Challenges for everyone!
Birda offers a whole range of challenges to keep you motivated from monthly species counts to Big Years, photo challenges to Days Wild. Each challenge has its own leaderboard, great for those of us who enjoy a little friendly competition, be it with yourself or other birders around the world. Find a challenge that suits you, whatever your mood.
Birdwatching Challenges
SPECIES PHOTO
Reveal Wonder Photo Challenge
29 Mar - 30 Apr, 2024
📷 Photograph and log 5 species
🏆 Complete the challenge and earn your digital finisher’s badge
⭐ Be in with a chance to win an incredible OM-1 MKII camera and a M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS lens (worth $5,700)
During April, OM System challenges you to reveal wonder. All you need to do is discover and photograph 5 bird species. We encourage you to go beyond your comfort zone and experiment with new techniques or perspectives. Whether it's playing with light and shadows, exploring different angles, or capturing birds in motion, let your creativity soar. It doesn’t need to be ground-breaking, just fun-making! Best of all, you could be in with a chance to win an incredible OM-1 MKII camera and a M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS lens (worth $5,700)
OM System cameras are known for their ability to capture unseen glimpses of nature in the great outdoors. Now it’s your turn. Just go outside and turn your lens to the birds around you.
Don't worry if you're not an expert in bird photography; any bird photo counts, whether it's captured with high-end gear or your simple smartphone.
We almost forgot to mention, and this is important. You just need to complete the challenge to be added to the prize draw. It's not about being at the top of the leaderboard - although that does feel nice - it's about birds, fun and photos; in that order!
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SPECIES
Generation Nature Challenge
25 May - 25 Jun, 2024
🐦 Log 15 species
🏆 Complete the challenge and earn your digital finisher’s badge
⭐ Be in with a chance to win an ATC 17-40x56 Spotting Scope and a pair of MY Junior 7x28 binoculars
This summer, Swarovski Optik challenges you to venture outside and become part of
“Generation Nature” by logging at least 15 bird species. You can go it alone, or take some family or friends to share the excitement of bird-spotting together. Once you’ve completed the challenge you’ll be in with a chance to win an ATC 17-40x56 Spotting Scope plus a pair of MY Junior 7x28 binoculars, perfect for those family adventures.
For the last 75 years, Swarovski Optik has been at the forefront of connecting generations of nature-lovers with the beauty of the natural world through their state-of-the-art binoculars and spotting scopes. As part of their 75th anniversary celebrations this year, they're rolling out the green carpet for anyone who gets a kick out of nature. Uniting all ages and cultures to inspire each other in a shared love for the natural world. With #generationnature, it's all about connecting, sharing, and making a bit of a difference for our planet.
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SPECIES LOCATION
European Big Year 2024
01 Jan - 31 Dec, 2024
🐦 Log 75 species
Participate in the European Big Year 2024, improve your birdwatching skills, and contribute to bird research across Europe. Discover the rich diversity of bird species found throughout the European continent. Aim to spot and document 75 different bird species in any European country by the end of the year!
SPECIES LOCATION
Britain Big Year 2024
01 Jan - 31 Dec, 2024
🐦 Log 75 species
Join the Britain Big Year 2024 Challenge, develop your birdwatching abilities, and support wildlife research across Britain's varied habitats. Explore and discover the wide array of bird species found throughout Britain's countryside, coasts, and urban areas. Challenge yourself to spot and document 75 different bird species by the end of the year!
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SPECIES LOCATION
Australia Big Year 2024
01 Jan - 31 Dec, 2024
🐦 Log 75 species
Join the Australia Big Year Challenge 2024! Enhance your birdwatching skills, and support citizen science by experiencing the breathtaking beauty of Australia's avian wonders. Australia's extraordinary variety of birds showcases its rich biodiversity and varied habitats. Set your goal to identify 75 bird species by the year's end!
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SPECIES LOCATION
Greater London Challenge 2024
01 Jan - 31 Dec, 2024
🐦 Log 30 species
Join the Greater London Challenge 2024, enhance your birding skills, and contribute to urban wildlife research while exploring the enchanting beauty of London's avian residents. The variety of bird species found in London is a testament to the city's vibrant urban biodiversity and green spaces. Set a personal goal to spot and log 30 bird species in the Greater London area (inside the M25) by the end of the year!
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SPECIES
#My200BirdYear Challenge 2024
01 Jan - 31 Dec, 2024
🐦 Log 200 species
We’ve teamed up with Bird Watching magazine for their special Big Year challenge as we want to encourage people to see more birds than ever!
There’s a target of 200 species, you don’t need any fancy equipment, though some binoculars may help! You can do it in England, Wales or deep in the Amazon Rainforest. Help and advice will be in every issue of Bird Watching magazine and there’ll be regular Readers’ Days at which you can meet the BW team, get tips from them and reserve wardens, and add new species to your list at some of the UK’s best birding spots.
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SPECIES
Birda Global Big Year 2024
01 Jan - 31 Dec, 2024
🐦 Log 100 species
Participate in the Birda Global Big Year 2024, expand your birdwatching skills, and contribute to worldwide conservation research. This exciting challenge allows you to explore and document the diverse range of bird species found anywhere in the world. The goal is to identify and record 100 different bird species from any location across the globe by the end of the year!
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SPECIES LOCATION
Kruger National Park Challenge 2024
01 Jan - 31 Dec, 2024
🐦 Log 75 species
Join the Kruger National Park Challenge 2024, improve your birdwatching, and help with wildlife research in South Africa's famous park. Discover the diverse birds of Kruger National Park. Aim to spot 75 different species by the end of the year!
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SPECIES LOCATION
Southern Africa Big Year 2024
01 Jan - 31 Dec, 2024
🐦 Log 100 species
Join the Southern Africa Big Year 2024 and experience the rich avian biodiversity of Southern Africa. Your goal? Identify and log 100 bird species to complete the challenge. But don't stop there! Keep exploring and recording to see how high you can climb on the leaderboard, comparing your achievements with fellow birders across this diverse and bird-rich region.
Countries include Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini & Mozambique (South of the Zambezi river).
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SPECIES LOCATION
Rutland Water Challenge 2024
01 Jan - 31 Dec, 2024
📷 Log 10 species
🏆 Complete the challenge and earn your digital finisher’s badge
Whether you're a seasoned birdwatcher or first-time explorer, the Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trusts challenge you to spot and connect with at least 10 bird species around Rutland Water this year.
Home to the iconic Rutland Ospreys and containing one of the largest wildfowl sanctuaries in all of the UK, Rutland Water Nature Reserve is a birder’s dream and the perfect venue to help you grow your life lists.
So head out and explore! Wildfowl swim in the bay in spring, and when the water levels fall in late summer, the area is taken over by wading birds feeding on the exposed mud. Keep your eyes peeled for the flash of a kingfisher and the majestic ospreys diving for fish.
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SPECIES LOCATION
South African Big Year 2024
01 Jan - 31 Dec, 2024
🐦 Log 75 species
Join the South African Big Year 2024, enhance your birdwatching skills, and contribute to wildlife research across the country's diverse landscapes. Explore the rich variety of bird species found throughout South Africa's parks and natural reserves. Set your goal to identify and record 75 different bird species by the end of the year and see if you can spot the 2024 Bird of the Year - the beautiful Bateluer!
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SPECIES LOCATION
India Big Year 2024
01 Jan - 31 Dec, 2024
🐦 Log 75 species
Join the India Big Year Challenge 2024! Refine your birdwatching expertise, and aid in citizen science as you explore the unique splendor of India's bird species. The remarkable array of birds in India reflects its vast biodiversity and diverse ecosystems. Challenge yourself to identify and record 75 different bird species by the end of the year!
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SPECIES LOCATION
ABA Area Big Year 2024
01 Jan - 31 Dec, 2024
🐦 Log 100 species
Join the ABA Area Big Year 2024, enhance your birdwatching skills, and contribute to avian research within the American Birding Association (ABA) area. Embrace the opportunity to explore and document the diverse bird species found across North America, including the United States and Canada. Set your sights on identifying and recording 100 different bird species in the ABA area by the end of the year!
What’s the ABA Area? The ABA Area, sometimes referred to as the ABA Checklist Area, is essentially North America north of Mexico plus the Hawaiian Islands. Specifically, the area encompassed is the 49 continental United States, the Hawaiian Islands, Canada, the French islands of St. Pierre et Miquelon, and adjacent waters to a distance of 200 miles from land or half the distance to a neighbouring country, whichever is less.
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SPECIES
April Challenge 2024
01 - 30 Apr, 2024
🐦 Log 30 species
Flap into April ready to celebrate the outdoors with a keen pair of eyes!
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SPECIES
May Challenge 2024
01 - 31 May, 2024
🐦 Log 30 species
May your days be feather-filled! Head out and spot 30 species this month.
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Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.
Your birdwatching journey like never before
Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.
Birda Blog
What Our Birders Say
Alex J
Friendly and helps to identify birds
Great birding app, good for logging your sightings, also has nice species guide. I'm enjoying the social aspect more than I expected, everyone seems friendly and helps to identify unknown birds. Good mix of newbies and experienced users.
Dan R
Great app for bird fanatics
Great app for bird fanatics - very user friendly and a perfect place to share sightings.
Nick S
Work together with community
Been loving using this app to log my bird sightings and work together with community members to identify different birds. I've already learned a lot since I started about a month ago!
Carrie
Makes you want to spot birds more
I think this app is fun. It makes you want to spot birds more so I guess in a way it encourages you to get out and about instead of sitting in front of the TV.
Tralisalandhoop
Fantastic app - Love it!
Love this app and have used it almost daily. Lots of species information and easy to use. Love seeing birds spotted by other users in the UK and worldwide.
Hip An
Fantastic
Really enjoying Birda where I live i have a lot of Red kites really hard to photograph but I can video are you planning some place on the app where us Birda can post vids🦉🦅
Leonie
We've been waiting for an App like this
Excellent! We've been waiting for an app like this! Thank you! It would be nice if you could assign additional birds to sessions later!
Paul F
Very good database
Highly recommend. It great that this app shows you male Vs female variations when posting. Very good database I'm really impressed.
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Sacha0508
Simply fantastic
I love this app, it puts so much fun into recording the birds I’ve seen and heard while I’m out and about. The interface is user-friendly and suitable for all ages. It’s great to collect badges and to review my “lists”.
Birdwatching Challenges
Birda presents various engaging challenges designed to encourage outdoor activities, more time in nature, and achieving specific goals. These challenges can be as short as a day or as long as a year and may be focused on particular locations or be worldwide.
How to Join a Birda Challenge?
In the Birda app, navigate to the ‘Challenges’ section in the bottom menu to explore different challenges. Each challenge has unique criteria, so it’s crucial to review the Details and Eligibility for the rules. To ensure your activities contribute to the challenge, set your post sharing settings to public.
Tracking Your Challenge Progress
After joining a challenge, it will appear on your Profile Page and the Challenges tab. By selecting a challenge, you can view a progress bar indicating your completion status and the remaining time. This section also displays all your qualifying sightings. Each challenge features a leaderboard ranking participants. Your rank, along with the positions of those around you, will be visible.
Prizes for Challenges
Occasionally, Birda partners with brands to offer sponsored challenges with prizes. To maintain inclusivity, prizes are distributed through a prize draw, where anyone who completes the challenge is eligible to win. Always read the terms and conditions for each challenge to understand prize eligibility and how to claim them.
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