July 2017 eBirding Challenge

The challenge in June was to upload 30 no-X, complete checklists of at least 15-minute duration of which at least three lists must document a brood-parasitic cuckoo (seen or heard).

Each year, a lull in birding activity is witnessed in July as the monsoon makes its presence felt across much of the country. But the rains are hardly a reason to cut down on watching birds! A number of interesting observations are to be made during this time of the year. Heronries across India are in full swing in this season. The monsoon also brings about changes in birdlife in several areas, from the influx of migrants like Pittas and Orioles in parts of India to the disappearance of some common species from other regions. Are there any other interesting patterns playing out in the under-birded monsoon months? The best way to find out is to list often!

The challenge this month is simple. Upload a minimum of 31 no-X, complete checklists of at least 15 minutes duration.

The Gap-filling Challenge this month (July 2017) is to upload a minimum of 4 complete checklists of at least 15 minutes duration each from one or more of the target districts. The target districts are the 382 districts that have 30 minutes or less of birding represented on eBird in the month of July of all previous years combined.

You can download the list of target districts in any of the following formats: CSV(14kb) PDF(99kb)

Please upload all your lists by 5 August 2017 so that we can announce the results the next day.

Here are the general rules of our monthly challenges. And check out the yearlong challenges as well! You can keep track of fresh lists coming in from India at this page.

Important. if you are new to eBird, please read this description first, and do take a look at our quick-start infographic and also the more comprehensive Beginner’s Guide.

Header Image: Slender-billed Gull Chroicocephalus genei © Mathew Thekkethala/ Macaulay Library