Brookline Bird Club – America’s most active bird club!

BBC Massachusetts Big Day – May 9, 2026

On May 18, 1974 Bob Stymiest led the BBC trip with the all time largest species count for the club – 162 birds seen during 20 hours across Essex County. We share this bit of club lore with you to introduce our second annual BBC Massachusetts Big Day.

Last May during our first club Big Day members recorded 186 species across the state. There were many highlights, but also surprising misses. Will Essex County be top again? Can we find 100 species in Suffolk County? Can we reach 200 in Massachusetts in 2026?

Our plan is simple. Rather than a personal competition, we ask that you go birding on Global Big Day on May 9 then send us your list. Whether you spend a full day seeking birds in multiple locations, or simply birding your local patch or back yard, have fun! Take a friend with you, and tell us what you see.

By May 15 please share your list with the eBird account BBCBigDay (note that there are no spaces). Using the eBird website:

  • Create and open a checklist.
  • Select the Checklist Tools button.
  • Select “Share with others in your party”.
  • Enter “BBCBigDay” in the window on the left, scroll down and select Share Checklist.

Club Statistician David Scott will do the rest and produce a single list of all the species spotted by every participating member. (If you don’t have an eBird account, it’s very easy to set one up.)

Further details to follow, including how to share your day with the club’s social media accounts.

Thanks to our leaders, the BBC has scheduled several trips to help build our shared list. We hope to add more, so check the Blue Book and website for those:

Global Big Day is a worldwide event sponsored by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. We want to give our members a friendly, low pressure opportunity to participate in Global Big Day. Please join the fun!

BBC Big Day 2025 Checklist Locations

County Totals for 2025:

CountySpecies
Essex134
Barnstable111
Plymouth107
Worcester98
Middlesex98
Suffolk87
Bristol83
Norfolk51
Massachusetts186

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Today

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    Sagamore - Scusset Beach Pier Parking Lot MA, United States

    Offered by the Cape Cod Bird Club! and co-sponsored by Brookline Bird Club. We'll spend the morning exploring the thickets on the wooded trails for fall migrants, walking the bike path along the canal where wintering waterfowl should just be coming in and exploring the campground area. We’ll finish up at the beach and scope [...]

  • Fresh Pond, Cambridge

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    Led by DCR staff. We will search on foot up to one mile, on flat, easy terrain for snowy owls and other raptors, native sparrows, finches, waterfowl, and other birds. This is a traveling program by car or bike. Prepare for ticks. Ages: Adults and kids 8 years+ with adult chaperone. Binoculars recommended. Cosponsored by [...]

  • Arlington Reservoir with Arlington Open Space Committee and Arlington Reservoir Committee

    Lexington - Arlington Reservoir 210 Lowell Street, Arlington, MA, United States

    Getting into late fall, we'll look for interesting ducks and perhaps lingering shorebirds. We'll also check the gardens for remaining fall migrants. Cosponsored by the Arlington Open Space Committee and Arlington Reservoir Committee, and Menotomy Bird Club. For late arrivers, this time we'll circle the reservoir in the clockwise direction looking for interesting ducks first. [...]

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