Local Big Year 2024
Want a new way to improve your birdwatching skills, without straying too far from home? The Weekend Birder community are doing a Local Big Year in 2024 to see how many species they can see in their local area.
A Big Year is a challenge known among birdwatchers to identify as many species as possible within a geographical area in a calendar year. Doing a birdwatching Big Year can be a large financial and time investment, and people who embark on one have our deepest respect. For those of us with less time and/or smaller budgets, there is another way to enjoy a Big Year. Introducing… a Local Big Year.
In 2024, the Weekend Birder community are participating in a Local Big Year - a Big Year done closer to home. You can choose to take it as seriously as you want - most of us are taking a pretty relaxed approach and aren’t in it for the competition. The boundaries for your Local Big Year is totally up to you. You could choose your suburb, local government area (council area) or if you could aim high and choose your whole state or territory.
Meet some of the people doing a Local Big Year in 2024.
Angus in Boroondara (VIC) - As a wildlife and nature tour guide, I’ve seen all sorts of incredible wildlife all across Victoria but I’ve never put much time into my local LGA. I’m looking forward to exploring it a bit further and finding out what else calls it home!
Alastair in Margaret River (WA) - I'm looking forward to recording as many species that visit our corner of the world.
Amanda in NSW - I'm looking forward to seeing new birds
Bailey in Melbourne - I'm a beginner wildlife photographer and I love birding. I'm hoping this will help me explore my local area, get out and birdwatch more as well as help me to practice my photography skills.
Bay Amelia in Canterbury (NSW) - I'm looking forward to expanding my list for the Canterbury region. I love seeing that even in suburban Sydney there can be an interesting diversity of birds. Hopefully I can get to get to 73 birds (or more).
Bek in Gladstone (QLD) - I’m looking forward to learning new bird species and being more active.
Bel in Tasmania - I'm looking forward to the opportunity to interact with other birders, and keep track of all the beautiful species I'm lucky enough to spot, especially the hard to photograph ones.
Belinda in Melbourne (VIC) - I'm interested to see how many species I see. I'm not focused on a specific figure. I do have a top 10 that I would love to find and that will fuel everything else.
Bertie in Greater Sydney area (NSW) - I'm looking forward to just having a fun way to launch this fledgling birder out of the nest and into the thick of it!
Britt and Ed in Cessnock (NSW) - We're hoping to see a Regent Honeyeater in our local bush.
Brittany in the Top End (NT) - I'm looking forward to improving my ID skills, learning the species of the local BirdLife Australia branch I volunteer for better!
Coreena in Channel and Huon Districts (TAS) - I’m looking forward to finding new locations I haven’t been around my area.
Darren in Banyule (VIC) - I’m looking forward to how many new species I can record in my council zone and visiting new parks and gardens.
Deb in Cardinia (VIC) - I’m looking forward to improving my skills, seeing as many species as possible (no goal). My family and I are complete novices but have always enjoyed seeing birds wherever we go!
Dietmar in Tasmania - I'm curious to see if I can get as close to 100 species as possible here in Tassie - my current tally is 61.
Ellie in Armidale (NSW) - I'm looking forward to improving my raptor game
Emma in Ballarat (VIC) - I’m looking forward to finding new locations I haven’t been around my area.
Hannah in Wagga Wagga (NSW) - I’m looking forward to just getting out and about and looking at familiar places from a new perspective.
Isabella in Hornsby (NSW) - I'm doing a Local Big Year because I would love to be able to see more species of birds!
Isabella in Sydney (NSW) - I'm looking forward to improving my skills! I am new to birdwatching.
James in Hunter Valley (NSW) - I'm looking forward to my goal of seeing more than 150 species.
James in Greater Melbourne (VIC) - I'm looking forward to getting photos of new species.
Jane in Inner West Sydney (NSW) - I’m looking forward to improving my skills and keeping a record of the diversity on my regular walks with my dogs.
Jeff in Greater Geelong Region (VIC) - I’m looking forward to adding an other part to my birding.
Jeremy in Perth (WA) - I'm looking forward to seeing or hearing 200 species.
John in Moreton (QLD) - I’m looking forward to finding new species in my LGA.
Jo in Torquay (VIC) - I’m looking forward to recording the diversity of birdlife in my local area. During lockdown I created Swamp Club. Sounds exotic, but actually all it is is me walking daily through the local wetlands to the ocean for a dip. However, I might have to break the first rule of Swamp Club (no tech), in order to record my sightings…! 😳
Kate on Phillip Island (VIC) - I’m looking forward to exploring our island home in depth, trying to identify the many migratory shorebirds who arrive in January and generally improving my ID skills!
Kathie in Australia - I'm looking forward to hopefully increasing my list of birds I've seen a great deal.
Kimberley in the Top End (NT) - I'm looking forward to improving my bird ID skills, keeping track of all the species I see, being more aware of the birds around me wherever I go :)
Kirsty in Frankston City Council (VIC) - I’m looking forward to exploring different areas of my neighbourhood in between work and creating the Weekend Birder podcast. My goal is 100+ species!
Kylie in Wollondilly Shire (NSW) - I'm looking forward to exploring my local Shire from my backyard to some new locations I haven’t birded at before.
Lauren in NSW - I’m looking forward to visiting new locations and possibly doing a pelagic trip from Kiama.
Leanne in Mid-Western Regional Council (NSW) - I’m looking forward to aiming for 100 species this year after getting to 93 last year and then to knit them all!
Lee in Bulahdelah, NSW Mid-Coast - I'm looking forward to increasing my list of 87 species seen from my backyard. I live on a river, so I’m a bit spoilt!
Liz in Royal Botanic Gardens (VIC) - I'm looking forward to continuing my weekly visits to the gardens and promoting Mindful Birding. It's not about the number, it's about the connection!
LSB in Gladstone (QLD) - I've got a goal of seeing more than 200 species in 2024
Lee-Anne in Gunning and Canberra (ACT) and the greater NSW area - I'm looking forward to improving my skills and seeing more birds
Lynn in Bacchus Marsh, Moorabool Shire (Wathaurong, Dja Dja Wurrung and Wurundjeri Country, VIC) - I'm starting late so am going to create a Facebook group and share local hotspots and lists. I'll also catch up on the photos I've taken locally this year and add to eBird.
Marian in Greater Bendigo (VIC) - I'm looking forward to visiting at least 50 unvisited e-bird hotspots in Greater Bendigo. I’d also like to improve on 2023 numbers more than 157 species.
Marty in Western Australia - I'm looking forward to exploring more of WA and creating local bird videos for YouTube.
Michelle in Mid North Coast (NSW) - I'm hoping the Local Big Year will help me to recognise and identify birds in my local area, connect me with the natural environment and help me to be more present and mindful in my everyday life. I aim to see as many different species of birds that I possibly can by exploring new places, meeting new people and having fun!
Nicola in Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast (QLD) - I’m looking forward to going to new birding spots, improving my binocular skills and goal of seeing more than 100 species.
Patrick in Sydney Park (NSW) - I'm looking forward to seeing new species in a familiar location.
Renato in Taubaté, (SP Brazil) - I am looking forward to improving my skills. I've been working with birds as a wildlife epidemiologist since 1997, but so far never took birdwatching seriously and I think I should do something about that and start birding. I have some experience in bird identification, but always very closely, as I have been mist netting and banding birds for many years. I am now challenging myself to learn more about birdwatching, bird photography and listening to bird calls. I also wish to teach this to my daughter, and I think I should start as soon as possible so she will learn the importance of biodiversity conservation.
Ryan in Macedon Ranges (VIC) - I'm looking forward to the challenge to see how many species I can identity
Sharyn in Coffs Harbour (NSW) - I'm looking forward to being able to find, photograph and identify birds.
Sophie in Central Coast (NSW) - I’m looking forward to getting outside more, inspire others to do the same and enjoy nature, as many new species as I can (with no pressure).
Steve in South East Queensland - I'm looking forward to learning something new about my local birds every day.
Sue in Moreton Bay Regional Council area down to Nudgee Beach (QLD) - I’m looking forward to discovering new locations, learning the variety of birds that hang out near me and improving my birding skills.
Susan in Bendigo (VIC) - I'm looking forward to improving my identification and photography skills and learning more about the birds and their behaviour.
Suzanne in Bohnock (NSW) - I’m looking forward to recording all my local birds that I see throughout the year.
Tim in Bundoora Park / Darebin Creek Trail (VIC) - I’m looking forward to improving my birding skills and learning about the species close to home!
Tony in Belconnen District (ACT) - I'd love to get a Gang Gang or Superb Parrot in my local area
Wilga in Mornington Peninsula Shire (VIC) - I’m looking forward to recording all my local birds that I see throughout the year.
Wren in Forest Hill (VIC) - I'm looking forward to practising noticing the world around me and fostering my love for native flora and fauna.
Scott in South Australia (SA) - Wishing to continue last year’s efforts of being more purposeful with my birding, dedicating time out to enjoy the hobby and unwind from modern life. I’m aiming to improving on my 2023 Little Big Year (119) with a goal of 150 species within SA.
Holly in Fremantle (WA) - I’m looking forward to using a Local Big Year to help motivate me to get out for short bird walks. I find it hard to make time for birding, so I'm hoping sticking to my local patch will help! Urban birding FTW!
Mary in Victoria - I'm looking forward to learning to identify birds through their call.