Welcome to the Big Year of African Sounds!
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the Big Year of African Sound—a continent-wide initiative running throughout 2026 to dramatically increase the number of bird sound recordings from Africa.
In 2026, can we sound record 1,800 species in Africa? Whether you’re an experienced sound recordist, a curious birder, or someone who’s never pointed a microphone at a bird before, there’s a place for you in this effort.
Why This Matters
African birds are some of the most spectacular on Earth, and they’re dramatically under-represented in global sound archives. In most African countries, less than 30% of bird species have the 150 recordings needed to train AI-powered tools like Merlin Sound ID. This gap limits both scientific research and the birding tools available to millions of people across Africa.
The Big Year of African Sound aims to change that. Throughout 2026, we’re rallying the community to record as many African bird species as possible—building a richer sound library that will power better identification tools and the future of birding.
How You Can Participate
If you’re a recordist (or want to become one): Grab your phone or other microphone and get out there! You don’t need fancy gear to make valuable contributions—a smartphone with the right app works perfectly. Check out our Get Started guide for everything you need to know, from choosing the right app to field recording techniques that will help you capture quality audio.
Every recording counts, whether you’re documenting common backyard birds or seeking rare species. Your contributions will appear on our live metrics dashboard, where you can track progress by region, country, and individual recordist throughout the year.
If you’re part of an organization: Consider becoming a formal partner. To be a partner, you need to hold at least one sound recording event in 2026—a workshop, walk, recording challenge, or webinar. We have limited grants available to support these events. Contact us to learn more about partnership opportunities.
For everyone: Help spread the word, join seasonal recording challenges, tap into our online resources, or attend local workshops. Whether you’re a seasoned recordist or just starting out, there’s a place for you.
A Continental Partnership
The Big Year of African Sound is a collaborative initiative between BirdLife South Africa, a growing network of partner organizations across Africa, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This partnership unites birding clubs, conservation organizations, universities, nature reserves, and community groups—all working together toward a common goal. See all partners here.
Connect and Participate
Discover events near you: Browse our Events page to find upcoming workshops, recording walks, training sessions, and seasonal challenges in your region. Partners across Africa are developing fun ways to connect with the sounds of birds wherever you are. You can also propose your own event using our simple submission form—whether you’re organizing a major workshop or a casual weekend morning recording walk, we want to help connect you with interested participants and support the growth of recording communities across the continent.
Put a name to sounds: Make recordings and use Merlin Bird ID to discover and learn the bird sounds around you. Download Merlin Bird ID to get started.
Follow the community: Track progress on our live dashboard, see top recordists, and connect with the international bird community working together to build the future of bird sound in Africa.
Learn more in our webinar
Want a clear introduction to the Big Year of African Sounds? Watch our recorded webinar on the Fridays4Birds YouTube channel, a community-led initiative offering free, high-quality talks and courses on birds, conservation, and research across Africa and beyond.
Getting Started is Easy
Ready to jump in? Here’s what to do:
- Download a recording app like Merlin Bird ID (which is already set up with the right settings) or another app that records in .WAV format
- Read our Get Started guide to master the basics of field recording technique
- Get outside and start recording! Remember: get close to the bird, stay quiet, point your microphone at your subject, and record for 30-60 seconds for each bird
- Make a voice announcement at the end of each recording describing what the bird was doing
- Contribute to the Big Year of African Sound by submitting your recordings to eBird and the Macaulay Library
Join Us
2026 is going to be an extraordinary year for African bird sound recording. In 2026, make sound recordings of the birds you hear and share them with the global community. Every bird makes a difference, everywhere in Africa. Whether you contribute one recording or one thousand, whether you participate as an individual or help organize events for dozens of others, you’re part of something bigger—a collective effort to better document, understand, and appreciate the incredible diversity of African birds.
The Big Year of African Sound is for everyone. It’s for the experienced recordist seeking rare species and the beginner capturing their first recording of a Pied Crow. It’s for the urban birder with a balcony, the community bird guide in their local field and forest, and the field researcher in remote wilderness. It’s for anyone who loves birds and wants to contribute to their conservation.
Let’s make 2026 a landmark year for African bird sound recording. We can’t wait to hear what you discover.