[Maine-birds] Maine Bird Atlas - Weekend Challenges, 6/15

Hi everyone:

Another week, another set of challenges! As mentioned last week, we are now within the safe dates for all of Maine's birds, meaning you can "safely" report all possible codes. Also, we'll be holding an atlas-specific eBird training at Gilsland Farm next Thursday (6/21) evening: https://www.facebook.com/events/200791800570689/

As usual, let's take a look at how we did with last week's challenges…

Common Eider - The map is filling in along the coast, increasing from 13 to 22 confirmed blocks, including a few offshore islands like Matinicus Rock and Mt Desert Rock. See the map here: https://ebird.org/atlasme/map/comeid?neg=true&env.minX=-72.22504882812501&env.minY=42.66619217260214&env.maxX=-65.28168945312501&env.maxY=45.12771958068954&zh=true&gp=false&ev=Z&mr=1-12&bmo=1&emo=12&yr=EBIRD_ATL_ME_2018

Song Sparrow - The goal was to bump up codes from probable to confirmed and you all did great! From 106 probable and 55 confirmed, we're now up to 118 and 74 respectively.

Confirmed species - 13 new species confirmed this week! Keep it going; can we get 10 more this week?

NEW CHALLENGES:

1) Red-eyed Vireo - Their map is filling in nicely with 197 possible records (lots of singing birds out there). 106 probable and 11 confirmed is a good effort so far but lets see if we can get more of those possible records upgraded. Singing birds continuing for 7 days can be entered as the probable code "S7". Singing rate will peak when their nestlings hatch so keep your eyes pealed! Here is a fun read on the "Nesting Life and Behavior of the Red-eyed Vireo": https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28112141

2) Northern Cardinal - A bit of a southern Maine bias with this one, but we should be able to get more confirmed records with this species. 15 confirmed records seems a bit low so keep watching for adults carrying food or we should see some recently fledged young soon, maybe even following adults to your feeders.

3) Fledge an Atlaser - We are just a few volunteers short of 500 participants. Can you help us cross that mark this week? Introduce a coworker or neighbor to the project, and maybe bring them to our eBird training on Thursday!

Good birding and happy atlasing!


Doug Hitchcox
Maine Bird Atlas - Outreach Coordinator
Maine Audubon - Staff Naturalist
207-781-2330 x237
dhitchcox@maineaudubon.org

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