October Challenge 2024

🐦 Log 30 species

📍 Anywhere

This Halloween season, embark on a spooky quest to identify 30 bird species in October. Whether you're scanning the trees by daylight or listening for owls after dark, every sighting adds to your list. The race to 30 species is on—who will get there before the witching hour?

This month's bird is the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), one of North America's most powerful and widespread raptors. Known for its distinctive tufted "horns," (which are actually feathers) this nocturnal predator has exceptional hearing and vision, enabling it to hunt effectively at night. It preys on a wide range of animals, from rodents to larger mammals like skunks, and can even take down birds of prey. With a wingspan of up to five feet, it can silently glide through the air thanks to specialised feathers that muffle sound. Great Horned Owls are also highly territorial and can live for over 20 years in the wild.

This challenge is for anyone with a Birda account. This challenge is for tickable species only. You can read more about tickable species here.

This challenge starts and ends based on the GMT time zone. All individual species logged globally will count towards this challenge and will be included in any leaderboard placement. All sightings must be logged before midnight on the day the challenge ends.

Be honest with yourself and other birders, but above all, respectful of them and any other outdoor users, everywhere – especially online. If you didn’t see it (or hear it), please don’t put it on Birda.