the 2007-11 Bird Atlas Project

The 2007-11 Bird Atlas, covering the whole of Britain and Ireland, got underway on 1st November 2007. SOC are partners alongside BTO and Birdwatch Ireland, and are leading the organisation in Scotland. This is a four year project, mapping the distribution and relative abundance of all birds, both in the breeding season and in winter. Fieldwork in the winter runs from November through to February, and will be repeated each winter until 2010-11. Fieldwork in the breeding season runs from April to July, and will also last four years, running until summer 2011.

Regional organisers throughout Scotland have been appointed, and are looking for volunteers to take up the challenge of recording birds throughout the country. There will be two types of fieldwork. Roving Recorders compile species lists for one or more 10km squares. Timed Tetrad Visits will be used to work out relative abundance. TTVs involve counting birds in selected tetrads (2x2km squares) during an hour's walk within a tetrad. Everyone can take part as all records during the survey months will count towards building the 10km square species lists.

In order to get involved - and really every birder in Scotland should get involved! - the first stage is to sign up as an atlas worker online, by visiting the Bird Atlas Home Page. You will be asked for a user name and password. This will enable you log on and sign up for some tetrads, or contact your local regional organiser.

The Bird Atlas site also gives details of fieldwork methods (under 'taking part'), allows you to download survey forms, and will eventually let you input your Roving Records or Timed Tetrad Visits on line.

If you have problems contacting a regional organiser or have any other queries or concerns with regard to the project, contact Bob Swann the Scottish organiser or Dawn Balmer the national organiser.

At least one area of Scotland is running a local atlas in parallel with this national atlas. South-east Scotland (Lothian and Borders) is repeating its 1988-94 breeding season survey, and doing the first systematic winter atlas in the area. Other areas are considering similar projects, although the Northeast Scotland Atlas has just finished fieldwork and Clackmannanshire are drawing to a close.

April 2009 update

April 1st marked the start of fieldwork for the second breeding season of the Bird Atlas 2007-11 project. We are grateful for all the records submitted so far; we've made excellent progress but there is still plenty to do.

The priorities this breeding season, all of equal importance, are:

Roving Records

In every 10-km square we aim to compile a comprehensive list of species found in the breeding season (and separately for winter). You can get a list of species already recorded in a 10-km square (or tetrad) on the Atlas website – in Data Home click on 'Any Square Summaries'. The aim is to add species to the list for a 10-km square (or tetrad in those counties undertaking local atlases) and to record the breeding status (see below). You can see our progress by looking at the regional results pages, which give a lot more detail at the BTO region level. From here you can display % species richness maps for your region.
Timed Tetrad Visits

If you've taken on a tetrad (2 x 2 km square) to cover for Timed Tetrad Visits, try to make both early and late visits this summer. Nationally we aim to cover a minimum of eight tetrads in every 10-km square although many areas undertaking local atlases will be aiming to cover all tetrads in a 10-km square.

A tetrad requires two visits in the breeding season (early visit – Apr/May, late visit – Jun/ early Jul) and two visits in the winter (early visit – Nov/Dec, late visit – Jan/Feb) and then that tetrad is complete. The same tetrad should not be covered in all four years of the Atlas project.
Record breeding evidence

For every species we want to record the highest level of breeding status we can, based on the evidence we see when out birdwatching. The three levels are possible, probable and confirmed breeding. In each level there are a number of signs of behaviour to look for. During the breeding season, almost every bird you see in suitable nesting habitat can be recorded as H (habitat), or if singing you can record as S. One of the most useful codes at the probable breeding level is T for territorial bird. If you have several birds of the same species singing at the same time then T applies. Another is P for a pair in suitable breeding habitat. Confirming breeding is a bit trickier, but looking for adult birds carrying food FF, birds on nests ON or recently fledged young (with signs of dependency on adults) FL. There is more information on the Breeding Evidence page.

There is still time to be allocate a tetrad (for Timed Tetrad Visits) for this breeding season. Look at the website for tetrads that still need covering (login to Data Home and click on 'Request TTVs') or contact your Regional Organiser directly. Please 'rove' wherever you like across the whole of Scotland and submit your records.

If you need any paperwork, or require further guidance, please do get in touch. Thanks again for taking the time to submit records to the Bird Atlas; your efforts are very much appreciated.

the 2007-11 Bird Atlas Project

April 2009 update

Roving Records

Timed Tetrad Visits

Record breeding evidence

Regional Information