The 4th breeding season for the Maine Bird Atlas (
http://maine.gov/birdatlas), a project by the Maine Dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, is well underway and I wanted to share a few updates here:
First of all, happy June! June 1st an especially happy day for atlasers because we are now within the safe dates for almost all species, except for a few late migrants. That means it is now "safe" to report possible codes (S & H) and the lower probable codes (S7, M, P) for almost every species you encounter. A table of safe dates is available here:
https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fish-wildlife/maine-bird-atlas/docs/Maine-Breeding-Bird-Safe-Dates.pdf
Second, we started a new listserv, called "Maine Bird Altas Block Busters," for anyone that wants to post atlas specific questions or plan efforts this summer. That listserv uses Google Groups, just like Maine-birds, so joining should be very easy. Glen Mittelhauser posts weekly summaries of blocks that are nearly completed in each county (low hanging fruit for volunteers to target), plus we've had some informative discussions around how best to confirm certain species or particular times to go atlasing. You can read the discussions or join the group here:
https://groups.google.com/u/1/g/atlasblockbusters
For anyone who missed our 2021 Season Kickoff Meeting, the recordings from that event are online now, available under the Communications/Outreach section of the Resources and Materials page, here:
https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fish-wildlife/maine-bird-atlas/resources-materials.html. I highly recommend watching at least the 2021 Season Introduction (
https://youtu.be/N4027qqRwXw) to see an overview of the project, results from the first 3 seasons (jump to 0:13:00), tips for strategic atlasing (0:31:05), info on special species surveys (0:41:38), and a "sneak peak" into what the final product will look like (0:48:06).
I'll end this with a quick plea: please go atlasing in priority blocks this summer. Completing all of the priority blocks is a high priority (get it) because it gives us good systematic coverage of the state and will improve the quality of this atlas for comparison with past (and future) efforts. We've had enough effort (by hours) submitted so far to the Maine Bird Atlas eBird portal to have completed all of the priority blocks at least three times already, but we are sitting at only 40% complete right now. The problem is all that effort is going into blocks, mostly ones with birding "hotspots," that are already completed. By directing just a bit of your birding this summer to an incomplete priority block, you can help us make this project a success. These birds that we all love and appreciate are quite literally depending on the success of this project. The results from the Maine Bird Atlas will be used in guiding future species status assessments, priority species' needs, and identifying and conserving high value wildlife habitats.
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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