The Breeding Birds of North-East Scotland

North-East Scotland is very important for breeding birds, holding over one-fifth of the UK population of Scottish Crossbill, Parrot Crossbill, Ptarmigan, Dotterel, Crested Tit, Snow Bunting and Goldeneye and more than a third of Scotland's Sandwich Terns, Goshawks, Tree Sparrows and Corn Buntings.

This new breeding bird atlas presents the results of five years of survey work in Moray, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City and includes almost half of the Cairngorms National Park. It maps the distributions of all breeding birds during 2002-06, and as the first repeated local breeding bird atlas for any area in Scotland, makes comparisons with earlier atlases, both local (1981-84) and national (1968-72 and 1988-91). Where possible, information on breeding birds has been updated to 2009.

The maps use the familiar 2x2km 'tetrad' and the 2,340 surveyed make this the largest of its kind ever undertaken, covering almost 4% of the UK land area and 11% of Scotland. Species accounts have been written by sixty local authors, and many photographers from North-East Scotland contributed a wide range of images illustrating breeding activity, a distinctive feature of this atlas.

For each species, its habitat, breeding biology, local breeding status and distribution are summarised. An estimate of breeding population is provided, along with evidence for changes in distribution and numbers. The geography and habitat context in which our breeding birds are found is described in some detail, as are the main influences on their distribution and trends in numbers – issues that are critical to bird conservation.

The atlas, with a foreword by Adam Watson, is 528 pages in length and full colour throughout. For further information, please see the atlas website.

The Breeding Birds of North-East Scotland costs £25 plus p&p, but there is no postage charge if you can collect from Aberdeen, Elgin, or Waterston House. Please see the order form for further details, or email us at the address labelled "Breeding Birds of NE Scotland (atlas enquiries)".

Update 21 Aug 2011

We now have a firm delivery date for the atlases, which will arrive in Aberdeen on 16 September. They have been printed, and are already on their way. We have seen an advance copy and we are very pleased with its appearance and quality - the printers have done a really good job. It's a great relief to the editors to see the final book - the culmination of such a lot of work by many, and after a rather too lengthy period of time!

We will begin sending out the atlases to those who have ordered as soon as possible after the 16 September, and we will also make sure supplies are sent to the collection points for those who have indicated they will pick them up.

We anticipate that copies will be available as follows:

• Aberdeen: RSPB Regional Office, 10 Albyn Terrace, Aberdeen AB10 1YP (tel 01224 624824; office hours 9am to 5.15 Monday to Friday). Copies available from Monday 19 September.
• Elgin: Scottish Natural Heritage Office, 32 Reidhaven Street, Elgin IV30 1QH (tel 01343 541551; collection hours 9am to 2pm or by arrangement outwith those times). Copies available from Tuesday 20 September.
• Edinburgh: SOC Headquarters, Waterston House, Aberlady, East Lothian EH32 0PY (tel 01875 871330; office hours 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday). Copies available from Wednesday 21 September.

We will confirm these dates immediately the books arrive. In order to avoid a wasted trip, please telephone the contact numbers above to confirm that someone will be there when you arrive, though almost always there is (please note the office hours for each location). We thank the RSPB, SNH and SOC for making these collection points available.

If you would like to place an order, click the link on the left to download an order form.

We are sorry that the production schedule has taken much longer than we anticipated, but at long last the conclusion of this project has arrived! We very much hope that you are satisfied with the atlas and thank you for your interest.

Ian Francis, Martin Cook and Harry Scott