What's on in November
It’s November – a month that brings with it more birds and more birding! European Starlings, Greylag and Bar-headed Geese, Red-crested Pochard, Amur Falcons and many more join wintering birds that visit the various habitats and regions across India.
It always pays to brush up on the more confusing species of the region before heading out. Bird Count India’s articles on identification are a useful resource for all birders who are struggling with waders, pipits, warblers, etc.
If you’re new to eBird or still getting used to its many elements, the eBird Essentials course might be useful to get a hang of the various tools, tricks, features and get the best out of the platform!
Events
A lot is happening in November. The Salim Ali Bird Count will be held on 11 and 18 November across the country to commemorate the birth day of Salim Ali. If you’re in Mumbai, you can join the Birders of Thane and Raigad for a raptor watching-cum-birding trail at Mumbra Hills on 11 November. In the Kasaragod district of Kerala, the 2nd Kidoor Bird Festival will take place on 10 and 11 November. The India Bird Races kicks off later this month with the first bird race of the season being held in Kochi.
If you’re in Kerala, do take a look at the Peep & Raptor Challenge, which started on 01 Nov 2018 and will end on 01 Jan 2019.
Challenges
This month’s eBirding Challenge asks observers to be regular throughout November by uploading 11 lists from each half of the month, of which 11 should be from the same location. The global eBirder of the Month challenge is a bit more straightforward and requires one to submit 30 checklists this month using the eBird Mobile app.