On Saturday, the 7th of December, BirdLife South Africa’s annual Birding Big Day will take place. Throughout the day, teams of birders will log their bird sightings on the BirdLasser mobile app, birding within a radius of either 50 km or 6 km to record as many bird species as possible, either in South Africa as a whole or within their province, during the 24-hour period.
Teams participate with varying levels of intensity. Some go all out, aiming to win by recording the most species nationwide or provincially. Others simply look to enjoy the day.
Realistically, my team won’t win the South African challenge. But that doesn’t mean we take the day any less seriously. Instead of competing against others, we focus on competing with ourselves. Each year, we aim to improve, fine-tune our strategies, and tick off a few more birds than the previous year. We also push ourselves to go a little further, stretch our limits, and enjoy the experience. Above all, we prioritize ethical birding while having a great time.
How We Prepare
I’m no expert, but I’ve picked up a few tips along the way that help us maximize our time and effort on the day. Here’s my five-step preparation process that I am using to prepare fr the 50 km radius category:
Select the Team
Building the right team is crucial. I aim to put together a group whose skills complement each other. Each member is chosen because they bring something valuable to the table. For example, I always include someone strong in administration to keep track of what we’ve seen, what we still need to find, and to manage our schedule throughout the day.
Equally important is team chemistry. You’ll be spending 24 hours together, so it’s vital to enjoy the company of your teammates. A great team strikes the perfect balance between good skills and good vibes.
2. Choose the Area
The area you choose should offer a diverse range of habitats to maximize the species you’ll encounter. Living on the KwaZulu-Natal coast allows us to access grasslands, higher altitudes, coastal forests, and estuaries—all within the 50 km radius.
We also focus on areas we’re familiar with, so we already know key locations to find target species. Familiarity saves time and increases our chances of success.
3. Gather Data
Using the SABAP2 website, I gather data on birds recorded in our chosen area. By grouping the relevant pentads, I compile a comprehensive list of species likely to be encountered during the day. This data not only shows which birds have been recorded but also how often they’re seen.
4. Organize the Data
I copy the gathered data into an Excel sheet and sort it to make it more user-friendly. Sorting by the reporting rate places the species most likely to be seen at the top of the list.
I also calculate an average reporting rate using November and December data to filter out seasonal birds that may not be present. To save time in the field, I add Sasol Field Guide page numbers for each species, allowing us to quickly look up ID features when needed.
5. Learn the Birds
The finalized list is shared with the team so everyone can prepare. Team members focus on species they may struggle to identify and those that are tricky to differentiate from similar species. We also practice learning bird calls, particularly for LBJs (little brown jobs) that are more challenging to spot.
This preparation doesn’t just help for Birding Big Day—it helps us grow individually as birders, giving us a deeper understanding of the birds we’ll encounter.
Why I Love Birding Big Day
What I love about this process is that it’s not just about the competition. It’s about growing as birders, refining our skills, and deepening our appreciation for the birds around us. By the end of the day, we’re better equipped for all future birding adventures.
This is my five-step preparation process for Birding Big Day. I hope it helps you as you gear up for one of the biggest days on the South African birding calendar.
What steps do you take to prepare? Leave a comment on this article - we would love to hear from you!
Let’s make this Birding Big Day one to remember!
If you haven’t registered yet, head over to the Birding Big Day page on the BirdLife South Africa website and sign your team up: https://www.birdlife.org.za/support-us/events/birding-big-day-2024/
If you enjoyed this article, you will enjoy these podcast episodes on Birding Big Day:
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