Bird Atlas Blog
2021 Season Kickoff Meeting
We’re kicking off the 2021 breeding season and 4th year of the Maine Bird Atlas with an evening volunteer extravaganza and you’re invited!
Winter Atlasing: App for Block Updates
There are lots of apps out there that can help your atlasing, but one we highly recommend for seeing Winter Atlas Results, and visualizing your location on the block map, is the ArcGIS Explorer app by ESRI. Here are a few simple steps for downloading and setting up the app for your winter atlasing efforts:
Beware of Block Boundaries
An important part of the Maine Bird Atlas is knowing which species are breeding or wintering in each atlas block. When you submit a checklist in eBird, you are either placing a pin on a map or, using the app, your location maybe automatically selected. It is important to review your locations to make sure birds are being reported in the blocks you actually saw them, not accidentally slipping into a nearby block because you were so close to the boundary. Here are a few tips to keep birds in their blocks:
Black-capped Chronicle Issue 7 Winter 2020-21
A new issue of the Maine Bird Atlas newsletter, Black-capped Chronicle, is now available!
August Atlasing Tips
Atlasing in August can be really tricky as early migrants are already on the move south, late nesters are just getting started, and even some species trying to sneak in an extra brood before the season ends. This post will highlight some of the important things to keep in mind while atlasing in August.
Crossing The Halfway Point
July 2020 marks the halfway point through our five year survey period for the Maine Bird Atlas! In this blog post well celebrate a few of the milestones so far, and highlight the priorities for the future. Here are the numbers as of early July 2020:
Within Safe Dates of All Species!
As of June 10, we are now within the safe dates of all species. Yes, that means all possible codes can be used with needing to refer to your Maine Breeding Birds Safe Dates Chart, hurray! No more charts! No more paper cuts flipping to page 20 of your volunteer handbook! This is a good time to brush up on your Acceptable Breeding Behavior Codes by Species though.
The Importance of Entering Breeding Codes on Checklists
As we move into the heart of the Atlasing season, it is important to remember to associate a breeding code with every bird observation. The goal of the Maine Breeding Bird Atlas is to create a map for each species showing a snapshot of the current breeding population in Maine.
Black-capped Chronicle Issue 6 Spring 2020
A new issue of the Maine Bird Atlas newsletter, Black-capped Chronicle, is now available!
Atlasing during COVID-19: Instructions for Maine Bird Atlas Volunteers
During these challenging times, we know that getting out in nature is an important way to relax, exercise, renew your energy, and that contributing to a project also helps bring a sense of purpose. At the Maine Bird Atlas, we want to make sure you have the resources to enjoy the outdoors safely and responsibly.
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