🐦 12 Days of Christmas Birding Register free
Dec 25 – Jan 5 · Presented by Afterschool America

Twelve days of birds.
One big cause.

From a partridge in a pear tree to whatever's at your backyard feeder — grab your binoculars and join homeschool families nationwide in a joyful birding contest and fundraiser, timed to the Christmas Bird Count season.

Register free See the 12 Days Sponsor or donate
$1,000Fundraising goal
6Divisions, all ages
FreeTo join
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A partridge perched in a decorated pear tree, event poster art for the 12 Days of Christmas Birding
An Afterschool America Event
Why "12 days"?

Borrowed from a carol.
Rooted in real science.

Our count window, December 25 – January 5, sits inside the historic dates of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count — the longest-running community science project in the world. We borrowed the spirit of that tradition, and of The Twelve Days of Christmas, to build a season-ending event any family can join from a backyard, a trail, or Grandma's porch.

Afterschool America is a nonprofit supporting homeschool students through hands-on classes and community events. This contest doubles as our biggest fundraiser of the year — every dollar raised goes straight to youth programming.

How it works

  1. Register

    Sign up free as an individual, family, or team — takes two minutes.

  2. Pick a division

    Choose by grade or go casual with the whole family in Flock.

  3. Bird Dec 25 – Jan 5

    A 15-minute yard count or a full-day outing both count.

  4. Log every checklist in eBird

    Tag it "12 Days of Christmas Birding" so we can find and score it.

  5. Chase the Bonus List

    Twelve silly scavenger-hunt challenges, one per song day.

  6. Submit your total by Jan 5

    Winners are announced — and celebrated — the following week.

New to Birding?

Start with Birding Basics.

A free, homeschool-tested curriculum that gets any family or co-op ready to bird confidently — the same 10-week class our own students take before joining the contest. No experience required, on your part or theirs.

10Weeks
15 minPer Session
All AgesNo Gear Needed
🎁

Try It Free — 3-Week Sample

The first 3 weeks of the Leader's Guide and Student Workbook, yours to try with your own class before you commit to anything.

Email me the free sample →
📚

Get the Full 10-Week Curriculum

The complete Leader's Guide, Student Workbook, Birding Life List, Certificate of Completion, and bonus Info-Meeting Talking Points for recruiting families to your co-op.

Ask about the full curriculum →
The 12 Days Bonus List

A little whimsy on top of the count.

Spot any of these during the 12 days and add the listed bonus points to your team total — each bonus can only be claimed once per team. A perfect sweep earns the "12 for 12" award.

1
+12
Painterly illustration of a grey partridge beneath a pear tree
Day 1 · A partridge in a pear tree

Partridge

Spot any game bird — quail, grouse, or turkey count too.

2
+10
Painterly illustration of two turtle doves on a holly branch
Day 2 · Two turtle doves

Turtle Doves

Any two doves or pigeons of the same species.

3
+8
Painterly illustration of a French hen standing in snow
Day 3 · Three French hens

French Hen

Three birds spotted in the same tree at once.

4
+8
Painterly illustration of a Eurasian blackbird singing on a branch
Day 4 · Four calling birds

Calling Bird

Four songbirds — any finch, sparrow, or warbler family.

5
+10
Painterly illustration of an American goldfinch on a thistle
Day 5 · Five gold rings

Goldfinch

Any bird with gold or yellow feathers — goldfinch, yellow warbler.

6
+10
Painterly illustration of a greylag goose in flight over a marsh
Day 6 · Six geese a-laying

Greylag Goose

Six or more birds of one species together — a flock!

7
+10
Painterly illustration of a mute swan gliding on water
Day 7 · Seven swans a-swimming

Mute Swan

Seven waterbirds — ducks, geese, swans, herons, or gulls.

8
+6
Painterly illustration of a cattle egret in a snowy pasture
Day 8 · Eight maids a-milking

Cattle Egret

A bird actively feeding — at a feeder, in snow, or on the ground.

9
+6
Painterly illustration of a northern lapwing mid-display leap
Day 9 · Nine ladies dancing

Northern Lapwing

A bird you needed help identifying — write who helped!

10
+12
Painterly illustration of a grey heron at a pond's edge
Day 10 · Ten lords a-leaping

Grey Heron

A raptor — hawk, eagle, falcon, or owl.

11
+8
Painterly illustration of a sandpiper running along a shoreline
Day 11 · Eleven pipers piping

Sandpiper

A bird singing or calling — heard, not seen.

12
+15
Painterly illustration of a common snipe in flight at dusk
Day 12 · Twelve drummers drumming

Common Snipe

Your first-ever "life bird" species.

Record each claim in your eBird checklist notes, then total them on your submission. Species pairings above are our best-guess reading of the carol — scholars still argue about a few (looking at you, five gold rings).

Choose your flock

Six divisions. Every age welcome.

Kids compete in one division, chosen by grade as of December 25. Families and adults have their own casual and competitive tracks.

Youth

Fledglings

Grades K–2

Pure discovery. Bird with a parent for at least four 15-minute backyard counts. Every submitted checklist earns a certificate.

Youth

Nestlings

Grades 3–5

Bird independently or in small family teams, with an adult along for safety. Scored on unique species plus Bonus List points.

Youth

Songbirds

Grades 6–8

Teams of 2–4 youth. Adults may chaperone but may not spot or ID birds — that's the team's job.

Youth

Raptors

Grades 9–12

Our most competitive division. Teams of 2–5 teens; 95% of the team's list must be identified by youth members.

Family

Flock

All ages, casual

Built for families birding together. No strict ID rules — just get outside, log what you see, and enjoy the Bonus List hunt.

Adult

Migration

18+, competitive

Teams of 1–6 birding together or as a dispersed flock, combining checklists into one team eBird trip report.

Fair play & safety

The honor system is the whole system.

  • Birds are identified by sight or a clearly heard call — no guessing from field guide photos alone.
  • Songbirds, Raptors, and Migration require at least two teammates to agree on each ID.
  • Adult chaperones may assist with safety and tricky IDs, but may not spot birds first.
  • Bird-call playback is discouraged, and prohibited on sensitive or nesting habitat.
  • Fledglings and Nestlings must always be accompanied by an adult. Use the buddy system — never bird alone in an unfamiliar area.
  • Give birds plenty of space. Never approach nests, flush roosting birds, or crowd wildlife for a photo.
Awards

Six ways to win.

Species Champion per division
Bonus List Champion
Best Team Name
Best Field Journal or bird art
Top Fundraising Team
12-for-12 Sweep

Winners are recognized at our post-event celebration and on Afterschool America's social media. Everyone who submits at least one checklist receives a digital certificate.

Free · two quick steps

Register your flock.

One registration per participant, family, or team. Reserve your free ticket on Zeffy, then finish a short form below.

🎫

Step 1: Get your free ticket on Zeffy

Pick your division and reserve your spot — it's free (pay what you can). You can also add a donation while you're there.

Get your free ticket on Zeffy →
Step 2

Finish your sign-up

Afterschool America encourages everyone to stay safe. Each participant birds on their own, with a parent along when they need one. This form covers the waiver and photo release, which Zeffy's ticket checkout doesn't ask for.

This step is the waiver and photo release only. Be sure you’ve also grabbed your free ticket in Step 1 above.

12 Days — Registration (Step 2)

Log a find

Tell the flock what you saw — we’ll use it for the scoreboard and Bonus List brags.

During Dec 25 – Jan 5, or after

Submit your count.

Log every checklist in eBird as you go, then send us your final tally by 11:59 p.m. January 5. Late totals may be included at the organizers' discretion but aren't guaranteed to count toward awards.

Submit by 11:59 p.m. January 5. You’ll see a confirmation on this page once it’s sent.

12 Days — Submit a Count
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New to eBird?

Create a free account at ebird.org or the eBird mobile app. Tap "Start Checklist," log what you see or hear, and add "12 Days of Christmas Birding" to the notes field so we can find it. Pair it with the free Merlin Bird ID app if you're not sure what you're looking at — perfect for Fledglings and beginners.

Shop the Merch. 12 Days of Christmas Birding.