WOS members will be gathering at The Dunes in Discovery Park for this year’s annual Big Sit! While WOS is not organizing the event, Team South Meadowlarks (comprised of many WOS members), will meet at 6am at the Sand Dunes next to the Bluff to begin their Big Sit. It’s free to join us, and you are welcome to stay for as long as you’d like. Come by and help us spot birds!

Now I hear you saying…

What exactly 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!

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.