The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s competitive birding team, Team Sapsucker, is going big this year with their Global Big Day event. On May 9, Team Sapsucker will partake in a 24-hour birding marathon in Panama. The team is inviting birders around the world to join them in Global Big Day by raising money and awareness for bird conservation.

Big Day is the Cornell Lab’s largest bird conservation fundraiser of the year. This year, the team’s goal is to raise $500,000. Donations will help further bird research, education and conservation efforts around the world.

While Big Day is aimed to raise funds for bird conservation, the event is also a celebration of the diversity of birds. The team is encouraging bird enthusiasts across the globe to observe birds on their own time, then enter their findings at eBird.org. By the end of the day, the team hopes for a combined tally of 4,000 bird species.

Join the Cornell Lab and Team Sapsucker on May 9 to celebrate bird diversity and raise awareness for bird conservation. Visit birds.cornell.edu/wsb or eBird.org to donate and learn more about Global Big Day.