Image Courtesy of I BIRD NY
UTICA, N.Y. — Bird watchers across New York can take part in the 2026 I BIRD NY Challenge starting March 1.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced the challenge is open to all ages and runs through Nov. 1.
Participants must identify 10 wild bird species and submit a challenge sheet to DEC.
Entries can be submitted online by Nov. 18.
The I BIRD NY Challenge gives finishers a commemorative patch, a certificate and a chance to win birding prizes.
More than 1,600 participants completed the challenge in 2025.
“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. Because people can observe birds wherever they live, work, or recreate, birding is an accessible activity that does not require transportation or the purchase of specialized equipment,” according to the DEC.Â