Since April 2014, the Bird Count India partnership has been running a series of monthly eBirding challenges. The reason? To inject a little bit of extra fun and friendly competition into our birding activities, while generating useful information on bird distribution and abundance from our collective efforts.
This page describes the different flavours of yearlong challenges, to supplement the monthly challenges. Are you game?
2024
Many of the year-long challenges for 2024 are very similar to those of the last year. — except we have a brand new category for birders who like to explore new regions (with safety precautions of course) and make multiple lists in each such less birded regions!
Here are the categories:
- The prolific eBirder: more than 500 eligible lists (15 min or longer, effort-based and ‘complete‘) in the year.
- The consistent eBirder: at least one eligible list each day of the year (i.e. 365 lists in 2024)
- The adventurous eBirder: will have at least two eligible lists from each of least 15 different districts.
- The faithful eBirder: will have at least 150 eligible lists from a single location.
- The dedicated eBirder: will have racked up at least 500 hours in total while birding, across complete, effort-based lists of ANY duration.
- NEW– The exploratory eBirder: will have at least five eligible lists from each of at least five districts having less than 1000 lists as of December 2023. Here is an example of what birders did in Tuensang, Nagaland. (See full list of districts here)
- The eBirder of the year: will have been an eBirder of the month for at least 8 of the 12 months of 2024.
2023
The winners of the 2023 can be seen here.
Many of the year-long challenges for 2023 are very similar to those of the last year. — except we challenge birders to bird a bit more often (with safety precautions of course) and look for birds for longer!
Here are the categories:
- The prolific eBirder: more than 500 eligible lists (15 min or longer, effort-based and ‘complete‘) in the year.
- The consistent eBirder: at least one eligible list each day of the year (i.e. 365 lists in 2024)
- The adventurous eBirder: will have at least four eligible lists from each of least 15 different districts.
- The faithful eBirder: will have at least 150 eligible lists from a single location.
- The dedicated eBirder: will have racked up at least 500 hours in total while birding, across complete, effort-based lists of ANY duration.
- The eBirder of the year: will have been an eBirder of the month for at least 8 of the 12 months of 2023.
Eligible lists are complete checklists with all species reported, including counts for all species (no X’s)
These challenges are designed such that at least one of the targets should be within reach of most birders — for example if you travel a lot, then the adventurous eBirder challenge might be for you; or if you hardly travel at all, then the faithful eBirder challenge might suit you. If you upload a relatively small number of long-duration lists, then the dedicated eBirder challenge is for you; but if you like to upload lots of short-duration lists, the prolific eBirder challenge should be within your reach. Of course, you may be able to meet the targets of several of these challenges, not just one!
The names of those who meet the targets of each of these different challenges will be announced in late Jan 2024. From among each group, one name will be drawn at random to receive a small gift in appreciation; a maximum of one per person. Please remember to upload all your 2023 lists by 10 Jan 2024.
2022
The winners of the 2022 can be seen here.
Many of the year-long challenges for 2022 are very similar to those of the last year. — except we challenge birders to bird a bit more often (with safety precautions of course) and look for birds for longer!
Here are the categories:
- The prolific eBirder: more than 500 eligible lists (15 min or longer, effort-based and ‘complete‘) in the year.
- The consistent eBirder: at least one eligible list each day of the year (i.e. 365 lists in 2023)
- The adventurous eBirder: will have at least four eligible lists from each of least 15 different districts.
- The faithful eBirder: will have at least 200 eligible lists from a single location.
- The dedicated eBirder: will have racked up at least 500 hours in total while birding, across complete, effort-based lists of ANY duration.
- The eBirder of the year: will have been an eBirder of the month for at least 8 of the 12 months of 2023.
Eligible lists are complete checklists with all species reported, including counts for all species (no X’s)
These challenges are designed such that at least one of the targets should be within reach of most birders — for example if you travel a lot, then the adventurous eBirder challenge might be for you; or if you hardly travel at all, then the faithful eBirder challenge might suit you. If you upload a relatively small number of long-duration lists, then the dedicated eBirder challenge is for you; but if you like to upload lots of short-duration lists, the prolific eBirder challenge should be within your reach. Of course, you may be able to meet the targets of several of these challenges, not just one!
The names of those who meet the targets of each of these different challenges will be announced in late Jan 2023. From among each group, one name will be drawn at random to receive a small gift in appreciation; a maximum of one per person. Please remember to upload all your 2022 lists by 10 Jan 2023.
2021
New: The winners of the 2021 challenge can be viewed here.
The yearlong challenges for 2021 are very similar to those of the previous year — except we challenge birders to bird a bit more often (with safety precautions of course) and look for birds for longer!
Here are the categories:
- The prolific eBirder: more than 480 eligible lists (15 min or longer, effort-based and ‘complete‘) in the year.
- The consistent eBirder: at least one eligible list each day of the year (i.e. 365 lists in 2021)
- The adventurous eBirder: will have at least four eligible lists from each of least 20 different districts.
- The faithful eBirder: will have at least 180 eligible lists from a single location.
- The dedicated eBirder: will have racked up at least 500 hours in total while birding, across complete, effort-based lists of ANY duration.
- The eBirder of the year: will have been an eBirder of the month for at least 9 of the 12 months of 2021.
Eligible lists are complete checklists with all species reported, including counts for all species (no X’s)
2020
The yearlong challenges for 2020 are very similar to those of the previous year — except we challenge birders to bird a bit more often, travel a little further and look for birds for longer!
Here are the categories:
- The prolific eBirder: more than 480 eligible lists (15 min or longer, effort-based and ‘complete’
) in the year. - The consistent eBirder: at least four eligible lists in each week of the year. Jan 1-7 is the first week, and so on. The extra days at the end of the year are combined into the last full week, so that last ‘week’ will have 9 days (ie, the last week is Dec 23-31).
- The adventurous eBirder: will have at least four eligible lists from each of least 25 different districts.
- The faithful eBirder: will have at least 160 eligible lists from a single location.
- The dedicated eBirder: will have racked up at least 500 hours in total while birding, across complete, effort-based lists of ANY duration.
- The eBirder of the year: will have been an eBirder of the month for at least 9 of the 12 months of 2020.
2019
Qualifiers Update
Congratulations to those chosen by lucky draw from the individual category qualifiers for 2019, and see the full results of the 2019 challenge (coming soon) to find out which categories you hit the targets for!
Here are the categories:
- The prolific eBirder: more than 450 eligible lists (15 min or longer, effort-based and ‘complete’ ) in the year.
Lucky draw: Subramania Siva - The consistent eBirder: at least four eligible lists in each week of the year. Jan 1-7 is the first week, and so on. The extra days at the end of the year are combined into the last full week, so that last ‘week’ will have 9 days (ie, the last week is Dec 23-31).
Lucky draw: Karthikeyan R - The adventurous eBirder: will have at least three eligible lists from each of least 25 different districts.
Lucky draw: Dhruba Saikia - The faithful eBirder: will have at least 150 eligible lists from a single location.
Lucky draw: Rajesh Prasad - The dedicated eBirder: will have racked up at least 480 hours in total while birding, across complete, effort-based lists of ANY duration.
Lucky draw: Sahana M - The eBirder of the year: will have been an eBirder of the month for at least 9 of the 12 months of 2019.
Lucky draw: Vidhya Swaminathan
2018
Those chosen by lucky draw from the individual category qualifiers for 2018 are listed here. See also the full results of the 2018 challenge to find out which categories you hit the targets for!
Here are the categories for 2018:
- The prolific eBirder: more than 450 eligible lists (15 min or longer, effort-based and ‘complete’ ) in the year.
Lucky draw: Premchand Reghuvaran - The consistent eBirder: at least three eligible lists in each week of the year. Jan 1-7 is the first week, and so on. The extra days at the end of the year are combined into the last full week, so that last ‘week’ will have 9 days (ie, the last week is Dec 23-31).
Lucky draw: Manju Sinha - The adventurous eBirder: will have at least three eligible lists from each of least 25 different districts.
Lucky draw: Lakshmikant Neve - The faithful eBirder: will have at least 150 eligible lists from a single location.
Lucky draw: Kshitija Gupta - The dedicated eBirder: will have racked up at least 450 hours in total while birding, across complete, effort-based lists of ANY duration.
Lucky draw: Hareesha AS - The eBirder of the year: will have been an eBirder of the month for at least 9 of the 12 months of 2018.
Lucky draw: Sreekumar Chirukandoth
2017
Here are the categories for 2017:
- The prolific eBirder: more than 365 eligible lists (15 min or longer, effort-based and ‘complete’ ) in the year.
Lucky draw: Raphy Kallettumkara - The consistent eBirder: at least two eligible lists in each week of the year. Jan 1-7 is the first week, and so on. The extra days at the end of the year are combined into the last full week, so that last ‘week’ will have 9 days (ie, the last week is Dec 23-31).
Lucky draw: Chirag Munje - The adventurous eBirder: will have at least three eligible lists from each of least 20 different districts.
Lucky draw: Arnab Pal - The faithful eBirder: will have at least 150 eligible lists from a single location.
Lucky draw: Jayadev Menon - The dedicated eBirder: will have racked up at least 365 hours in total while birding, across complete, effort-based lists of ANY duration.
Lucky draw: Jaswinder Waraich - The eBirder of the year: will have been an eBirder of the month for at least 9 of the 12 months of 2017.
Lucky draw: Elavarasan M
And if you just want to bird each day, then do remember to register for and take part in the Last Birder Standing challenge! Very simply, starting 1 Jan 2017, create at least one birdlist (of at least 3 minutes duration) every day, for as many days as you can manage. More details on the link.
Good luck!
2016
Here are the categories for 2016:
- The prolific eBirder: more than 365 eligible lists (15 min or longer, effort-based and ‘complete’ ) in the year.
Lucky draw: Hari Kumar - The consistent eBirder: at least two eligible list in each week of the year. Jan 1-7 is the first week, and so on. The extra days at the end of the year are combined into the last full week, so that last ‘week’ will have 9 days (ie, the last week is Dec 23-31).
Lucky draw: Renju TR - The adventurous eBirder: will have at least four eligible lists from each of least 25 different districts.
Lucky draw: Panchapakesan Jeganathan - The faithful eBirder: will have at least 150 eligible lists from a single location.
Lucky draw: Ashwin Viswanathan - The dedicated eBirder: will have racked up at least 300 hours in total while birding, across complete, effort-based lists of ANY duration.
Lucky draw: Vikas Madhav Nagarajan - The eBirder of the year: will have been an eBirder of the month for at least 10 of the 12 months of 2016.
Lucky draw: Vidhya Sundar
2015
Winners Update: the names of the winning birders within each individual challenge are included below. Congratulations to them, and to those who met the targets but were not lucky enough to be randomly selected as a winner! Read more about how the challenges went in 2015.
There are 6 different kinds of annual targets to aim for in 2015:
- The prolific eBirder: more than 200 eligible lists (15 min or longer, effort-based and ‘complete’ ) in the year.
Lucky draw: T R Shankar Raman - The consistent eBirder: at least one eligible list in each week of the year. Jan 1-7 is the first week, and so on. The extra days at the end of the year are combined into the last full week, so that last ‘week’ will have 8 days (ie, the last week is Dec 24-31).
Lucky draw: Dr George P J - The adventurous eBirder: will have at least two eligible lists from each of least 15 different districts.
Lucky draw: Anish Aravind - The faithful eBirder: will have at least 100 eligible lists from a single location.
Lucky draw: Manju Sinha - The dedicated eBirder: will have racked up at least 200 hours in total while birding, across complete, effort-based lists of ANY duration.
Lucky draw: Ronit Dutta - The eBirder of the year: will have been an eBirder of the month for at least 10 of the 12 months of 2015.
(NB: this was actually 9 out of 11 months, as the December challenge had no specific target)
Lucky draw: Ganeshwar S V
The names of those who meet the targets of each of these different challenges will be announced in Jan 2016. From among each group, one name will be drawn at random to receive a small gift in appreciation; a maximum of one per person.
Important: Here is some general information on the eBirding challenges we run. If you are new to eBird, please read this description first, and do take a look at the Beginner’s Guide.
Header image: Pale-capped Pigeon Columba punicea © Dipak Sinha/ Macaulay Library
