Why January Is a Birder’s Favorite Month
Fresh Starts, Fresh Lists,
and a Year Full of Possibility
For most people, January represents new resolutions, tidy calendars, and a chance to start over. But for birders—especially those who live for checklists, year lists, patch lists, county lists, and life lists—January is nothing short of magic. This is the month when the birding world resets itself, offering a clean slate, a fresh adventure, and the thrilling promise that every bird counts again.
Whether you’re a brand-new birder or a seasoned lister who practically lives with eBird open, January isn’t just another month. It’s an invitation. A treasure hunt. A chance to dream up trips, sharpen skills, plant for wildlife, and set yourself up for a year of discovery and joy.
Let’s explore why January holds such a special place in the birding community—and how you can use this month to craft your most organized, inspired, bird-filled year yet.
1. January 1st: The Ultimate Reset for Bird Listers
If you’ve ever kept a year list, you know the joy that comes with waking up on January 1st, stepping outside (coffee in hand), and listening for the first bird of the year. On December 31st, even the most common species—House Sparrows, Northern Cardinals, American Robins—barely register after months of being ticked off. But on January 1st?
They become gold.
This is the magic of the annual reset: suddenly every bird is equal. A humble Mourning Dove is as valuable to your list as a Painted Bunting. You could hear a Carolina Wren’s morning song and feel victorious. You could spot a Great Blue Heron and grin like you just logged a rarity. January turns ordinary into extraordinary.
Why birders love the reset:
✔ Instant gratification. You can rack up a dozen species before breakfast.
✔ No pressure. Anything you see is a win.
✔ A reason to get outside on Day One. Nature becomes your fireworks show.
✔ A perfect “Big Day” opportunity. Even beginners can participate and feel successful.
Starting a new year list reminds birders why they fell in love with the hobby in the first place: curiosity, discovery, and appreciation for the everyday birds that share our neighborhoods.
2. Planning Your January 1st Big Day
A “Big Day” on January 1st doesn’t have to be competitive, exhausting, or complicated. Think of it as your fun, personal kickoff to the year—a casual scavenger hunt with binoculars.
Tips for planning a successful January 1st Big Day:
1. Start at home.
Begin by listing your backyard or neighborhood birds. These easy wins help build momentum.
2. Choose 2–3 habitats.
Various habitats = more species. Consider:
A local pond or lake
A nearby patch of woodland
Open fields or grasslands
A favorite nature preserve
3. Set a flexible time window.
You don’t need to bird from dawn till dusk. A relaxed half-day is plenty.
4. Use eBird’s “Explore” tool.
Check hotspots near you and review what species are likely to be present in early January.
5. Bring a non-birding friend or family member.
January 1st is a great gateway day for beginners. Enthusiasm is contagious. Good conversation and they can share the driving and look for places for lunch!
6. Focus on fun, not numbers.
Some birders will report 120+ species on a January 1st Big Day. Others will log twelve. Both are perfect. Remember the weather. It is January after all, so plan your clothes accordingly and maybe a thermos of something extra warm. There is a theory (the Birding Weather Conundrum) that says “the worse the weather, the better the birding”.
3. January Is Prime Time for Year-Long Birding Plans
While the list reset is the headline, January is also the month when birders start dreaming about the year ahead. Birders are planners—migration windows matter, weather matters, timing matters. And January is when the calendar opens completely, full of empty squares you can fill intentionally.
This is the month to ask:
When is the best time to go to High Island?
When should I schedule a prairie trip? A pelagic? A hummingbird hotspot weekend?
What festivals do I want to attend this year?
Are there species I want to target—finally!—for my life list?
January Planning Exercise: Create Your Birder’s Year Map
Print a blank 12-month calendar.
Mark migration peaks (spring, fall, shorebirds, hawk watches, etc.). Google “bird migration routes in north america for some amazing maps.
Add must-visit hotspots such as High Island, Magee Marsh, Cape May, Bosque del Apache, SE Arizona or your favorite local sites.
Add likely “target species” months:
Golden-cheeked Warblers in Texas (March–May)
Red Knots in migration (May)
Whooping Cranes in winter
Hummingbird fall migration in the Gulf Coast (Rockport in September)
Block off a “flex week” for a spontaneous chase or a last-minute trip.
Add bird festivals you might want to attend (Great Texas Birding Classic, Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival, Biggest Week in North American Birding, etc.).
This exercise alone can turn a vague “I hope I get out more this year” into an organized, achievable, exciting plan.
4. January Is a Gardener’s Dream for Hummingbirds, Butterflies & Birds
The planning doesn’t stop with travel. January is also one of the best months to dream up (and begin!) landscaping projects that attract more birds throughout the year.
Even though the ground may be dormant, your imagination—and your planning notebook—should be anything but.
Why January is perfect for garden planning:
🌱 Nurseries begin offering spring pre-orders.
🌱 You can map where you want new shrubs, trees, or feeders without summer foliage blocking your view.
🌱 It’s ideal for choosing native plants for hummingbirds and butterflies.
🌱 You can prepare for National Pollinator Month now rather than scrambling in June.
🌱 Many areas recommend planting trees in late winter to early spring.
Landscaping Projects to Begin in January
1. Plan your hummingbird garden.
Choose plants that bloom in succession so hummingbirds have food all season:
Turk’s cap
Salvias (Autumn Sage, Indigo Spires, Hot Lips)
Firebush
Penstemon
Native honeysuckle (not Japanese!)
Mapping your bloom calendar now helps ensure nectar availability year-round.
2. Begin your butterfly habitat layout.
List host plants your local butterfly species require, such as milkweed for monarchs or fennel for swallowtails.
3. Select trees and shrubs for birds.
January is ideal for deciding where to plant fruit-bearing species:
Possumhaw holly
Wax myrtle
Serviceberry
Dogwood
Elderberry
Beautyberry
These shrubs offer food, cover, and nesting protection.
4. Evaluate your yard’s “bird structure.”
Ask:
Do I have canopy, understory, and low shrubs?
Do I have dense areas for wrens, sparrows, and cardinals?
Are there winter food sources?
Creating layered habitat is one of the best ways to increase bird diversity.
5. January Organization: It’s Not Just for Closets
Birders are collectors—lists, gear, notebooks, apps, field guides… it adds up. January is a perfect time to get organized so the rest of the year runs smoothly.
January Birding Organization Checklist
🗂 Clean your optics.
Use a proper lens kit, not your T-shirt.🔋 Refresh gear.
Check batteries, SD cards, camera straps, binocular harnesses, and rain covers.📱 Update birding apps.
Merlin, eBird, Sibley, iNaturalist, your sound library—download the newest packs.📚 Review your field guides.
Pull out the ones you want to rely on this year. Keep a small “study stack” near your reading chair.✏️ Start a fresh birding notebook.
Whether digital or paper, pick the system that motivates you. Want to keep track in a nicely bound Birder’s Journal? Check below for a great option.🗺 Reorganize your hotspot lists.
For your county, your state, or your favorite patch.
Organizing means fewer obstacles—so you get outside faster and more often.
6. Exercises to Kickstart Your January Birding Momentum
Sometimes, excitement needs structure. These January exercises help birders deepen skills, strengthen observation habits, and ramp up enthusiasm for the year ahead.
Exercise 1: The January Daily Ten
Each day, list any ten species you see or hear. That’s it.
You’ll be surprised how this simple habit sharpens awareness.
Exercise 2: One New Habitat per Week
Challenge yourself to visit:
One pond
One woodland
One open field
One urban park
Each habitat adds species—and experience—to your January list.
Exercise 3: The January Sound Challenge
For one week, close your eyes and listen for 5 minutes each morning. Identify everything you hear.
This builds powerful auditory ID skills.
Exercise 4: Plan One “Dream Bird Trip”
Sit down with a notebook and write out:
The destination
The target species
The best month to go
Budget and travel notes
What gear you’ll need
Dreaming is part of the fun—and often leads to real trips later in the year.
7. The Emotional Joy of January Birding
January birding isn’t just about numbers or strategy. It’s about the emotional lift that comes from starting again - like fresh sheets on a bed. There’s something deeply inspiring about a fresh list, a new plan, a clean notebook, and the sense that anything is possible.
Birders find joy in small moments:
A cardinal calling on a cold morning
A chickadee landing in a bare tree
A Red-tailed Hawk circling above a winter field
The first hummingbird of spring you know is coming
January reminds us why we bird:
to notice, to appreciate, to connect, and to participate in the natural world around us.
8. January Is the Birder’s Month of Possibility
If spring migration is the fireworks, January is the spark that lights the fuse.
It’s the month that promises:
A year of discoveries
New species and new experiences
Time spent outdoors
Growth in your skills
A garden that becomes a sanctuary
Travel adventures
And countless moments of pure, unfiltered joy
And if January is calling you into deeper organization and inspiration, stay tuned for my upcoming posts in this January series. I’ll be publishing two companion guides: one all about bird listers—why we track, what kinds of lists birders keep, and how to make your listing practice more meaningful—and another focused entirely on planning birding trips for the year. Both will help you take your January excitement and turn it into a birding plan you’ll be thrilled to follow all year long.
For birders, January isn’t quiet. It’s electric.
It’s hopeful.
It’s the beginning of everything.