Regularly birding a local patch is one of the most rewarding aspects of birding.....
Over the past ten years, the birding fraternity has witnessed a notable shift in attitudes away from national year-listing and twitching towards rarity-finding and patch-working. As well as the contemporary benefits of cutting fuel costs and carbon emissions, great pleasure can be derived from learning a patch inside out: observing how the seasons change, appreciating commoner birds that wouldn't otherwise get a second glance and, of course, the potential for finding the occasional scarce or rarer species.
So, what could enhance the patchwatcher's enjoyment even further? Birders are a naturally competitive bunch - lists, numbers and finds all mean a great deal to us, whether personally or sharing with peers. Logic suggests that a friendly patch competition would be a great way to inspire us to work our local spots that little bit harder, as well as to interact with similarly minded individuals across the country.
Over the last 2 years, the Patchwork Challenge has engendered friendly competition among avid 'patch-watchers' and inspired more people to focus on a nearby patch. This year PWC participants have been encouraged to add value to their day-to-day observations by logging them in the BTO BirdTrack system - http://blx1.bto.org/birdtrack/, through the addition of comparisons of Complete Lists and total number of records submitted.
Why not sign up at http://patchworkchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ and reply to this message to say which area you have taken on....
