2025 Birding Goals (5 Viewers)

[lgonz1008]

Since everyone is reminiscing of the goals they achieved from their 2024 list (see post here).

I figured we need to start setting our goals for 2025, here are mine to start:

• Reach 2,000 species, this feels like setting the bar really low since I'm 22 species away, question is if I'll make it before my first trip ends.
• February birding in Sax-Zim Bog, going with some friends to the famous site and my biggest hope to is connect with as many of the possible owls in the area. Good photos of Great Gray Owl is the highest point in that list of targets.
• Introduction to Asian birding, my friend invited me to do a two-week trip to Sulawesi and Halmahera in Indonesia. Never been to Asia, so that's another birding region down and hopefully we will connect with over 250 species, personal main targets being Standardwing BoP, Ivory-breasted Pitta, Maleo, Hylocitrea and Scaly-breasted kingfisher.

Maybe something else will be in the cards for me, but I think these will be my main birding focus for 2025. What about everyone else?

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Sulawesi and Halmahera are great. You'll enjoy it.

I've got a few targets for 2025:

- White-eyed Gull. It's the only gull I haven't seen. I've had 4 previous trips to Israel cancelled, so I'm heading to Saudi Arabia in February.

- Red-bearded Bee-eater. I got injured when I went to Borneo 15 years ago and couldn't walk the trails. One of the birds I missed was Red-bearded Bee-eater, and it's nagged at me ever since. So I'm heading to Malaysia in May.

- I'm also planning on heading to Madagascar in September so there's a bunch of species I want to see there.

 

[Frank van Drogen]

• February birding in Sax-Zim Bog, going with some friends to the famous site and my biggest hope to is connect with as many of the possible owls in the area. Good photos of Great Gray Owl is the highest point in that list of targets.

Had to look that one up: Sax-Zim Bog, St. Louis, Minnesota, United States - eBird Hotspot

Looks like an exciting place.... but a bit cold in February

 

[lgonz1008]

Sulawesi and Halmahera are great. You'll enjoy it.

I've got a few targets for 2025:

- White-eyed Gull. It's the only gull I haven't seen. I've had 4 previous trips to Israel cancelled, so I'm heading to Saudi Arabia in February.

- Red-bearded Bee-eater. I got injured when I went to Borneo 15 years ago and couldn't walk the trails. One of the birds I missed was Red-bearded Bee-eater, and it's nagged at me ever since. So I'm heading to Malaysia in May.

- I'm also planning on heading to Madagascar in September so there's a bunch of species I want to see there.

I'm hoping it's as good as I've heard for Sulawesi and Halmahera.

Hopefully you get your targets, I'm still in the point of any place can give me lots of lifers, but Borneo and Madagascar are places that are high on my list regardless of how little experience I have in the field.

 

[lgonz1008]

Had to look that one up: Sax-Zim Bog, St. Louis, Minnesota, United States - eBird Hotspot

Looks like an exciting place.... but a bit cold in February

Definitely cold, I'll likely look like a rejected KISS member with the snow boots I bought, but what the hotspot checklist doesn't show is that the bog is amazing in winter for Great Gray Owl and Northern Hawk-Owl, which are among my most wanted birds in North America.

Friend of mine is currently there and had 2 Great Gray Owls hunting next to the car in broad daylight!

 

[Farnboro John]

Definitely cold, I'll likely look like a rejected KISS member with the snow boots I bought, but what the hotspot checklist doesn't show is that the bog is amazing in winter for Great Gray Owl and Northern Hawk-Owl, which are among my most wanted birds in North America.

Fairly well noted for mammal predators as well, Wolves, Lynx, American Marten.

John

 

[Nightjar61]

I’d like to reach 3,100 species in 2025 (I’m currently about 125 species short of that number.) I have a trip to Uganda planned in March, and if the birds fall into place I could reach my target then. If not, then I should get up to 3,100 during a second trip later in the year. I don’t know where I’ll go on that second trip yet, but I’m considering several places.

I’d also like to get 200 for the year in Preston County. It’s not an easy goal to reach, but it’s fun trying. I’m currently stuck on 198 and unless I get lucky before the end of the year, that might be my total this year.

Dave

 

[raymie]

Definitely cold, I'll likely look like a rejected KISS member with the snow boots I bought, but what the hotspot checklist doesn't show is that the bog is amazing in winter for Great Gray Owl and Northern Hawk-Owl, which are among my most wanted birds in North America.

Plus it's an irruption year for Boreal Owl this year, so you have a chance for it.

Just as a bit of warning though - I've been to Sax-Zim 4 times, and I've only seen Great Gray once and I'm still missing the hawk-owl. I'll be going up again at least once more this winter to try for it.

(Also obligatory Midwesterner "It's isn't that cold, only like -20 F" comment)

 

[mjh73]

Hit 600 on my Australia list (currently on 574. Trip to Darwin for the first time in January should get me a lot closer weather/birds permitting)

Stretch goal hit to 2500 for the life list. On 2053 currently. Got a trip to NE India for 3 weeks as the only overseas birding trip planned for the year l, probably a big ask to get enough over 400 🤨

Generally just get out birding more. 2024 was a slow year 🫤

 

[Lerxst]

1. Extend my life list beyond 5,200. That means about 180 species and I'm not sure where I'm going to get them yet.
2. Exceed 1,000 species with at least one audio recording submitted on xeno-canto. I currently have 987 species there on 1125 recordings.

 

[Owene]

My trips for next year are pretty much booked in and my lists are further away from any landmarks than they are likely to reach

After a trip to Uganda this year I really want to do more tropical birding but it won’t be next year so I really want to build up the kitty for a 2026 trip.

1 I’d like to photograph a bunch, 20+, species I’ve already seen.

2 hamsters. Mainly because my wife finds it hilarious but more than anything I’m looking forward to taking her to Vienna to tick hamster.

3 western rock nuthatch and krupers. Love our British nuthatches so these are my main targets on a family holiday to Greece in April

4. Black bellied sandgrouse. Dipped it on 3 trips.

5 proper views and photographs of a big whale. Had glimpses of single fin and minke before and photographed pilot (which might be a dolphin) but I want a shot of proper one

 

[qwerty5]

1. At least 10 county lifers. I've cleaned up most of the obvious targets, but there are a few left, plus a lot of plausible rarities. I'm wishing for good shorebird habitat, as there are a bunch of uncommon/rare shorebirds that I need.

2. Do a county Big Day during spring migration.

3. Take a birding trip somewhere in the United States. I have no plans now, but I would like to take a trip somewhere new with a lot of lifer potential. The Dakotas, Florida, and Texas are the closest areas with the biggest potential.

 

[lgonz1008]

Fairly well noted for mammal predators as well, Wolves, Lynx, American Marten.

John

Looking forward to trying for the American Marten, I'm not as crazy for a mammal list as I am for birds, but I keep track of the mammals I can identify. I'd probably need to win the lottery to see Lynx.

Plus it's an irruption year for Boreal Owl this year, so you have a chance for it.

Just as a bit of warning though - I've been to Sax-Zim 4 times, and I've only seen Great Gray once and I'm still missing the hawk-owl. I'll be going up again at least once more this winter to try for it.

(Also obligatory Midwesterner "It's isn't that cold, only like -20 F" comment)

Didn't know about the Boreal Owl irruption, hopefully it happens well so by the time I visit, I can find this mega. I'm going with 3 other birders, so we decided to split the cost and hire a local guide who is pretty much living in Sax-Zim during the winter months to get help us find the owls and finches.

(Obligatory Floridian "It's 60F, time to bring out the winter jackets!" comment)

 

[lgonz1008]

1. Extend my life list beyond 5,200. That means about 180 species and I'm not sure where I'm going to get them yet.
2. Exceed 1,000 species with at least one audio recording submitted on xeno-canto. I currently have 987 species there on 1125 recordings.

Not sure if you've done the Caribbean yet, but between all the islands, you can easily get over 100 endemics and most are fine with people due to the lack of hunting.

 

[lgonz1008]

3. Take a birding trip somewhere in the United States. I have no plans now, but I would like to take a trip somewhere new with a lot of lifer potential. The Dakotas, Florida, and Texas are the closest areas with the biggest potential.

If you choose to do Florida and need a guide, let me know, it's always fun to show birders the species we have around.

PS: we are also struggling with the lack of habitat in my county, but for us it's waterfowl, we got a bit of decent habitat in the Everglades this year and it's filled with ducks. But every year before, we'd be making cross-state trips just to see a Green-winged Teal or a Ruddy Duck!

 

[Lerxst]

Not sure if you've done the Caribbean yet, but between all the islands, you can easily get over 100 endemics and most are fine with people due to the lack of hunting.

We have done some... the DR, PR, and T&T, although I really consider the latter to be part of SA. Many more little ones still to explore.

 

[hookem2010]

I'll be birding primarily with a baby in 2025, which will be somewhat limiting. However, it is easier than birding with a toddler!
1) Get my county list to 250- I'm at 239 now, so certainly doable. However, the best habitat where rarities turn up is at the western, northern and eastern extremes, while I sit in the south-central part of the county.
2) Find a/some out-of-state lifers- Got to make a trip happen to do this. Pushing for San Diego, where I would have a few layup lifers, even on a family trip.
3) Keep leading Audubon trips- I hardly ever see other birders since moving from Austin to the suburbs, so it's nice to bird with others occasionally.
4. Plan an international trip for early 2026- Since missing out on Colombia with my friends this year, I've been hoping to get them (and my wife) on board for another trip to South/Central America. Fingers crossed

 

[Georgebirds]

I've had a look at the UK list and picked out the species I haven't seen and kind of feel I should have by now, cos they're not extraordinarily rare and are recorded often in my area.

Any of the Divers, not fussy which, I'd just like to see one so they don't stay as the pages of the birdbook I skip past cos I never see those.

Hobby or Merlin or Peregrine. The first two would be lifers, the last would just be nice to see as anything more than a distant dot which I only know is a Peregrine because a nearby birder with a scope says 'that's a peregrine' at it.

Nightjar. Frustratingly lingers on my heard-but-not-seen list!

Raven. I look hopefully at crows making odd noises, but they never are one.

Siskin. Seen often, in places I visit, but never by me!

Redstart. Another which seems to be avoiding me, despite being seen regularly by other people in the same places.

Waxwing. My new most-wanted bird!

 

[JakeM]

Well, from the sound of it so far, my 2025 birding goals are radically different from everyone else. As i tried to do last year, i am going to continue and try and not concentrate on the listing aspect of birding, and not chasing regional, provincial, country "Lifers", etc. i try to keep my carbon footprint very low. fortunately, i live in a good area with many great spots nearby.

 

[lgonz1008]

Well, from the sound of it so far, my 2025 birding goals are radically different from everyone else. As i tried to do last year, i am going to continue and try and not concentrate on the listing aspect of birding, and not chasing regional, provincial, country "Lifers", etc. i try to keep my carbon footprint very low. fortunately, i live in a good area with many great spots nearby.

Local birding is very rewarding, some of the best fall migrants I had this year were in my local park which had me seeing Chestnut-sided and Blackburnian Warbler going in an out of a tree next to a playground.