Introducing the PatchBird Explorer – Taking Standardised Birding on the Road

In early June 2024, just before Mount Etna erupted, I trialled a new offshoot of the PatchBird Initiative: PatchBird Explorer. This initiative brings PatchBird's simple, standardised bird survey methodology into a mobile context – perfect for travelling birders wanting to contribute meaningful data in overlooked places.

An inseparable landmark in the Sicilian landscape, the Mount Etna provided excellent birding opportunities before it released its red lava and ash. © Gyorgy Szimuly

I spent a week circling Sicily, loosely following the coast, submitting 53 PatchBird-style checklists in a range of habitats. From the wild slopes of Mount Etna to the historic hilltop town of Savoca, where Eurasian Crag Martins swirled around Al Capone’s famous café, every location was chosen with intention: structured, not random.

How It Worked in Practice

Before the trip, I generated 1×1 km UTM grids inside broader 10×10 km blocks around the area I expected to travel through. I didn’t know where I’d be birding exactly, so the wider grid network gave me flexibility. By the time I was in the field, I had a ready-made set of target grid corner points, and stopping near those made the entire effort structured and replicable.

If you’re heading out on a trip and want to do the same, just ask for grids around your destination. You’ll get personalised survey points, and all you need to do is stop, observe, and submit a 15-minute checklist.

So What Did I See?

Over the week, I recorded 80 bird species. Some of the results were expected, but others made me pause.

Most Frequently Detected Species

Survey after survey, the Common Woodpigeon made sure to be counted – often before any other bird had a chance. A true ambassador of the underbirded grid! © Gyorgy Szimuly

These were the species that popped up in the highest number of checklists:

• Common Swift (54.72%)

• Common Woodpigeon (49.06%)

• European Serin and Spanish Sparrow (both 37.74%)

• Eurasian Magpie (35.85%)

Most Abundant Species

Measured by average number of individuals per checklist, these came out on top:

• Yellow-legged Gull – 15.32

• Common Swift – 9.68

• Spanish Sparrow – 2.53

• Spotless Starling – 2.45

• Common Woodpigeon – 1.45

Coastal areas were swarming with gulls, while swifts were seemingly everywhere – slicing through the sky from morning till dusk in all kind of habitats.

Least Abundant Species

Surprisingly, Song Thrush appeared only once (relative abundance 0.02), along with a few other rarely encountered species:

• Peregrine Falcon (Mediterranean)

• Pied Avocet

• Short-toed Treecreeper

• Stone-curlew

A striking resident in monochrome – the Pied Avocet was among the least frequently recorded species during the PatchBird Explorer Sicily trial, highlighting the value of structured surveys in detecting occasional coastal specialists. © Gyorgy Szimuly

The low detection of Song Thrush was unexpected – it’s a common bird in many parts of Europe. Possibly due to habitat selection, timing, or simply being under the radar in the dry early summer landscape.

The Takeaway

PatchBird Explorer worked. It turned a normal holiday into a purposeful data-gathering journey – without chasing hotspots or lifers. I still saw a wide array of excellent Mediterranean species too. If you’re heading somewhere remote or less birded, why not try it too?

We’ll soon be launching a PatchBirdTM Explorer request form, but for now, just get in touch – we’ll set you up with grid points, and you’ll be ready to go. To learn more, visit our dedicated page including some case studies.

Let’s map the underbirded world – one grid at a time.