After the success of our very first Birding at Home Challenge this past spring, OFO is excited to announce a new challenge, the Winter Birding Challenge, running from December 1st to February 28! 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! The Winter Birding Challenge will focus on birding your 5MR (5 mile radius) of your home. How many different species can you find this winter within your radius? By birding close to home, you can help reduce your ecological footprint and you will find some new and fun places to bird. Watch for announcements on upcoming Webinars that will be both educational and fun, and get you motivated to bird this winter. We have lots of great birding tips coming from some of the most knowledgeable birders in Ontario! How the Winter Birding Challenge works: • 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 • To participate, go to the challenge page at http://www.ofo.ca/winterbirding to see the full details and to register — you will need an eBird account to qualify for prizes • During the challenge, share your eBird checklists with the OFO eBird account -- OFObirds Participants will have a chance to win great prizes including the grand prize, a pair of binoculars courtesy of Vortex Canada (prizes will be awarded bi-weekly, grand prizes will be announced March 1st). Questions or Comments Please email home@ofo.ca if you have any questions or comments. Good birding, The OFO Winter Birding Challenge Team