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Get Ready for the Breeding Season with PatchBird!

Updated: Apr 19

As winter loosens its grip and days grow longer in the Northern Hemisphere, a new season of bird activity begins. Resident birds are preparing for the breeding season, while migratory species embark on their long journeys back to nesting grounds.


This is the perfect time to begin your PatchBird surveys—not only to witness this extraordinary seasonal shift, but also to contribute valuable data that helps track bird populations during this critical period of change.


Common House Martin is a rapidly declining breeding species across Europe. © Gyorgy Szimuly
Common House Martin is a rapidly declining breeding species across Europe. © Gyorgy Szimuly

Why Start Your Surveys Now?


By beginning your surveys early in the season, you’ll have a front-row seat to the arrival of migratory birds and the start of breeding behaviors. Recording these early observations allows us to:

– Track when species return to their breeding territories.

– Detect shifts in migration timing due to environmental changes.

– Document key breeding behaviours using eBird Breeding Codes, such as singing, nest-building, and feeding young.

This is one of the BirdUTM survey locations in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. © Gyorgy Szimuly
This is one of the BirdUTM survey locations in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. © Gyorgy Szimuly

Join the Challenge – Win a Birds of the World Subscription!


To encourage more participation this season, we’re launching a special challenge! Everyone who submits and shares at least five PatchBird checklists during the breeding season will be entered into a draw to win a one-year subscription to Birds of the World—an outstanding resource for in-depth bird knowledge and global ornithological research.


It’s our way of saying thank you for helping make every bird count!


How to Participate

1. Choose a survey area.

2. Conduct a 15-minute stationary survey, recording all bird species and using eBird Breeding Codes when applicable.

3. Submit your checklist via eBird and share it with PatchBird.

4. Repeat at least 5 times during the breeding season to qualify for the prize draw!


Let’s Make This Breeding Season Count!


Your observations will help us build a clearer picture of bird populations and their breeding success. Every checklist matters. So grab your binoculars, pick your survey spot, and let’s welcome the breeding season together!


Visit patchbird.org to get started today.




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