OFO Birding at Home Challenge 2021

OFO Birding at Home Challenge 2021

How many birds can you see at home?

Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) is excited to announce the Second Annual Birding at Home Challenge.

Our Birding at Home Challenges have been both very successful and a lot of fun! Thousands of Ebird checklists have been submitted over the past year and birders have discovered some great local areas to bird, while having the opportunity to win some great prizes! With the current mandate of spending time close to home again this spring, the OFO is launching The Second Annual birding at Home Challenge.

Participants will have a chance to win great weekly prizes and two grand prizes, awarded in honour of World Migratory Bird Day on May 8th and at the end of the challenge on May 31st.

The challenge runs from May 1st to May 31th.

How the Challenge Works

Anyone interested in birds is welcome to enter the Challenge - you do not need to be an experienced birder or a member of OFO to join in the fun.

To participate, simply register with OFO and eBird, then submit checklists of all the birds observed at your home, and share them with the OFO eBird account "OFObirds".

Prizes

Prizes will be chosen from individuals that have submitted the following:

  • 10 eligible checklists for each weekly prize: May 9th, May 16th, May 23rd and May 30th
  • 5 eligible checklists for the Global Big Day Prize on May 8, 2021, to be drawn on May 9th
  • 20 eligible checklists for the Grand Prize to be drawn on May 31st

Rules:

  • Eligible checklists must be from Ontario, be at least 10 minutes in duration and complete - all the birds you could identify.
  • To be counted, each checklist must be shared with the OFO eBird account “OFObirds” (no quotes).
  • Cutoff for weekly prizes will be the Sunday at 6 pm — the first prizes will be drawn on May 9, 2021.
  • Cut-off for the Grand Prize will be Monday May 31st.

Prizes will be announced following the draw. Individuals will be notified by email and the winner will also be posted on social media and Birdnews.

Registration

  1. Register on the OFO website at: https://ofo25.wildapricot.org/event-4284583.
  2. Register with eBird.

Connect on Social Media

We welcome you to post your thoughts, pictures and questions on the OFO Facebook page. Please use the hashtag #birdingathome or #ofobirdingathome.

If posting on Instagram, refer to the challenge using @ofobirds as well as the hashtags above.

Please remember during the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions right now and following local, provincial, and federal regulations to stay at home and avoid all non-essential travel.

Questions, Comments?

Please email home@ofo.ca if you have any questions or comments.

American Goldfinch American Goldfinch Barry Cherriere

Downy Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Carol Horner

Blue Jay Blue Jay Saman T-Baduge

Black-capped Chickadee Black-capped Chickadee Homer Caliwag

American Robin American Robin Brandon Holden

Northern Cardinal Northern Cardinal Frank and Sandra Horvath

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Rose-breasted Grosbeak Sandra and Frank Horvath