Global Big Day 2019

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‘Voices of a Flyway’ is halfway through the field season (woot woot!) and we have alighted upon the hills of western Kentucky for a much needed day off for rest and rejuevenation. What have we decided to do with that day off? Go birding of course!

Today is Global Big Day 2019 and thousands of birders from around the world will take part in counting all the birds they see or hear during the 24 hour period. Last year, more than 30,000 birders recorded more than 7,000 species of birds from every corner of the globe. This monumental effort really helps science keep track of global bird population trends.

Today, we decided to do our part to contribute to the cause by birding from the back porch of our lakeside cabin. We started our leisurely morning off at around 830 with cups of coffee and warblers, warblers, warblers. We’re not sure which was more energizing, but we quickly wiped the sleep from our eyes and began our frenzied counting.

So far we’ve tallied 36 species of birds, including 11 species of warblers, 4 each of thrushes and flycatchers, and 2 tanagers! We even had two Prothonotary Warblers chase each other onto the deck and almost land on Tyler’s camera lens!

The birds have been active all day long because of the cool temperatures and light rain in the area, which has made for a very cozy day of birding. With coffee cups topped off, we’ll continue to look and listen from the comfort of the cabin deck until well after nightfall.

Happy birding!

Final update: 45 species!

Our Global Big Day tally:

  • Canada Goose
  • Mourning Dove
  • Chimney Swift
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker
  • Pileated Woodpecker
  • Eastern Wood-Pewee
  • Acadian Flycatcher
  • Eastern Phoebe
  • Great-crested Flycatcher
  • Red-eyed Vireo
  • Blue Jay
  • American Crow
  • Carolina Chickadee
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
  • Eastern Bluebird
  • Gray-cheeked Thrush
  • Swainson’s Thrush
  • Wood Thrush
  • American Robin
  • Brown Thrasher
  • Cedar Waxwing
  • American Goldfinch
  • Chipping Sparrow
  • Louisiana Waterthrush
  • Black-and-white Warbler
  • Prothonotary Warbler
  • Tennessee Warbler
  • American Redstart
  • Cape May Warbler
  • Cerulean Warbler
  • Northern Parula
  • Bay-breasted Warbler
  • Blackpoll Warbler
  • Palm Warbler
  • Yellow-rumped Warbler
  • Summer Tanager
  • Scarlet Tanager
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  • Indigo Bunting