The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the March 1 start of the 2025 I BIRD NY Challenge for birders of all ages and abilities. The challenge provides opportunities to identify and learn about birds, and awards program finishers with a commemorative I BIRD NY Challenge patch and a chance to win birding-related prizes.
“No matter where you live or where you come from, birdwatching is a fun, easy, and affordable activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, abilities, identities, and backgrounds,” DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. “Now with nearly 400 locations across New York State, the NYS Birding Trail welcomes new and experienced birders to enjoy both migrating and resident birds in a diverse variety of habitats.”
New York State's wide-ranging habitat types, from the Atlantic Ocean's sandy beaches to majestic Catskill and Adirondack peaks, Great Lakes shorelines, and everything in between, create a birder's paradise that supports more than 450 different bird species throughout the year.
New and experienced birders can discover the thrill of birding with the NYS Birding Trail. This unique network of birding hotspots across New York State offers endless opportunities to connect with nature, whether marveling at owls in quiet woodlands, tracking shorebirds along scenic coastlines, or catching glimpses of majestic eagles along quiet rivers. The trail continues to expand with new locations added regularly through a nomination and vetting process.
DEC also announced the addition of 14 new locations to the NYS Birding Trail. The new locations include Rye Nature Center in the Hudson Valley Birding Trail Region and 13 Nassau County Parks, Recreation and Museums properties in the Long Island Birding Trail Region.
Birdwatching is one of the fastest-growing outdoor recreational activities in the U.S. According to the 2022 National Survey of Hunting, Fishing, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, 7.4 million wildlife watchers generated $10.8 billion in New York State in 2022. This is up from four million New York resident wildlife viewers spending more than $6.4 billion annually in 2016.
The I BIRD NY program was launched in 2017 to build on the State's efforts to increase access to New York's vast natural resources and promote no- and low-cost opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors and connect with nature.
“North Shore Audubon Society enthusiastically welcomes the Nassau County addition of its excellent public preserves and parks to NY State Birding Trail,” said Peggy Maslow, North Shore Audubon Society.
“Birds are awesome!” said Maisie (11) and Sam (15), members of the WNY Young Birder Club.
The 2025 I BIRD NY Challenge (PDF) is open to all ages and ends Nov. 1, 2025. To complete the Challenge, participants must identify any 10 bird species of their choosing and submit a challenge sheet to DEC. More than 1,800 birding enthusiasts completed this fun challenge in 2024, the program’s highest-ever number of participants.
Challenge sheets may be submitted online via SurveyMonkey or sent via email or mail. Entries must be received by Nov. 15, 2025. Entry forms are also available in Spanish (PDF). All participants will be awarded a commemorative patch, given a completion certificate, and entered into a drawing for great birding prizes. Two youth and two adult winners will be chosen. Participants will also receive an extra prize entry for providing a photo documenting their challenge experience.
Birding enthusiasts can visit I BIRD NY to access this year's challenge sheet, as well as find information on where and how to watch birds, upcoming birding events, a downloadable Beginner's Guide to Birding (PDF) (also available in Spanish (PDF)), and additional resources. Those interested may also opt to sign up for DEC’s monthly birding newsletter, Words of a Feather, to have birding tips and tricks, NYS Birding Trail site recommendations, events, and more delivered right to their inbox.
DEC also reminds the public that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is currently widespread in wild birds and mammals. The public can help minimize risk and the spread of disease by preventing contact between domestic animals and wild birds. The public is encouraged to report sick or deceased wildlife. In cases where field staff may be unavailable to collect samples or carcasses from the landscape and removal is necessary, use proper personal protective equipment, including disposable gloves, a mask and eye protection. Avoid direct contact with the carcass or fluids by using a shovel to transfer it to a tripled garbage or contractor bag, which should be placed in an outdoor trash receptacle. More information about HPAI, including how it is spread and which animals can be infected, is available on DEC’s Animal Diseases webpage.
As always, participants are encouraged to Love Our New York Lands all year by practicing Leave No TraceTM principles and by recreating safely and sustainably.
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