About

What is The Big Sit!®

The Big Sit! is a free, annual, international birding event open to anyone, anywhere in the world. All individuals or groups are eligible to participate; just follow The Big Sit! rules and submit your results. The Big Sit! can be as competitive or non-competitive as you would like, but it is meant to be fun. Some people have called it “a tailgate party for birders.”

The Big Sit! takes place over a weekend in early October. Participants can choose to do their Big Sit! on either Saturday or Sunday.  The Big Sit! is like a Big Day or a Bird-a-thon. Individuals or teams find as many species as possible in 24 hours. There is one critical difference – all observations must be made from within a circle no more than 17 feet (5.2 meters) in diameter.

It’s fun. It’s a challenge. It’s a tradition for teams of birders who look forward to hanging out with old and new friends and finding birds. Many birding organizations make The Big Sit! a fundraiser, with sponsored teams or with donors pledging a certain amount per species. Whether you are new to birding or birding for years, The Big Sit! is a great tradition for you!

Want to take part? See Your Circle.

History of The Big Sit!

The Big Sit! was founded in 1992 by fun-loving members of the New Haven (Connecticut) Bird Club. In the early years, The Big Sit! was held annually on the second Sunday in October. Because some Big Sit! participants were unable to Sit on Sundays, The Big Sit! now includes the Saturday before the second Sunday. The additional day also allows for flexibility in case of bad weather.

Bird Watcher’s Digest nurtured and parented The Big Sit! from 2001 to 2019 and turned it into a worldwide birding institution. We thank Bird Watcher’s Digest for managing The Big Sit! during those years.