Gotta Be In It To Win It

The March eBird challenge is up at last: completed checklists from twenty different hotspots.  That'll probably be a bit of a stretch for me, given that during the week I'm limited to the occasional jaunt out at lunchtime, or after work if I can get away early enough.  I did manage twenty checklists for last month's challenge, but only because I was able to do a few from home when the weather was crappy.  Getting twenty unique hotspot locations will be a bit more of a challenge.

Pretty smart of them to have this set up as a contest.  They only have to give away one prize, but I bet the spirit of competition will net them a lot of extra data in the process.  I am certainly not unaffected.

Will update this post with my progress towards the big goal....

1) Kolb Park, Kitchener, March 4th.
(Canada Goose, Mallard, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers)

2) Snyders Flats, Waterloo, March 4th
(Not much of anything, really... the Grand River was completely frozen over in that stretch)

3) Puslinch Tract, Wellington, March 5th
(Again, not much of anything... a few Crows and Chickadees, one Cardinal, one Junco)

4) Vance Tract, Wellington, March 5th
(Nada)

5) Confluence of Speed and Eramosa Rivers, Guelph, March 9th
(Mallard, Canada Goose, Herring and Ring-billed Gulls)

6) University of Guelph Arboretum, March 9th
(Pileated Woodpecker, American Robin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-capped Chickadee)

7) Economical Insurance Trailway, Kitchener, March 10th
(Red-bellied Woodpecker, Common Merganser, White-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Cardinal (singing!), Black-capped Chickadee, Mallard)

8) Crane Park, Guelph, March 13th
(Red-breased Merganser, Common Merganser, Common Goldeneye, Greater Scaup, Cedar Waxwing, American Robin)

9) Water St. Park, Guelph, March 14th
(Lesser Scaup, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead)

10) Hanlon Creek Park, Guelph, March 14th
(Common Grackle - first of the year!)

11) Riverside Park, Guelph, March 15th
(More of the usual suspects)

12) Speed River Bridge @ Victoria Rd, Guelph, March 16th
(American Coot, Red-tailed Hawk)

13) Speed River, Victoria Rd to Woodlawn, March 16th
(Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Goldeneye)

14) Preservation Park, Guelph, March 21st
(Red-winged Blackbird - first of the year)

(... and that's it.  Didn't quite make it to 20 this month.)