual event was organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and reports from the field were recorded on eBird. You can monitor the remaining information trickling in, but totals won’t change dramatically considering that most birders posted their birding reports on eBird no later than Monday; refer to Global Big Day - eBird. We hope you enjoyed the day, and are excited by the collective totals and photos shared by birders who joined together for the Global Big Day.

Thanks for your input and dedication for adding your flare to this annual event. Even so, there is plenty more birding ahead of us all as we meet mid-May with renewed enthusiasm for the birds yet to come on their May migrations. Wherever you are, and wherever you go, enjoy the birds around you!