For the 37th year in a row, starting at 12:01 midnight on Saturday, May 9th, 2020 from midnight to midnight and all kinds of hours in between, birders will be birding, looking and listening for as many bird species as possible. This year, they will be participating throughout the Atlantic Flyway and more.

The World Series of Birding is the country's largest and most prestigious birding competition and provides participants and sponsors with a fun and interactive way to raise money for critically needed conservation priorities. 
The 2020 World Series of Birding “Special Edition” is designed for a day of good birding, lots of communication and sharing, virtual camaraderie and FUN, all with the health and safety of everyone involved paramount during the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing. Whether you look out the window, explore your yard or neighborhood, or venture to a nearby park (only if open), set the day aside for the enjoyment of birds and raising critical funding for New Jersey Audubon or the conservation cause of your choice.

Updated Covid-19 Statement Effective April 8, 2020

Participants’ health and safety is New Jersey Audubon’s highest priority. WSB – Special Edition 2020 is designed for people to be outside, enjoy birds, and raise money for conservation. New Jersey Audubon is disallowing people to congregate in a traditional team manner in order to participate.

All WSB participants are required to follow all federal, state and local COVID-19 orders and guidelines to the letter. It is incumbent upon participants to monitor the status of these orders up to and during the World Series of Birding. If your state and local restrictions are more stringent than those of the WSB, they supersede the WSB rules.

In keeping with both the letter and the spirit of the federal, state and local restrictions that have been put into place to halt the spread of COVID-19, New Jersey Audubon requires strict adherence to the following rules:

1. WSB participants must focus on their home “patch,” ie. window views, yards, neighborhoods, or outdoor public spaces such as parks (if permitted) within 10 miles of their homes.
2. WSB participants in New Jersey must abide by curfews and may not meet with individuals other than immediate family or co-habitants, especially at parks (if permitted) as required by NJ Governor Murphy’s Executive Orders. See link below.
3. If going to a local park or other outdoor space, WSB participants must comply with the strict physical distancing guidelines set forth by the National Recreation and Parks Association and other relevant federal, state and local restrictions and guidelines. See link below.
4. Exploration in the name of the World Series of Birding should not include the need to visit establishments or indoor spaces other than your home.
5. World Series of Birding participants may not share optics, equipment or books, ride in the same vehicle except with family members or co-habitants.

These rules, terms and conditions highlight appropriate actions that directly apply to the World Series of Birding. They are subject to change up to and including during the date of the event to comply with federal, state and/or local restrictions and quickly evolving best practices. They were drawn from the following sources, whose contents in their entirety also apply to the WSB rules. Failure to comply with any and all WSB rules will result in immediate disqualification.

Again, these rules are being adopted to ensure health and safety is the top priority as we have fun, connect with one another (virtually) and raise funds for crucial conservation work throughout the Atlantic Flyway.

Please refer to the Centers for Disease Control Guidelines here.

When/if visiting any park, whether a national, state or community park, participants must follow the National Recreation and Parks Association recommendations here.

In New Jersey, participants must follow Governor Murphy's Executive Orders and guidelines to the letter, which is found here.

The biggest change is you can put together a team of birders each located anywhere in New Jersey, or in select states, most of which are part of the Atlantic Flyway. Competitive teams must focus on their home states.
Non-competitive teams (ie. Level II NJ Audubon Ambassadors) can compile a checklist from more than one state. All teams can take advantage of digital communication and social media to find new ways to communicate their sightings to each other and to one primary checklist manager.

The 2020 World Series of Birding “Special Edition” invites teams to form in New Jersey and in any of the following states, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.

A “Virtual Awards Ceremony” is in the works, and teams will be recognized for achieving the highest total within their state and within their chosen category. Details and timing of that event to come.

Read on for more information and get creative about your approach; especially your team name. The most important things are to experience spring migration, be safe and have FUN!

Which soon-to-be WSB veteran birder are YOU?

Are you an adult 19 years old or above, with a good handle on your state's birds and where to find them, and you want to compete with other birders in your state to find the most species in 24 hours? Do you want to raise funds for your favorite bird conservation organization other than NJ Audubon, of course. If so, click HERE for information about The Level I: Bird Conservation Challenge .

Do you love birding and appreciate all that NJ Audubon does in Education, Conservation/Stewardship and Research and understand our critical need for funding to pursue our mission now more than ever?  If so, reach out to friends, neighbors, aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, grandparents, fellow school alumnae, members of your local civic organization and don't forget that person you bumped into at your favorite birding hot spot. Birders of all ages can form an NJ Audubon Ambassador team by clicking HERE . And if they aren't ready to devote a full day to bird watching, ask them for a donation to your team.

Are you 18 years old or under, with a passion for birds and birding and you're pretty sure you can ID just about any bird that crosses your path? Then gather a group of like-minded friends in elementary, middle or high school to compete in the Zeiss Youth Birding Challenge by clicking HERE . If you can ID all those birds while riding a bike, hiking, skating or paddling, in order to minimize your environmental impact and cover more habitats, sign up for the Carbon Free Kids Division. 

All Participants in any of the levels above: If you want to join the ranks of great birders who care about bird conservation and showed their commitment by participating in New Jersey Audubon's World Series of Birding, you are going to have to read all the Rules of Competition .  Yes, it's long. But not as long as it took you to get your lifer[fill in the blank] bird.

Just click on donate to search for a participant or team to support or to make a donation to NJ Audubon.

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WSB T-shirts
Yes, the 2020 World Series of Birding “Special Edition” will have T-shirts!
And, they are as special as the event. Special thanks to Megan Massa for the artwork!  You can order and pay for your t-shirt(s) on the Feather Edge Optics website. Orders will be accepted through May 30 with shipment in about 3-4 weeks.




For information about registration, sponsorship, or rules, call (609) 400-3844 or email wsb@njaudubon.org.

For information about donations and fulfilling pledges, call (908) 396-6459 or email donate@njaudubon.org.