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

ANNUAL REPORT 2004

2004 Statistical and Year-End Report By Bob Stymiest, Club Statistician During 2004, the Brookline Bird Club listed 311 species of birds on 243 reported trips, 17 species more than last year. To put this in

ANNUAL REPORT 2003

2003 STATISTICAL AND YEAR END REPORT By Robert H. Stymeist, Statistician   During 2003, the Brookline Bird Club listed 294 species of birds on 242 reported trips, 13 species fewer than last year. A total

ANNUAL REPORT 2002

2002 STATISTICAL AND YEAR END REPORT by Robert H. Styrneist, Statistician   During 2002, the Brookline Bird Club listed 307 species of birds on 249 reported trips, five more than last year. A total of

ANNUAL REPORT 2001

2001 STATISTICAL AND YEAR-END REPORT by Robert H. Stymeist, Statistician   During 2001, the Brookline Bird Club listed 303 species of birds on 210 reported trips, two fewer than the previous year. A total of

ANNUAL REPORT 2000

2000 STATISTICAL AND YEAR END REPORT by Robert H. Stymeist, Statistician   During 2000, the Brookline Bird Club listed 305 species of birds on 228 reported trips, four more than last year. A total of

ANNUAL REPORT 1999

1999 STATISTICAL AND YEAR END REPORT by Robert H. Stymeist, Statistician   During 1999, the Brookline Bird Club listed 301 species of birds on 241 reported trips. A total of 271 trips were scheduled, 69

ANNUAL REPORT 2004

2004 Statistical and Year-End Report By Bob Stymiest, Club Statistician During 2004, the Brookline Bird Club listed 311 species of birds on 243 reported trips, 17 species more than last year. To put this in

ANNUAL REPORT 2003

2003 STATISTICAL AND YEAR END REPORT By Robert H. Stymeist, Statistician   During 2003, the Brookline Bird Club listed 294 species of birds on 242 reported trips, 13 species fewer than last year. A total

ANNUAL REPORT 2002

2002 STATISTICAL AND YEAR END REPORT by Robert H. Styrneist, Statistician   During 2002, the Brookline Bird Club listed 307 species of birds on 249 reported trips, five more than last year. A total of

ANNUAL REPORT 2001

2001 STATISTICAL AND YEAR-END REPORT by Robert H. Stymeist, Statistician   During 2001, the Brookline Bird Club listed 303 species of birds on 210 reported trips, two fewer than the previous year. A total of

ANNUAL REPORT 2000

2000 STATISTICAL AND YEAR END REPORT by Robert H. Stymeist, Statistician   During 2000, the Brookline Bird Club listed 305 species of birds on 228 reported trips, four more than last year. A total of

ANNUAL REPORT 1999

1999 STATISTICAL AND YEAR END REPORT by Robert H. Stymeist, Statistician   During 1999, the Brookline Bird Club listed 301 species of birds on 241 reported trips. A total of 271 trips were scheduled, 69

ANNUAL REPORT 2004

2004 Statistical and Year-End Report By Bob Stymiest, Club Statistician During 2004, the Brookline Bird Club listed 311 species of birds on 243 reported trips, 17 species more than last year. To put this in

ANNUAL REPORT 2003

2003 STATISTICAL AND YEAR END REPORT By Robert H. Stymeist, Statistician   During 2003, the Brookline Bird Club listed 294 species of birds on 242 reported trips, 13 species fewer than last year. A total

ANNUAL REPORT 2002

2002 STATISTICAL AND YEAR END REPORT by Robert H. Styrneist, Statistician   During 2002, the Brookline Bird Club listed 307 species of birds on 249 reported trips, five more than last year. A total of

ANNUAL REPORT 2001

2001 STATISTICAL AND YEAR-END REPORT by Robert H. Stymeist, Statistician   During 2001, the Brookline Bird Club listed 303 species of birds on 210 reported trips, two fewer than the previous year. A total of

ANNUAL REPORT 2000

2000 STATISTICAL AND YEAR END REPORT by Robert H. Stymeist, Statistician   During 2000, the Brookline Bird Club listed 305 species of birds on 228 reported trips, four more than last year. A total of

ANNUAL REPORT 1999

1999 STATISTICAL AND YEAR END REPORT by Robert H. Stymeist, Statistician   During 1999, the Brookline Bird Club listed 301 species of birds on 241 reported trips. A total of 271 trips were scheduled, 69

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Today

  • Horn Pond, Woburn

    We’ll look out and listen for breeders that have settled into the Horn Pond area like Great Crested Flycatchers, Scarlet Tanagers, Wood Thrushes, Ovenbirds, Towhee, and others. Horn Pond has a great mix of deciduous, pine, marsh, and lake habitats that attract a variety of birds including song birds, water birds, birds of prey, and

  • Crane Wildlife Management Area, East Falmouth

    With CCBC leading. This unique grassland habitat is host to a rich variety of species, including Eastern Meadowlark, Grasshopper Sparrow, Bobolink, American Kestrel and possibly Blue Grosbeak. When we’re done at Crane, we can cross the road and scan Coonamessett Field for raptor activity. Those wishing to can continue on to Mass Audubon’s Ashumet Holly

  • Crane Beach, Ipswich

    Cosponsored by the ECOC. This two-mile walk in the sand is aimed at nesting Piping Plovers, Least Terns, and Bank Swallows, as well as evening singers such as Whip-poor-wills. Be prepared for mosquitoes at sunset.

  • Myles Standish State Forest, Carver – Evening

    A serene way to end the day with Prairie Warblers and Hermit Thrushes reluctantly giving way to Eastern Whip-poor-wills and, perhaps, Northern Saw-whet Owls. Target endangered breeding species: Whip-poor-will.

  • CANCELLED due to schedule conflict – Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge,White Pond Rd Entrance

    Assabet River NWR - White Pond Road White Pond Rd, Maynard, MA, United States

    CANCELLED due to schedule conflict.   Assabet River NWR contains a diverse mixture of pine and hardwood forest, old fields, and wetlands. We will walk 2-3 miles on even, well-maintained trails in search of warblers, raptors, flycatchers and a variety of other migrants and residents. Can be buggy – insect repellent recommended. We will plan

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