The 2026 I BIRD NY Challenge for birders of all ages and abilities will start on March 1. According to the Sun Community News, the challenge encourages New Yorkers and visitors to identify birds and learn about birdlife, and finishers are awarded a commemorative I BIRD NY Challenge patch and certificate—plus the opportunity to win birding-related prizes. From the Atlantic Ocean’s sandy beaches to the Great Lakes coastlines, Adirondack and Catskill peaks, and everywhere in between, the state supports more than 450 different bird species throughout the year.