The top bird sights of 2023 will take centre stage along with highlights into the island’s devoted birdwatching culture tomorrow night.

The Bermuda Audubon Society’s Miguel Mejías will speak at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, beginning at 7.30pm in the Tradewinds Auditorium.

The talk, entitled “2023: A Big Year for Birds in Bermuda”, comes with a showcase of the resident and migratory species seen in Bermuda, including some rare visitors.

Dr Mejías also gives the high points from his quest to rack up at least 200 bird species sighted in Bermuda over the course of 2023.

The mission is known among birders as “a big year”, either as a competition or a personal challenge.

In the process, Dr Mejías describes the community of bird watchers, how they find and identify birds, and the value of their work documenting and reporting unusual species.

The ornithologist and conservationist started in his career as an apprentice of former conservation officer David Wingate, who encouraged his work on the island.

His master of science research tracked Bermuda’s iconic longtails, the white-tailed tropicbird or Phaethon lepturus.

Longtails typically arrive in Bermuda in springtime to nest in the island’s cliffs.

They are commonly seen over the summer — but Dr Mejías shed light on their winter movement farther afield.

His doctoral work shifted to songbirds, where he studied the singing and breeding of Bermuda’s white-eyed Vireo griseus bermudianus or “Chick-of-the-Village.”

He earned both degrees from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, and serves on the committees of the Bermuda Audubon Society and the Bermuda Zoological Society Trunk Island Living Classroom, through the Bermuda Zoological Society.

Tickets for the BUEI talk are $20 for members and $25 for non-members, and $10 for students with valid identification.

• Details and tickets can be found through theBUEI website, with tickets also on sale via Ptix or by visiting the BUEI gift shop or calling 294-0204