Membership to most of these clubs is usually for free.  By signing up with any of them, you get invitations to various activities that they organize each year.  You also gain more access to researches and other information about birds.

One of these bird watcher clubs is called the New Haven Bird Club.  Every year this club hosts an international birding event that is non-competitive.  This event has recently been called the "Big Sit"; which observes a certain bird every year that is referred to as the “golden bird”.  People from all parts of the world are invited to participate and it is for free. 

The event is very simple.  You just have to look for a nice spot for birdwatching – like one with a great view of the various habitats and dwelling places of birds.  Then, together with the other participants, you make a huge circle – whether real or imaginary – and sit within it for 24 hours.  You have to count all the birds species that you heard or saw within that 24 hour time period. 

Such a simple concept encourages many to participate.  It does not take much effort and, in fact, most who have tried participating before find it very relaxing.  It is a nice break from busy day-to-day living. 

Although the activity is non-competitive, participants have the opportunity to win something.  The circle with the highest count wins the Big Sit “Braggin’” rights.  What is most targeted though is the prize for the circle that first finds the “golden bird” of the year. 

These types of fun activities are very common for bird watcher clubs.  There are also fund raising campaigns from time to time which are necessary to sustain their causes.  The Big Sit activity, for one, is considered by other clubs as a great opportunity to raise funds and promote their activities.

Around the world, you will not have a hard time finding a bird watcher club to join as there are indeed many of them.  The New Haven Bird Club is just one among the many.  What is important is that when you do join one, you believe in their cause and are willing to do everything to care for the birds.