The 2026 “I BIRD NY” challenge begins today. The State Department of Environmental Conservation’s annual “I BIRD NY Challenge” asks birders of all ages and experience levels to identify 10 wild bird species anywhere in New York State.
The 2026 challenge runs from March 1 through Nov. 1, with entries due to DEC by Nov. 18. Participants who complete the challenge receive a commemorative patch and a completion certificate, and are entered into a prize drawing, DEC said. Two youth and two adult winners will be selected, with an extra prize entry available for those who submit a photo documenting their challenge experience.
To complete the challenge, participants identify any 10 wild bird species and submit a challenge sheet to DEC. The agency said more than 1,600 birders completed the challenge in 2025.
Challenge sheets can be submitted online via SurveyMonkey or sent by email or mail, according to DEC. Entry forms are available in several languages un addition to English, including Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French and Urdu.
The program as a low-cost or no-cost way to get outside and connect with nature, the DEC said. Many birds can be identified without specialized gear, though binoculars can help, the agency said. New York’s range of habitats supports more than 450 bird species throughout the year.
For people looking for places to go, DEC points birders to the New York State Birding Trail, a statewide network of birding locations across multiple regions.
DEC’s I BIRD NY webpage also includes where-to-watch tips, birding events, and a downloadable beginner’s guide: Beginner’s Guide to Birding (PDF) (Spanish PDF).
Birders can also sign up for DEC’s monthly “Words of a Feather” newsletter through the agency’s DEC Delivers subscription page.
The agency reminds the public that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) remains widespread in wild birds and some mammals, and urged people to keep pets and other domestic animals away from sick or dead wildlife.
Suspected HPAI bird mortalities can be reported using DEC’s avian influenza reporting form, and additional background is available on DEC’s Animal diseases page.
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