Log one species per day and the tracker will check the two Bird-a-Day rules for you: no repeats and no skipped days. It runs entirely in your browser. If your browser allows local storage, your list is saved on this device only. If not, it still works for the session. Use Export to keep a copy.
How the tracker counts
- Day number = (date − start date) in whole days + 1. With a January 1 start, February 1 is Day 32.
- Streak counts consecutive logged days from the start date. Today doesn't break the streak until it's over, so it shows as "still open."
- Repeats are matched on the name you type, ignoring capital letters and extra spaces. Use the same common names every time. Cornell's All About Birds guide is a good reference for spelling.
- Re-logging a date replaces that day's bird. That's handy if you find something better later in the day, which Audubon recommends: log the most unusual species you see.
A sample first month
Audubon's advice for the opening weeks is to log the most unusual species you see each day and keep reliable birds in reserve. Here is a way to set up the tracker on January 1:
| Week | What to log | What to hold back |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scarce winter visitors and anything unexpected | Feeder regulars such as cardinals, chickadees and doves |
| 2 | Waterfowl on local lakes and rivers (Audubon: winter favors waterfowl) | Town birds you see daily, like pigeons and crows |
| 3 | Birds from a planned outing or a new location | Your reserve list |
| 4 | Species from your eBird monthly hit list for your county | Anything you are sure to see in February |
When you look at your list in the tracker, check the gaps. If your reserve list is shrinking faster than your days, plan a trip to a new habitat. Audubon notes that the challenge pushes you to try new birding spots and to learn bird timing and habitat choice.
Tips for using it well
- Log in the evening. Wait to see whether the day brings something rarer than your morning bird.
- Keep a reserve list. Write your guaranteed birds (feeder regulars, city pigeons, crows) in the notes app on your phone, and spend them only on hard days.
- Back up weekly. Browser storage can be cleared by privacy settings, so press Export and paste the list somewhere safe.
- Decide your house rules once. Heard-only birds, travel, and start date are your call. Audubon notes there are no "bird-a-day police," but switching rules mid-run defeats the purpose.
For the full rules and a season-by-season strategy, read the Bird-a-Day challenge guide. To bank reliable backyard species, see what to feed backyard birds and our common backyard birds profiles.
Privacy
This page has no analytics, no cookies and no server. The tracker stores one item (birdaday-tracker-v1) in your browser's local storage when that is available. Clear all deletes it.