Progress of the 200 birds challenge

Rense / General, Wildlife / October 17, 2025 / 0 Comments / Like this

Progress of the 200 birds challenge.

February this year I told you about a new challenge was taking to find 200 birds in The Netherlands.

Well, it sure has been a challenge!

So far, I’ve managed to spot 151 bird species across the Netherlands. That means I still have 49 to go to reach my goal of 200. Will I find them all? Probably not—but that’s perfectly fine. This journey has already taken me to places I never would have visited otherwise, and it’s been an incredible experience filled with learning, discovery, and connection with nature.

Help from a True Bird Geek

One of the biggest boosts to my progress came from my neighbor—a true bird enthusiast. His deep knowledge of bird behavior and habitats helped me identify and locate species I might have missed on my own. I also joined several excursions and guided trips in nature reserves across the Netherlands, which led to some unforgettable sightings, including the Osprey, Eagle, and the Crested Cormorant—a rare visitor just passing through.

But the most special sighting for me? The Purple Swamphen. Only three have ever been recorded in the Netherlands, and I was lucky enough to see one!

Tech Meets Nature

Besides good company and expert guidance, I’ve relied heavily on technology to support my birdwatching efforts. Several apps have helped me locate birds in specific areas and log sightings with GPS coordinates. Pretty neat, right?

Of course, birds aren’t always easy to spot—but they do make noise! Identifying them by sound was a challenge at first, especially since many birds sound quite similar. But with the help of the BirdNET app, I was able to recognize most of them and log them accurately.

Even during my holiday in France, I kept the apps running. That’s how I found a whole bunch of Bee-eaters! (Sadly, those don’t count for the challenge, since it’s focused on birds in the Netherlands only.)

Tools I Use

Here are some of the apps and platforms that have helped me along the way:

???? BirdNET – Identifies birds by sound
???? Picture Bird – Visual bird identification
???? ObsMapp – Mobile app for logging sightings
???? Waarneming.nl – Dutch nature observation platform

And because I got really excited about all this, I even started building a small computer using a Raspberry Pi to identify birds 24/7 by recording their sounds. It’s not up and running yet—it’s all Linux-based, which is still new territory for me—but I’m working on it!

More Than Just Birds

This adventure hasn’t been limited to birds. I’ve also encountered stunning butterflies and dragonflies, which you’ll see in the monthly photo galleries I post. Nature has so much to offer when you take the time to look.

Migration Season Is Here

The birding season isn’t over yet! The autumn migration is in full swing, and I’m hoping to add a few more species to my list in the coming weeks. Every outing brings new possibilities.

Follow the Journey

I’ll be posting my full list of spotted birds—both in Dutch and English—so you can see what I’ve found so far. Find them down below.