Leeds Swifts and Sheffield Swift Network are excited to announce a new event to raise funds for our Yorkshire Swifts!
Michael Clegg, the well-known Yorkshire naturalist and conservationist died on 12th July 1995 and the inaugural birdrace in his honour was first played-out on 3rd November 1996. The original idea was to help raise funds for conservation projects in Michael’s home county of Yorkshire and that is still the focus today.
Background to the Birdrace
In the almost three decades since conception, lots of conservation projects have benefitted from birdrace funding with more recent ones including; Little Terns at Spurn and Turtle Doves in North Yorkshire.
After the first birdrace (which was filmed and broadcast on Yorkshire Television) it was decided to hold the event on the first weekend in January each year and this tradition has carried on to the present day.
It has also evolved from a Yorkshire-wide day where teams were free to drive wherever they fancied in the county, to teams only covering their local recording areas, and now to the present day 'green birdrace' where only walking or peddle-power is allowed in the pursuit of most species.
Birdrace Rules
- The race is held on the weekend of Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th January 2026. Sunday is the favoured day but we are happy if teams would like to do it on the 3rd.
- A 'team' is a max of four persons but there is no hard rule on this and some teams are of four or less with some being a single person or even 'one man and his dog'.
- The idea is to record as many bird species on the day as possible; birds can be counted when seen or just heard but everyone in the team must see or hear it and all must agree on the identification.
- Each team should raise as much sponsorship money as possible to help the chosen cause of that years birdrace.
- This is a 'green birdrace' where only walking or peddle-power is allowed.
For the 30th annual birdrace in 2026, we will be raising funds for Leeds Swifts and Sheffield Swift Network.
Leeds Swifts will use your donations to fund their 'Fire Service Swift box project' which involves the installation of Swift nesting boxes on the tall training towers of Fire Stations in and around Leeds. This project began last year and has already attracted Swifts to build nests.
Sheffield Swift Network will use funds to install swift bricks in schools and within swift colonies across under-resourced areas of Sheffield. This will protect vital urban habitats and inspire local pupils and communities where conservation investment is often limited.
Important Note: When making donations after the event please put this note on your donation: BIRD RACE 2026
Organizer
