Viera’s Big Year: The Answer to Your New Year’s Resolution
Viera’s Big Year: The Answer to Your New Year’s Resolution
If your New Year’s resolution included getting more exercise, spending time outdoors, connecting with family, disconnecting from screens, or even earning a little extra cash, then Viera’s Big Year might just be the resolution you didn’t know you needed.
This year-long birding challenge encourages participants to walk, squat, bend, and explore while spotting birds throughout the community. It gets you outside—because that’s where the birds are—helps you notice the natural beauty all around Viera, and offers cash prizes for the top finishers. The top three participants who spot the most species earn cash prizes, proving that time in nature can be both rewarding and fun.
Viera’s Big Year is also a wonderful way to spend time with family. In fact, the top two finishers in 2025 were a father-and-son team, showing that birding can be both competitive and meaningful across generations. And while you’ll need your phone to record sightings, the contest has a funny way of keeping you focused on the world around you instead of endlessly scrolling TikTok.
Celebrating an Incredible 2025 Viera’s Big Year
The 2025 Viera’s Big Year was an outstanding success thanks to the passion and dedication of our birding community.
• 212 different bird species observed
• 454 checklists submitted
• 5,428 individual species recordings, representing an estimated 25,000 birds spotted throughout the year
These numbers speak not only to the enthusiasm of participants, but also to the incredible diversity of habitats found within the Viera DRI.
Some of the most commonly sighted species during the 2025 contest included:
• Boat-tailed Grackle (175 sightings)
• White Ibis (168 sightings)
• Great Egret (168 sightings)
• Anhinga (161 sightings)
(These numbers reflect how many times a species appeared on a checklist, not how many individuals were seen during each sighting.)
Participants were also thrilled to record several unique and notable species, including:
• LeConte’s Sparrow (very uncommon)
• Bachman’s Sparrow
• Philadelphia Vireo
• Short-tailed Hawk
• Reddish Egret
While the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands remained a popular hotspot, birds were recorded throughout the Viera DRI. Neighborhood sightings were especially strong around Strom Park and Heritage Isle, with a notable showing at Borrows West, highlighting just how widespread birding opportunities are across the community.
2025 Viera’s Big Year Winners
A big congratulations to our top finishers for 2025:
1st Place: Ethan Landreville – 163 species
2nd Place: Brennan Landreville – 159 species
3rd Place: William Watkins – 149 species
Their dedication and consistency throughout the year truly set the bar high.
Join Viera’s Big Year 2026
Registration is now open for Viera’s Big Year 2026, and we’re excited to welcome both returning and first-time participants.
The contest is open to all Brevard County residents, with bird spotting limited to the Viera DRI and a few additional specified locations. Whether you’re an experienced birder or simply enjoy being outdoors, Viera’s Big Year offers a fun, educational, and rewarding way to explore the natural beauty of our community.
Learn more and find full contest details here:
Make 2026 the year you move more, notice more, and discover just how many birds call Viera home.