About This Planner

Welcome to Your Big Year.

A Big Year is one of birding's greatest adventures — a calendar-year challenge to find as many species as possible within a defined geographic area. Whether you're pursuing a life-changing ABA Big Year, a state challenge, or simply your personal best, this planner gives you the structure to maximize every outing.

What's inside this planner:
Monthly strategy guides to help you target the right species at the right time · A 100-species target checklist for a competitive ABA Big Year · 12 dedicated monthly log pages · A trip budget tracker · And a year-end summary to celebrate your achievement.

How to Use This Planner

📅 Monthly Strategy Guides

Review each month's guide before the month begins. Note which target species are in peak movement or accessibility — then prioritize your outings accordingly.

📋 Monthly Log Pages

Use the log pages to record every species seen each month. Number columns let you cross-reference with your year total. Add trip notes in the margin.

✅ 100-Species Checklist

The essential 100 species for a strong ABA Big Year — organized by when they're most accessible. Check off each as you find it.

💰 Budget Tracker

Big Years have real costs. Use the budget tracker to plan trip expenses, fuel, lodging, and gear purchases throughout the year.

ABA Area: Unless otherwise noted, this planner uses the American Birding Association's defined counting area: the 49 contiguous U.S. states, Alaska, Canada (excluding Hawaii), and adjacent islands. Species must be seen alive and wild to count. Always follow ethical birding practices — don't disturb nesting birds or sensitive habitats in pursuit of your list.

Planning

Setting Your Annual Goal

Know Your Baseline

Your Big Year goal should be ambitious but grounded. Start with your life list total and your biggest previous year count. Most first-time Big Year birders exceed their personal best by 30–50%.

My life list total:

My best previous year count:

My Big Year goal:

Geographic scope (ABA / State / County):

ABA Big Year Benchmarks

Personal best — first year300+

Competitive regional count450–550

NGB-contending count650–700

ABA record territory780+

Pro tip: The ABA record is 840 (set 2023). Most successful Big Year birders commit 200+ days in the field and visit all major flyways and rare bird alert areas.

My Key Trip Priorities This Year

MUST-DO TRIP #1

MUST-DO TRIP #2

MUST-DO TRIP #3

Monthly Strategy · Q1

January – March

January · Owls & Winter Specialties

Peak time for irruptive species; owls are most active at dusk. Focus on feeders, northern finches, and coastal waterfowl.

Snowy Owl — northern fields & airports
Short-eared Owl — open grasslands, dusk
Long-eared Owl — dense conifers
Great Gray Owl — boreal forest edges
Common Redpoll & Pine Siskin — feeders
Evening Grosbeak — irruption year target
Harlequin Duck — rocky coastlines
Pacific Loon — pelagic & coastal bays
Thick-billed Murre — Great Lakes & Atlantic
Purple Sandpiper — rocky Atlantic jetties

📍 Key destinations: Boundary Bay BC · Bosque del Apache NM · SE Arizona (Rufous-capped Warbler) · Texas Coast

February · Early Arrivals

First migrants begin appearing in the south. Great Horned Owls are nesting. Watch for early raptors on hawk watches.

American Woodcock — boreal lowlands (displaying)
Sandhill Crane — Platte River, NE (early March)
Greater White-fronted Goose — coastal marshes
Wilson's Snipe — wet meadows
Turkey Vulture — first appearances SE
Tree Swallow — early arrivals Gulf Coast
Eastern Phoebe — SE states Feb onwards
Purple Martin — colony sites, Gulf Coast
Harris's Sparrow — southern Great Plains
Lapland Longspur — agricultural fields

📍 Key destinations: Gulf Coast TX · Salton Sea CA · Florida (wintering warblers) · SE Arizona

March · Spring Awakening

Migration ramps up rapidly. Duck species move through in large numbers; early warblers appear in the South.

American Bittern
Black-necked Stilt
Piping Plover — TX coast
Blue-winged Teal
Yellow-throated Warbler (SE)

Priority target areas shift north as weather warms. Lek sites for Greater Prairie-Chicken and Sharp-tailed Grouse.

Greater Prairie-Chicken (lek)
Ruffed Grouse (drumming)
Purple Finch
Painted Bunting (winter TX)
Whooping Crane — Aransas NWR

Monthly Strategy · Q2

April – June

April · Warblers Begin

The single most important Big Year month for many birders. Warbler migration explodes in the East; shorebirds flood through the interior.

Yellow-rumped Warbler — everywhere
Palm Warbler — open areas, SE
Louisiana Waterthrush — stream edges
Pine Warbler — longleaf pine
Worm-eating Warbler — slopes, ravines
Dunlin — coastal mudflats
Red Knot — Delaware Bay (late April)
Buff-breasted Sandpiper — sod farms
Dickcissel — central prairies
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher — TX/OK

📍 Key destinations: High Island TX · Magee Marsh OH · Point Pelee ON · Florida (shorebirds)

May · Peak Migration

The greatest diversity of the entire year. A single day at a migration hotspot can yield 30+ warbler species. Target fallouts after cold fronts.

Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Connecticut Warbler — central flyway
Golden-winged Warbler
Bicknell's Thrush — coastal thickets
Kirtland's Warbler — Jack Pine MI
Cerulean Warbler — ridgetop forest
Hudsonian Godwit
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Philadelphia Vireo

📍 Key destinations: Point Pelee ON · Magee Marsh OH · Attu AK (late May) · Gambell AK

June · Breeding Season

Migration winds down but breeding birds are in full song — the easiest time to detect otherwise secretive species.

Sora & Virginia Rail (tape playback)
Yellow Rail — wet meadows at night
Black Rail — coastal marshes
Least Bittern
Northern Saw-whet Owl (tape)

Alaska specialties accessible June–July. Pelagic trips off both coasts yield seabirds impossible to find landward.

Spectacled Eider — Barrow AK
McKay's Bunting — St. Matthew I. AK
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel (pelagic)
Flesh-footed Shearwater
Black-footed Albatross

Monthly Strategy · Q3 & Q4

July – December

July

Southbound shorebirds begin. Breeding seabirds accessible.

White-rumped Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
South Padre Island TX

August

Peak shorebird diversity. Pelagic trips off both coasts.

Baird's Sandpiper
American Golden-Plover
Black Tern
Roseate Tern (Atlantic)
Cory's Shearwater (pelagic)

September

Hawk watches peak. Fall warbler migration — trickier ID.

Broad-winged Hawk (Hawk Mtn)
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Connecticut Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Nelson's Sparrow

October

Rare fall strays. Vagrant season on the Atlantic seaboard.

LeConte's Sparrow
Smith's Longspur
Le Conte's Sparrow
Atlantic vagrant warblers
Pacific vagrant shorebirds

November

Final push for lingering migrants. Late ducks arriving.

Long-tailed Duck
Rough-legged Hawk
Northern Shrikes
Snow Bunting
Late sparrows (Harris's)

December

Christmas Bird Count — many rare wintering species found.

CBC — find your local count
Irruptive finches (check eBird)
Crossbills — boreal irruptions
Bohemian Waxwing
Year-end coastal pelagic

🎯 Final stretch strategy: In October–December, track rare bird alerts daily (eBird, local listservs, Rare Bird Alert). A single CBRC/ABA Review Species found by someone else and twitchable within a day can add a critical species you'd never find alone. Join your local birding club's listserv now.

Target Checklist · Part 1 of 2

Essential 100 Target Species

Species 1–48

Prioritized for a strong ABA Big Year. Check each off as you find it.

Snowy Owl
Great Gray Owl
Short-eared Owl
Boreal Owl
Northern Hawk Owl
Spruce Grouse
Ruffed Grouse
Greater Prairie-Chicken
Gunnison Sage-Grouse
Yellow Rail
Black Rail
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Whooping Crane
Piping Plover
Snowy Plover
Mountain Plover
Red Knot
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Ruff
Long-billed Curlew
Marbled Godwit
Hudsonian Godwit
Bar-tailed Godwit
Surfbird
Purple Sandpiper
Rock Sandpiper
Dunlin (breeding)
Stilt Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Red-necked Stint
Sabine's Gull
Black-legged Kittiwake
Iceland Gull
Thayer's Gull
Black Skimmer
Bridled Tern
Sooty Tern
Roseate Tern
Caspian Tern
Atlantic Puffin
Tufted Puffin
Rhinoceros Auklet
Marbled Murrelet
Ancient Murrelet
Black-footed Albatross
Short-tailed Albatross

Target Checklist · Part 2 of 2

Essential 100 Target Species

Species 49–100

continued — check each off as you find it.

Cory's Shearwater
Flesh-footed Shearwater
Buller's Shearwater
Manx Shearwater
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel
Ashy Storm-Petrel
White-tailed Tropicbird
Masked Booby
Mississippi Kite
Swallow-tailed Kite
Snail Kite
Short-tailed Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk
Golden Eagle
Crested Caracara
Aplomado Falcon
Elegant Trogon
Eared Quetzal
Buff-collared Nightjar
Whiskered Screech-Owl
Flammulated Owl
Spotted Owl
Kirtland's Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
Bachman's Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
McKay's Bunting
Smith's Longspur
Chestnut-collared Longspur
McCown's Longspur
Painted Redstart
Red-faced Warbler
Olive Warbler
Lucy's Warbler
Spectacled Eider
King Eider
Steller's Eider
Long-tailed Duck (breeding)
Harlequin Duck
Barrow's Goldeneye
Trumpeter Swan
Ross's Goose
Emperor Goose
Hawaiian subspecies
Mangrove Cuckoo
Colima Warbler
Gray Vireo
Island Scrub-Jay
McKay's Bunting (Pribilofs)
Bristle-thighed Curlew

Personal targets: Use the blank log pages (pg 23–24) to record your own top 100 targets for your specific geography.

Monthly Log

January

Year: _______

Monthly total: _______ | Year total: _______

#

SPECIES

✓

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

#

SPECIES

✓

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

TRIP NOTES

Top sighting:

Best location:

Monthly Log

February

Year: _______

Monthly total: _______ | Year total: _______

🦅 February focus: Owls begin nesting. Check local owl boxes and boreal irruptions. Scan winter finch flocks for redpolls, siskins, and crossbills. Waterfowl peak along southern coasts.

#

SPECIES

✓

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

#

SPECIES

✓

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

TRIP NOTES

Top sighting:

Best location:

Monthly Log

March

Year: _______

Monthly total: _______ | Year total: _______

🌿 March focus: Spring migration begins. Shorebirds push north along coasts; woodcocks are displaying at dusk. Pursue early-season warblers like Yellow-rumped and Pine. Target Greater Prairie-Chicken leks.

#

SPECIES

✓

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

#

SPECIES

✓

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

TRIP NOTES

Top sighting:

Best location:

Monthly Log

April

Year: _______

Monthly total: _______ | Year total: _______

🌸 April focus: Warbler migration begins in earnest. High Island TX and Magee Marsh OH are world-class. Shorebird migration intensifies. Target Anhinga Trail, Bombay Hook, and Chincoteague. Watch for Snowy Plover and Wilson's Plover on Gulf beaches.

#

SPECIES

✓

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

#

SPECIES

✓

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

TRIP NOTES

Top sighting:

Best location:

Monthly Log

May

Year: _______

Monthly total: _______ | Year total: _______

🌟 May focus: PEAK MIGRATION MONTH. The single most productive month for ABA listers. 33-50 new species per day possible. Hit Magee Marsh, Point Pelee, High Island, Whitefish Point. Every day counts — no rest in May.

#

SPECIES

✓

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

#

SPECIES

✓

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

TRIP NOTES

Top sighting:

Best location:

Monthly Log

June

Year: _______

Monthly total: _______ | Year total: _______

🏔️ June focus: Breeding season. Head to boreal Canada for species like Connecticut Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, and Spruce Grouse. Alaska trips are productive. Seabird colonies at full activity. Target nocturnal species by spot-lighting.

#

SPECIES

✓

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

#

SPECIES

✓

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

TRIP NOTES

Top sighting:

Best location:

Monthly Log

July

Year: _______

Monthly total: _______ | Year total: _______

🦀 July focus: Fall shorebird migration starts surprisingly early — "Breeding shorebirds" like dowitchers and godwits begin moving south by mid-July. Pacific pelagic trips peak. Survey wetlands for rails and Least Bittern.

#

SPECIES

✓

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

#

SPECIES

✓

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

TRIP NOTES

Top sighting:

Best location:

Monthly Log

August

Year: _______

Monthly total: _______ | Year total: _______

🌊 August focus: Peak shorebird diversity. Waders in breeding and juvenile plumage present simultaneously — hardest ID month. Atlantic coast pelagic trips top out. Rare Pacific eastward vagrants begin appearing.

#

SPECIES

✓

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

#

SPECIES

✓

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

TRIP NOTES

Top sighting:

Best location:

Monthly Log

September

Year: _______

Monthly total: _______ | Year total: _______

🍂 September focus: Fall warbler migration. Hawkwatch ridges (Kiptopeke, Cape May, Hawk Mountain) produce. Chase vagrant flycatchers and western rarities on East Coast. Last chance for many breeding birds before they depart.

#

SPECIES

✓

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

#

SPECIES

✓

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

TRIP NOTES

Top sighting:

Best location:

Monthly Log

October

Year: _______

Monthly total: _______ | Year total: _______

🦢 October focus: Rare bird season begins. Tropical storms push Caribbean vagrants to East Coast. Waterfowl migration peaks; tundra swans and rare geese appear. Hawk flights are dramatic on ridges. Time to chase rare birds reported via rare bird alerts.

#

SPECIES

✓

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

#

SPECIES

✓

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

TRIP NOTES

Top sighting:

Best location:

Monthly Log

November

Year: _______

Monthly total: _______ | Year total: _______

❄️ November focus: Last push for stragglers before winter. Waterfowl in full force. Rare gulls begin appearing at landfills and reservoirs. Chase any remaining Rufous Hummingbirds at Gulf Coast feeders. Year-end pressure intensifies.

#

SPECIES

✓

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

#

SPECIES

✓

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

TRIP NOTES

Top sighting:

Best location:

Monthly Log

December

Year: _______

Monthly total: _______ | Year total: _______

🎯 December focus: FINAL SPRINT. Every day counts. Chase any remaining nemesis birds. Christmas Bird Counts add winter species. Southeast and SW specialties still accessible. The clock resets January 1st — make every day matter.

#

SPECIES

✓

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

#

SPECIES

✓

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

TRIP NOTES

Top sighting:

Best location:

Chase Log

Rare Bird Alerts & Chase Log

Track every rare bird alert you receive and whether you successfully twitched the bird. Include source (eBird alert, Rare Bird Alert listserv, text from birder friend) and outcome.

Species	Location	Date Found	Date Chased	Source	Seen?	Notes
					☐ Yes ☐ No
					☐ Yes ☐ No
					☐ Yes ☐ No
					☐ Yes ☐ No
					☐ Yes ☐ No
					☐ Yes ☐ No
					☐ Yes ☐ No
					☐ Yes ☐ No
					☐ Yes ☐ No
					☐ Yes ☐ No
					☐ Yes ☐ No
					☐ Yes ☐ No
					☐ Yes ☐ No
					☐ Yes ☐ No
					☐ Yes ☐ No
					☐ Yes ☐ No

Total chases

Successful (seen)

Success rate

Financial Planning

Big Year Budget Tracker

A serious ABA Big Year can cost $10,000–$30,000. Track every expense to stay on budget and maximize value per species.

TRAVEL & FUEL

Year budget: $________

LODGING

Year budget: $________

PELAGIC / TOURS

Year budget: $________

GEAR / OPTICS

Year budget: $________

FOOD & MISC

Year budget: $________

YEAR TOTAL

Annual budget: $________

Target List

100-Species Target Checklist

Slots 1–50

List your top 100 target species at the start of your Big Year — then check them off as you get them. Prioritize by difficulty and geography.

#

SPECIES TARGET

✓

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

#

SPECIES TARGET

✓

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

Target List

100-Species Target Checklist

Slots 51–100

Your "stretch" targets — species that require special trips, specific habitat, or rare luck. These are the birds that make a Big Year unforgettable.

#

SPECIES TARGET

✓

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

71

72

73

74

75

#

SPECIES TARGET

✓

76

77

78

79

80

81

82

83

84

85

86

87

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

98

99

100

Pro tip: Focus your first 50 slots on species you're nearly certain to find with effort. Save slots 76–100 for dream birds and true rarities.

Geographic Progress

State & Province Progress Tracker

Track which states and provinces you birded and how many species you logged there. A serious ABA Big Year typically covers 30+ states.

STATE / PROVINCE