GREEN BIRD RACE

for Conservation

Enjoy birds without USING fossil fuels and raise money for conservation!

JOIN US THIS FALL AS WE BIKE, RUN, WALK, PADDLE, OR ROLLERBLADE TO SEE OR HEAR AS MANY BIRDS AS POSSIBLE DURING A 24-HOUR PERIOD. ANYONE CAN PARTICIPATE BY BIRDING, MAKING A DONATION, OR BOTH. Presiona aquí para Español.

 

Register Your Team
Make a Pledge
Donate Now

What is this all about?

The Green Bird Race is a fun challenge to identify as many bird species as possible during a 24-hour period while moving only by self-powered means. Participants are encouraged to raise money by collecting donations or pledges per species identified and/or per mile traveled. All donations go directly to help mitigate the impacts of light pollution on migratory and resident birds. 

When will it take place?

You may conduct your Green Bird Race during any 24-hour period during the month of October. You may go birding from midnight to midnight or another 24-hour period or for a portion of a 24-hour period. You make the call!

Why are we doing this?

Our goal is to raise awareness that you can bird anywhere, without using energy!  The activity will also raise funds to support projects and actions that will reduce the impact of light pollution on resident and migratory birds. One such project is happening in Chile, where at least 17 species of seabirds are in serious trouble because of artificial lights that attract, disorient, and ultimately kill thousands of newly fledged birds every year. Our partners in that country are working to educate urban planners, developers, and citizens about forthcoming ordinances and lighting guidelines that will reduce the number of birds killed each year by light pollution.

How to participate

  1. Register yourself or a team. You may participate on your own or with a group as long as everyone is always within in-person speaking distance of one another.
  2. Encourage your friends, family, and followers to make pledges or donations to support your race.
  3. Keep track of the bird species you identify and the miles that you travel during any 24-hour period in October.
  4. You may travel by foot, bicycle, canoe, kayak, skis, rollerblades, horseback, etc. You may not travel by car, plane, engine-powered boat, etc. (In keeping with the spirit of the event, we encourage everyone to start and end their race from their residence, but where this is not practical, you may use your car or public transportation to travel to your starting point.)
  5. Share your results with us. Registered individuals/teams will receive a submission form to enter their race results. Regardless of when you conduct your race, all final lists and stats should be submitted by 12 PM MT on November 1, 2023.
  6. The rest is all you! Map out a miles-long bike route, take a short walk around your community park, or sit and count the birds coming to your backyard feeding station. Be creative and have fun! Tag us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter or use the hashtags #GreenBirdRace and #WorldMigratoryBirdDay so that we can see your posts and cheer you on!