Join Us for Global Bird Weekend Fun!

Bird watching has become a fun way to entertain the family, which was especially true during the stay-at-home Covid-19 times. People became more aware of their surroundings right at home and found a new love for bird watching. Are you interested in learning how to bird watch? Check out SOWLE RV’s article, How to Bird Watch, then come back here and get signed up for the exciting weekend-long event to kick off the Autumn Bird Watching Season; Global Bird Weekend!

 

 

What is Global Bird Weekend (GBW)?

Global Bird Weekend is a weekend event for bird watching. 2020 was the first year for Global Bird Weekend. It coincides with October Big Day every year, where the goal is to create a WORLD RECORD for the largest number of birds seen by the greatest number of people!

 

 

Why Does Global Bird Weekend Exist?

The goal of Global Bird Weekend is for one weekend to become the largest bird counting event of the year. Their goal to begin with in 2020 was to have at least 25,000 participants. Another goal is to record more than 6,000 bird species. Finally, and most importantly, there is a goal to raise funds for the Birdlife Conservation Project to Stop the Illegal Trade in Birds. Do you want to learn more about Bird Trafficking? Global Bird Weekend has a great article explaining what illegal bird trading is and how YOU can help put a stop to it.

 

 

Who Can Participate in Global Bird Weekend?

Absolutely ANYONE AND EVERYONE can participate in Global Bird Weekend! It is a great activity for the entire family! A sure way to keep the kids entertained for hours!

 

Special Needs Population

Bird watching, in general, is a great activity for anyone with special needs. That is how we found out about bird watching as a hobby. Our son, Aiden, reads a special newspaper in school called News 2 You and they had an article on bird watching and the Feederwatch Program. Aiden was instantly interested in it, and it soon became a wonderful family event for entertainment! Bird Watching is also a great way for those with Special Needs to Participate in iPad Photography!

 

 

The Elderly Population

Aiden’s Great-Grandmother (aka GG) is an avid bird watcher now too! She is in her 90’s and spends many hours of her day watching birds outside her bird window area. She keeps track of her bird sightings in her Bird Journal and is also a member of the Feederwatch Program.

 

Nature and Photography Lovers

For people who enjoy the great outdoors and being in nature, this is a great way to enjoy it all! If you are someone who enjoys photographing nature, then this is YOUR THING! It is certainly a great way to Create Inspirational and Motivational Nature Photography!

 

Bird Watching While RV Camping

Bird Watching while RV Camping from a campsite can bring all sorts of different species into your birding world! With our experience, even going RV Camping just a few miles south of our home, we see many birds that we never see in our backyard.

It is a great activity for every member of your family. You would be surprised how many birds a child can see before you do! It is a great way to get the entire family involved in nature while enjoying a relaxing RV Camping adventure!

 

 

Where Does Global Bird Weekend Take Place?

You can simply bird watch from anywhere for the Global Bird Weekend! This includes bird watching while RV Camping, traveling to a nearby nature park to bird watch, and bird watching in your backyard. Really, ANYWHERE!

 

Traveling to a Destination for Bird Watching

You can simply travel to a nearby park or nature park to bird watch without leaving your hometown!

 

Bird Watching in Your Own Backyard

Your backyard is a great place to take in all the action! It certainly is the safest place by far these days! You simply set up a feeder and grab a few supplies that we list below and hang out in a space outside away from the feeder or inside looking out a window.

 

 

Taking Photos and Videos of Your Bird Watching Fun

As we mentioned above, if you are interested in Bird Watching but have never participated before now, take a look at our article on How to Bird Watch. In this article you will read about photography while bird watching.

Taking Photos and Videos of what you experience while bird watching is an important part of bird watching. Having the ability to look back at what you have seen during each bird watching session is great. Being able to compare the different species you have seen, the time of year you see them, and having videos showing how they act at your feeder or different feeders you visit can give you a lot of information about birds in your area.

Undoubtedly, Binoculars are great for viewing birds at the feeder up-close and are a favorite for Bird Watchers. Furthermore, Digital Cameras are great for taking those still shots when one of your favorite birds’ lands in just the right spot at just the right moment. Moreover, catching the action of the birds you are watching at your Feeder Station with video is certainly a bonus. How about a telescopic view to really see them up close? Wouldn’t it be great if you could do all those things with ONE SIMPLE TO USE PRODUCT?? Well, you can!

We were so excited when we found Digital Binoculars that have a Camera, Telescope Camera, 2” LCD screen, and Video Recorder all-in-one! We know what you are thinking…a couple hundred dollars for those, right?

Nope!

These Digital Binoculars with Camera, Telescopic Camera, and Video Capability are right around one hundred bucks AND they come with a free Micro SD Card! Seriously, it is a great deal and we are so happy with ours!

Check out these awesome DIGITAL BINOCULARS HERE!

 

When is Global Bird Weekend?

Global Bird Weekend is a Friday through Sunday event in October during a peak weekend for bird migration, so you are sure to see some amazing birds that you may not otherwise see on a given day in your area! Check out the updated dates each year in SOWLE RV’s Fun Bird Awareness Days of the Year article.

 

How Do I Participate in Global Bird Weekend?

Participate Individually AND Join Team SOWLE RV!

Sign up individually first HERE and be sure to list “Team SOWLE RV” as you Team!

*If you would prefer to simply bird watch and count the birds you see but would prefer for SOWLE RV to enter your count, we can do that! Just contact us HERE to let us know! Please enter “GBW” as subject line!

 

The Scheduled Plan of Events

Friday: The Day of Prepping

Read through SOWLE RV’s Bird Watching for Beginners article and get all of your supplies ready for Global Bird Weekend!

 

 

Saturday: The Day of Counting

1. Determine where you will be bird watching from. Go outside or stay inside and view through a window. Have all your supplies ready to start documenting.
2. Record as many different species of birds that you see. You can record them as you go on the APP or if you are like us and want to keep your eyes focused on the birds, you can use a Birding Journal while bird watching. Just do not forget to enter the data at the end of the day on the eBird App! We recommend The Birding Journal: Through the Seasons for adults and Bird Log Kids (Nature Journal Spiral Bound) for kids.

 

*Enter your bird findings on the eBird Cornell Lab Account on their Website or eBird App. Both are free to use! Click HERE for instructions on how enter your sightings with eBird Mobile.

1. Share your checklist with Team SOWLE RV! Click HERE to learn how to share your checklist with the team and also to make any changes to your checklist.

 

Note: Not only can you enter your bird sightings for Global Bird Weekend and October Big Day, but also The Great Backyard Bird Count in February and project Feederwatch that runs from November to April every year!

 

Sunday: The Day of Sharing

1. Share your photos, videos, and sounds of your birdwatching area on social media. Click HERE for Instructions.
2. Add your photos and videos to the eBird’s dedicated Global Bird Weekend Facebook Page.
3. Do not forget to join us and add them to our SOWLE RV Team for Bird Watching Facebook Group as well! We REALLY want to see YOUR Bird Sightings, Bird Feeder Stations, Feeders, and Find a Bird Challenge Photos! (details below)
4. Remember to add the hashtags on SOCIAL MEDIA #GLOBALBIRDING, #GLOBALBIRDWEEKEND, #SOWLERVBIRDWATCHING, #SOWLERVTeam
5. Watch all the sightings recorded by people just like you on the eBird Site!
6. Keep counting birds today!

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion of Join Us for Global Bird Weekend Fun!

 If you have any QUESTIONS or COMMENTS, simply contact SOWLE RV for more information HERE! Please type “GBW” in the subject line!