Hello Birders: After the popularity of last year’s Winter Birding Challenge, the OFO is excited to announce it is back for another year starting December 1st! Get outside to enjoy the winter; find some great birds, contribute to community science through eBird, and have a chance to win some great prizes! This challenge will focus on birding your 5MR (5 mile radius) of your house. You can help reduce your ecological footprint by birding close to home and find some new and fun places to bird. How many different species can you find this winter within your radius? How the Winter Birding Challenge works: - The challenge runs from December 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022 - Participants will have a chance to win great prizes including bi-weekly giveaways and a grand prize announced March 1st - Anyone interested in birds is welcome to enter the Winter Birding Challenge - you do not need to be an experienced birder or a member of OFO to join in the fun - Create an eBird account if you don’t have one, and optionally create your personal Five Mile Radius patch - For more information, and to register, go to: OFO/Events/Winter Birding Challenge <http://www.ofo.ca/content/winter-birding/overview> - To participate, submit your eBird checklists and share them with the "OFObirds" eBird account to qualify for prizes Connect on Social Media - We welcome you to post your thoughts, pictures and questions on the OFO Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists <https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists/?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZV8S75_mmd3rIDnT-Pi9I1zsP97XoQoNMbY82Sqw62IA_CY7iCLXGN_Mr19ZsIxs8isw9I1ACkyp6IC-gfMBY4Lnu1omGxUj8EwAmhHY8G-YIJOXMouOL8q_QRpCwY9H6WcRssoWsnplaqNir1QxAsYGp2hJxxjC3sIaNy_9vEzp2F-NnayJZme0kQmPtrRogE&__tn__=kK-R>. Please use the hashtag #winterbirdingchallenge or #ofowinterbirdingchallenge - If posting on Instagram, refer to the challenge using @ofobirds as well as the hashtags above. COVID-19 - Please remember during the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions and following local, provincial, and federal regulations Questions or Comments - Please email challenge@ofo.ca < challenge@ofo.ca> if you have any questions or comments. -- Lynne Freeman (she/her/hers) OFO President president@ofo.ca