[1] Participating teams compete to identify the greatest number of bird species by sight or sound in a 24-hour period.
Since the first competition, the World Series has been held annually on a date between May 9 and May 19, which coincides with the height of the spring bird migration through New Jersey.
In 2007, filmmaker Jason Kessler released his documentary, "Opposable Chums: Guts & Glory at The World Series of Birding," which covered both the history and logistics of the event.
During pre-daylight hours, teams often visit sites such as the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge that are home to certain kinds of owls, rails, and bitterns that are difficult to hear or see during the day.
After dusk, teams continue to search for the nocturnal species they may have missed at the start of the day but must be at the "finish line" at Cape May Point State Park by midnight, or face stiff penalties.
Crucial to the success of any serious World Series effort is scouting for species in the days and weeks prior to the event.
Additionally, teams should maximize the number of different habitats they visit (e.g., saltwater marshes, Canadian Zone woodlands, pine forests, beaches, etc.
Identified species are logged using the eBird online bird database platform from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Exceptions to this 95% rule apply to team members who are legally blind (who are not counted when identifying non-vocalizing birds) and members who communicate primarily through American Sign Language (who are not counted when identifying birds that are heard only).