Virginia Birding Classic

The Inaugural Virginia Birding Classic Event!

April 15 – May 15, 2024

The Virginia Birding Classic is a statewide birding competition in which teams of birders search the public lands of Virginia every spring for as many species as they can find in 24 hours.

All registration proceeds will benefit the Virginia Wildlife Grant Program, which awards annual grants to non-profit programs focused on connecting youth to the outdoors.

How Does it Work?

1. Pick a Team Name & Register Online: Your team of a least 3 or up to 6 people register online through GoOutdoorsVirginia.com by April 14, 2024. Registration includes a swag bag and free access to available Wildlife Management Areas, State Forests, and Natural Area Preserves on the day your team has chosen to go birding for the competition. Virginia DWR customers with an active license and/or permit will receive a discount on their registration! Youth under 16 years old can register for free but must be accompanied by a registered adult.
2. Pick When Your Team Goes Birding: Your team chooses a consecutive 24-hour period between April 15th and May 15th to go birding on federal, state, county, and municipal parks in the Commonwealth to identify as many species of birds as possible.
3. Share Your Team’s Results: Your team submits one official team eBird trip report for their tournament day to Virginia eBird. Final eBird trip reports must be submitted to the official Virginia Birding Classic eBird account by 11:59pm on May 17, 2024.

The Grand Prize

The Virginia Birding Classic Grand Prize goes to the team that finishes their 24-hours of birding with the most species. This year, we are excited to announce that the Grand Prize will consist of the following:

• Each member of the winning team will get to choose from a list of DWR Wildlife Experiences that only we can offer! The list may include opportunities such as:
  • accompanying our biologists as they band and survey raptors, waterfowl, woodpeckers, or seabirds
  • visiting important habitat conservation areas that are not open to the public
  • viewing wildlife on a tour with knowledgeable members of our staff
  • other exciting experiences only DWR can offer
• Each team will also get the opportunity to choose a library in the Commonwealth to be the recipient of 3 Birding Backpacks that will be available for checkout by members of the community! Each backpack will include:
  • 1 pair of adult binoculars
  • 1 pair of children’s binoculars
  • 1 field guide to birds of eastern North America
  • 1 kids field guide to backyard birds
  • Bird coloring sheets and crayons
  • 1 Field Journal to record sightings
  • Maps and guides to area birding locations
  • Helpful tips and apps to make the most of their birding adventures

This is an excellent way to give back by giving the community the gift of birding. Register your team today!

Additional Documents

• Rules for the 1st Annual Virginia Birding Classic
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• A Visitor’s Guide to DWR Properties: Best Practices for Ensure a Safe and Enjoyable Experience for Everyone!

Teams can identify excellent wildlife viewing opportunities by using DWR’s new web-based application that connects the public with recreation opportunities—including wildlife viewing—based on where they are, what they want to do outside, and how far they are willing to travel! Use Explore the Wild to find all the incredible birding spots included in the Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail!