Many birdwatchers are familiar with Big Day, an international, twice-a-year celebration of birds, in which people count the birds they see over the course of 24 hours. In the spirit of these fun events, many bird-loving communities gather together, explore birding hotspots, and even make a competition to see who can spot the most species!
Similar to Big Day, Maine Audubon will be hosting a Big Sit! event this fall. The Big Sit! was originally established by the New Haven Birding Club in 1992 as a more relaxing alternative to Big Day. While most associate Big Day with extensive travel or exploration, Big Sit! provides an opportunity for individuals with mobility issues to participate in a large-scale bird survey. Big Sit! is also a great event for those who wish to participate in bird counts in a more relaxed environment.
The Big Sit! is held annually during the second weekend of October. These counts typically last all day, in which participants sit or stand within a 17-foot circle and identify as many bird species as possible. This semi-competitive birding event is a great way for people to meet other bird-lovers, practice their identification skills, and observe special fall migrants.
Maine Audubon will be hosting a Big Sit! event on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 7 am to 4 pm at Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden (Greater Bangor). This event is free and open to the public, although pre-registration is encouraged. Participants are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and dress in warm layers.
Interested in signing up? Come for the whole day or choose a one-hour time slot when you register here >
To learn more about the Big Sit, check out our Big Sit webpage here >
Join us and maybe one of the birds we’ll see will be a White-breasted Nutcatch (pictured above)!
