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What Is Big Day?

For more than 30 years the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Team Sapsucker has embarked on a 24-hour Big Day quest in May. The goal? To find as many bird species as possible to raise funds for bird conservation. Read our Big Day 2025 recap to relive the day with Team Sapsucker, and find out how many species they found in Alaska.

Join for a Live Conversation with Team Sapsucker

A big update on Big Day 2025: On May 22 at 1 p.m. ET, join us for a free webinar with Team Sapsucker, “Seeing the Unseen: Birds of Alaska’s Arctic.” The team will share brief highlights from their Big Day in southern Alaska followed by breathtaking behind the scenes footage from an upcoming documentary by cinematographer and fellow Sapsucker member, Gerrit Vyn. In his film, Gerrit highlights the raptors that live in the remote Colville River region in Arctic Alaska. When you register, you’ll receive an exclusive link to view this 20 minute documentary ahead of the event.

Birding for a BIG Cause

Picture this: It’s early spring in Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. Evergreen forests lead down to rich coastal plains, and craggy mountains rise in the distance. Overhead, a flock of Arctic Terns wings northward, bound for the arctic frontier.

On May 10, Team Sapsucker’s eight birding extraordinaires will experience scenes just like this as they kick off their Big Day 2025 adventure in Alaska. Their mission: spot as many birds as possible in just 24 hours, all for a vital cause: to raise funds for bird conservation.

Part birding marathon, part fundraiser, Big Day is an opportunity to celebrate spring migration, while inspiring support for the birds we love.

Watch our Big Day 2025 trailer to get a taste of the excitement!

Species Team Sapsucker might see include the Arctic Tern, American Tree Sparrow, Boreal Owl, Whimbrel, Varied Thrush, and Harlequin Duck. Tap or click images to view larger versions.

Exploring the Kenai Peninsula

On Big Day, Team Sapsucker will bird in the Kenai Peninsula, a major stopover area for birds on their last push north to America’s Arctic.

Millions of birds, including songbirds like American Tree Sparrows, elegant shorebirds like Whimbrels, and long-distance champions like Arctic Terns rely on Alaskan habitats to nest, raise their young, and fuel the next generation.

Yet much of this region—including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and 23-million-acre National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA)—remains vulnerable to development. These vast, pristine areas include the largest stretches of untouched public land in the U.S., and are vital for wildlife, local communities, and our global climate. 

With help from Big Day supporters like you, the Cornell Lab can spread awareness and boost data-driven science to protect birds—whether they’re soaring over Alaska or in your backyard. 

Make a Big Difference for Birds 

Birds like Whimbrels and Arctic Terns make spectacular journeys to America’s Arctic. But these species—and many more like them—are facing steep declines. The 2025 State of the Birds report revealed that one-third of all U.S. and Canada bird species are now of high or moderate conservation concern.

With your Big Day support, the Cornell Lab can continue…

  • Working with conservation partners to inspire greater protections for America’s Arctic region.
  • Growing our impact by delivering eBird data to help partners identify and restore vital migration routes.
  • Sparking millions of people around the world to learn and care more about birds with our free Merlin Bird ID app.

This important work—and so much more—is powered by people like you. Will you make a Big Day donation to the Cornell Lab today?

"As an avid birder and photographer, traveling to Alaska and witnessing its beauty firsthand is an experience that I never grow tired of. Together, our Big Day 2025 efforts will help shine a light on the rich diversity of birds and abundant wildlife in America’s Arctic."
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Gerrit Vyn Team Sapsucker

Meet Team Sapsucker

Named for the spirited woodpecker found right in the Cornell Lab’s backyard, Team Sapsucker is a carefully selected crew of Lab staff members representing projects and expertise across the Lab.

On Big Day 2025, Team Sapsucker will split into two groups: half will lace up their boots and explore the Kenai Peninsula while the others will gather for a Big Sit, a stationary count that’s accessible for all experience levels and physical abilities. Both teams share a single goal: to help make a lasting impact for conservation.

Meet the team and get inspired by flipping through our Team Sapsucker image gallery!

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Follow the Adventure

Did you know? You can follow Team Sapsucker's Big Day count on May 10 in real-time at their Big Day 2025 eBird Trip Report, where our intrepid birders will log where and when they see each new species. You can also see and hear updates from Team Sapsucker throughout the day on the Lab's Facebook and Instagram during the day. Until then, explore eBird to get a sense of what species we may see in the Kenai Peninsula!