![A male Rufous Hummingbird in profile perched on the tip of a budding branch.](https://media.audubon.org/image/engagement-cards/rufous_hummingbird_boebatyapa_1200x657.jpg?width=345&height=219&auto=webp&quality=10&fit=crop&enable=upscale&blur=100)
Calling all Angry Birds fans! You think you know birds? It’s time to get real. Audubon has issued a challenge to all Angry Birds fans to take their hand at playing Birding the Net, an innovative social media game recently launched by the nonprofit. The Facebook-based Birding the Net game has already captivated 5,000 to 10,000 players, who are searching for virtual birds over hundreds of websites, including AOL, Slate and Discovery Channel.
“Just because you're good at Angry Birds doesn't mean you'll be good at Birding the Net -- but you will love chasing the real thing for a change,” said David Yarnold, president and CEO of Audubon. “It’s a chance to find real birds and win some incredible prizes. And it doesn’t cost a dime.”
“Angry Birds is a phenomenon. I’d be interested to see who does better, the Angry Bird pros or the birding folks,” Yarnold added.
The game brings to the Internet the thrill of the chase found in real-world birding, challenging players to spot dozens of species through November 7. Web surfers observe virtual birds doing the same things that birds do outdoors – animations of birds will fly across homepages, perch on mastheads, and flock to birdhouses that anyone can install on personal websites and blogs. Along the way, players will learn more about some of North America’s most engaging bird species, and hopefully acquire a better appreciation for birds in the wild.
Clicking on the animated birds on the many participating websites takes players to the Audubon Facebook page to collect and trade “bird cards,” which feature recordings of birdsongs, bird facts, and video. The first players to collect all the birds will win prizes, including a voyage to the Galapagos.
All that is required to play is to visit Audubon on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NationalAudubonSociety. Trading bird cards with friends helps a player’s chances of winning; the more Facebook friends that compete in Birding the Net, the more opportunities for trading birds. And for exclusive hints on where to find birds on the Internet, Audubon followers on Twitter (@AudubonSociety) can interact and follow campaign “spokesbirds” @FloridaScrubJay and @RufHummingbird.
In addition to the grand prize voyage for two to the Galapagos Islands courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions, prizes include Canon cameras, Nikon binoculars, gift cards to Woolrich and downloads of the Audubon Birds – A Field Guide to North American Birds mobile app from Green Mountain Digital. All 200 winners also receive one-year membership to Audubon.
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Lauren Robinson