Why January Is a Favorite Month for Birders

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Mountain Bluebird

January may not look like peak birding season at first glance, but for birders, it’s one of the most exciting months of the entire year. That’s because January brings something powerful: a reset.

On January 1st, year lists begin again. Every bird—yes, even the most familiar cardinal or sparrow—counts just as much as a rarity. It’s like a treasure hunt where common birds become exciting all over again. A quick walk around the block can feel just as rewarding as a full-day outing, and that sense of possibility is pure joy.

January is also when birders shift from reacting to planning. With a blank calendar ahead, this is the perfect time to dream about upcoming trips—spring migration hotspots, summer breeding grounds, fall shorebird adventures. Questions start forming: When should I go to High Island? What species do I want to focus on this year? Where do I want to explore locally?

Back at home, January is ideal for setting goals that go beyond numbers. Maybe this is the year you sharpen your bird-song skills, keep better notes, or contribute more intentionally to citizen science projects like eBird or local bird counts. Even small goals—such as visiting one new habitat a month—can transform how you experience birding.

And while the ground may be quiet, January is also prime time for planning bird-friendly spaces. Choosing native plants, mapping out a hummingbird or butterfly garden, or deciding where to add trees and shrubs now pays off beautifully in the months ahead.

If January has you feeling inspired, this tip is part of a larger January birding reset. In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing posts that dive deeper into why birders keep lists, how to plan birding trips for the year, setting meaningful birding goals, and ways birders contribute to citizen science. Together, these January posts are designed to help you start the year organized, motivated, and excited for everything ahead.