2021 Colorado Birding Challenge!

The Colorado Field Ornithologists (CFO) invite all Colorado birders to participate in the first annual Colorado Birding Challenge on May 8, 2021.  This is the inaugural year for the Birding Challenge and organizers have the following objectives:

1. To raise funds for conservation of declining Colorado grassland birds – 100% of event proceeds will go to support two of Bird Conservancy’s grassland conservation & research projects.
2. To generate eBird data for all 64 counties on the same day – eBird is a free app that allows birders to track their sightings and observations, providing scientists, researchers and amateur naturalists with real-time data about bird distribution
3. To provide a fun recreational event for the Colorado birding community and enable more people to engage in bird conservation!

How it works:

During a 24-hour period, teams of (4) within a single county of their choice set out to find the highest number of bird species relative to a handicap value determined for their county.  ABA rules will be followed for all four categories of competitive teams. Prizes will be awarded to the winning teams of more than one person for each of the four competition categories:

• Automobile
• Green (all birding by non-motorized means such as walking, cycling, and kayaking; may drive to destination)
• Youth (high school age or younger; must have an adult driver)
• Photo/Audio

Registration and participation are free for current and new CFO members.  For other participants who are not CFO members, the entry cost is a $50 donation. Alternatively non-CFO members main join CFO for $25 ($12 for students) and register for free. All proceeds benefit Bird Conservancy of the Rockies to support grassland conservation & research projects.

Join in the fun and support bird conservation by creating your own team or by sponsoring an existing team.

Visit CFO’s event page for a list of open teams to join or to make a pledge!