Big Year of African Sounds Challenges (year-round)

Are you up for the challenge? Take part in our 3 challenges running across Africa in 2026 as a part of the Big Year of African Sounds for your chance to win recording equipment or binoculars, and to have your name shown as a challenger on this website!

Monthly Ten: record ten species in a month

Each month, a winner will be drawn from every birder who uploads recordings of at least 10 species to eBird checklists made during that month. Checklists must be in Africa, made for dates during that month, and recordings uploaded by the end of the month. There will be 12 winners throughout the year, one for each month.

The winner will receive recording equipment (details to come in early 2026), and all qualifying recordists will have their names shared on the Big Year of African Sound website.

Priority 25: record 25 priority species in 3 months

Each 3-month quarter of the year, a winner will be drawn from every birder who uploads recordings of at least 25 priority species to eBird checklists. View priority species list here.

Checklists must be in Africa, made for dates during that quarter (Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, Oct-Dec), and recordings uploaded by the end of the period. There will be 4 winners throughout the year, one for each quarter.

The winner will receive recording equipment or binoculars (details to come in early 2026), and all qualifying recordists will have their names shared on the Big Year of African Sound website.

Century Run: record 100 species in 2026

At the end of 2026, 3 winners will be drawn from every birder who uploads recordings of at least 100 species in Africa in 2026.

Checklists must be in Africa, made during 2026, and recordings uploaded by the end of the period. There will be 3 winners for the year, drawn once at the end of the year.

The winner will receive recording equipment or binoculars (details to come in early 2026), and all qualifying recordists will have their names shared on the Big Year of African Sounds website.