Hundreds Race Against Time in New Jersey’s Legendary 24-Hour Birdwatching Marathon
Birders from across the country are gearing up for the 43rd Annual World Series of Birding, a fierce 24-hour competition to identify the greatest number of bird species, starting at midnight on May 9. This high-stakes, nonstop event challenges birders to push limits from nocturnal owl calls through dawn choruses and beyond under all weather conditions.
New Jersey Audubon, the organizer, confirms participation has surged this year with 85 teams registered, including enthusiastic newcomers and veteran competitors. The event’s timing at the peak of spring migration fuels an intense race as winged travelers stream north, offering rare sightings and challenging identifications.
Midnight Owl Calls Ignite the Fiercest Birding Hours
The competition takes flight in the darkness, with some of the most competitive teams beginning their Big Day at midnight to capitalize on nocturnal species. Owls such as the Great Horned, Barred, Barn, and Eastern Screech Owls, vocalize only at night, giving birders the crucial advantage to rack up early points. Listeners strain for familiar calls like the Barred Owl’s “Who cooks for you-all” or the eerie screech of a Barn Owl, using night vision optics to glimpse these elusive birds.
Southern New Jersey’s unique ecology around Cape May County provides one of the best game fields, where even rare nighttime singers like the Eastern Whip-poor-will and secretive rails such as the King Rail and critically rare Black Rail contribute to the growing species count.
Dawn and Daylight Bring a Surge of Migrants and Shorebirds
As dawn breaks, the night’s quiet is replaced by a frenzy of bird songs and sightings. Early morning teams capture over half their daily species tally during this “golden hour,” exploiting the intense morning chorus when songbirds and marsh birds like egrets, herons, and ducks become highly active. The challenge intensifies as participants scour skies for raptors and sea birds, including gulls, terns, and gannets.
Despite the grueling hours, most teams pace themselves with short breaks during the mid-afternoon lull to stay sharp for the final push, knowing every species counts in this race against the clock.
More Than a Competition: A Nationwide Conservation Fundraiser
The World Series of Birding has long been the cornerstone fundraiser for New Jersey Audubon, and also supports dozens of other conservation organizations across the country. The event highlights the urgent need to protect habitats as bird populations face growing environmental threats.
Organizers emphasize that the event is inclusive with multiple participation styles: teams may travel statewide or focus on a single “Big Stay” location, reducing carbon footprints while still competing. New Jersey Audubon Ambassador teams bird at their own speed with no entry fees, making birding accessible and fun for all skill levels while raising crucial funds.
California and US Birding Communities Watch Closely
While the World Series of Birding unfolds in New Jersey, it resonates nationwide—especially as California birders follow migration patterns connecting their coast to the Atlantic flyways. Events like this spotlight the increasingly interconnected nature of bird conservation in the United States.
Bird enthusiasts across the US can support the cause or join virtually by visiting njaudubon.org to donate and track live updates on team progress throughout the event.
What to Watch For Next
As teams head out at midnight tonight, expect live reports capturing rare species and unexpected encounters. Some of the tightest battles are predicted between big teams racing the full 24 hours and local “Big Stay” groups maximizing hot spots. This event offers thrilling photography, inspiring community action, and a stark reminder of the rich biodiversity at risk.
Stay tuned for breaking news as the World Series of Birding unfolds through May 9, providing a window into a hidden, thriving world that awakens long before most Californians start their day.
