News archives
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31 August 2010: Volunteer Support Application deadline December 1st Atlassers are reminded to get their Atlas volunteer expenses in to the BSC Delta office before December 1st in order to receive a 2010 donation tax-receipt. You are eligible for a tax receipt for the atlas expenses you incur while surveying. Here's how it works: 1) Find the Volunteer Support Application form here: http://www.birdatlas.bc.ca/download/2010Taxrlf-BC.pdf 2) Fill in your information and the distance travelled and total mileage cost (no gas purchase receipts, please). 3) Add other expenses (e.g., food, accommodation) and submit these receipts with the form. 4) Add any additional donation you would like to make to Bird Studies Canada on top of your expenses. 5) Total the donation, and 6) Mail in the form to BSC Delta office along with a personal cheque equal to (or greater than) the total on the form. We will send you back a cheque to reimburse your expenses (minus any
additional donations) AND a tax-receipt for your donation of the same
amount that may be used for your personal tax purposes. Deposit your
reimbursement cheque soon after you receive it. BSC will delay
depositing your personal cheque for a few weeks so you have time to get
your reimbursement cheque into your bank account. |
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30 August 2010: Autumn 2010 Atlas newsletter request for submissions
Please share your stories, tips, photos, and ideas for the next newsletter. Submissions DUE SEPTEMBER 30. Email stories/ photos to cdicorrado@bsc-eoc.org Find previous newsletters here |
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27 August 2010: Atlassing season over for another year but data entry is at full throttle. Once again the season is over so quickly, though you still may be able to find a few late breeders or a fledged young being cared for by parents. I still have a young family of late-nesting Barn Swallows outside my window. Be very careful as migration is underway and those migrants shouldn't be recorded. The 1st migrant Lincoln's and White-crowned Sparrows have quietly appeared and a 400-strong gaggle of Canada Geese and two White-fronted Geese landed in the slough this morning. Atlassers have begun to enter data online or are mailing in forms. Volunteers have already entered over 74,000 bird records during 6,500 hours of field work. 4346 point counts have been entered too. That's equal to over two weeks on non-stop point count surveys! You may still have data to enter and are encouraged to get your data in as soon as possible so the regional coordinators can begin data review. If you still have data from past years, you can mail that in to the Atlas office. |
| 10 May 2010: Now Accepting Applications for Remote Funding and Point Count Surveyors: The Atlas has been able to allocate funding for two purposes: 1) Defray travel expenses for remote or under-atlassed areas (Atlas remote funding) (link). This applications would be best suited to a team of atlassers would like to travel to a remote areas for a short period of time. 2) Funding extensive Point Count Surveys between May28 - July 10 (BC Atlas Point count team) . This application is for skilled field biologists/ technicians who can conduct point-count surveys and expertly identify birds by song and sight. Both applications have due dates, but we will continue to allocated funding throughout the summer should other opportunities appear. |
| 10 May 2010: Regional Coordinator Workshop a success: On May 1-2 a Regional Coordinator workshop took place in Delta with considerable time devoted to identify priorities and opportunities for Atlas survey coverage by region, and lengthy discussions on methodology that will facilitate coverage of tricky-to-access squares. The evening event was well attended, and comprised four presentations: A photographic chronology of the Atlas; project progress, successes and challenges; a hilarious "BC 2010" The Main Event: Atlassing? (i.e. "Atlas" Olympic events) such as the "Uphill", 10x10km (square) marathon, and Aerials (floatplane or chopper-assisted Atlassing); and a thought-provoking piece on what the Atlas is doing for the bird conservation community. Regional Coordinators were also treated to some downtime for coastal birding including a visit to Brunswick Point to view the migrating Western Sandpipers. |
| 08 May 2010: Bird Identification training program Dendroica: sign up online If you're not already using it, "Dendroica: An aid to the identification of North American Birds" is available for free registration online. The program allows you to select lists of species to study, such as breeding species, in a particular region, song type, or taxonomic group, or to create your own lists. You can then study the photos or sound recordings before quizzing yourself. |
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26 March 2010: Polish your birding skills! Have you heard? The 2010 Atlas year has begun. While the peak is not
until June, Bushtits are nest building, eagles are on nests, owls are
calling, raptors are displaying. Interior birders can listen for owls
and look for crossbills. See owling tips on the side bar. Early migrants
are starting to arrive across southern BC; be sure not to count them
until they are in breeding habitat. It's time to brush up on bird songs
and id. If you haven't yet checked out "Dendroica,"
now's the time. Here you can make your customised lists and test
yourself. It's available free to all atlassers!
If you know of other training sessions that would be useful to atlassers, please let us know. A few are listed below. If you take a class, let them know you learned about it from the BC Atlas. |
| 26 March 2010: Spring 2010 Newsletter Now available online |
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15 March 2010: 2010 Young Ornithologists Workshop How better to train the next generation of atlassers than the 2010
Doug Tarry Natural History Fund's Young Ornithologists' Workshop held at
Long Point Bird Observatory from July 30 to August 8. Participants will
receive hands-on field ornithology training, including bird banding and
more! Six of Canada's most promising ornithologists between the ages of
13-17 will be selected to attend, and will receive the Doug Tarry Bird
Study Award to cover all on-site expenses. Applications are due April
30, 2010. For more information and an application form, contact our
Landbird Programs Coordinator at
lpbo@birdscanada.org or visit the
Bird Studies Canada
website.
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28 February 2010: Learn about the Atlas at an Evening Gathering, May 1st. 7pm - Coast Tsawwassen Inn You are invited to a fun evening with the BC Breeding Bird Atlas Partners, Sponsors, Regional Coordinators and Volunteers. Come and learn about the BC Atlas past, present, and future - what we've done, and what we plan to do. Join some of BC's best birders for a fun evening with talks by renowned naturalist and author Dick Cannings and scientist and atlas coordinator, Dr. Rob Butler as well as prize giveaways RSVP here: or call the atlas office to be added to the guest list. And finally... Last year we collected over 91,000 bird records over 10,500 field hours! So far 2010 has 129 and we're just getting warmed up. Thanks for your help! |
| 28 February 2010: Happy Birthday YNC-BC To help children learn about and appreciate nature, Atlas patron Robert Bateman has generously donated two signed prints to the Young Naturalists' Club of BC In celebration of their 10th birthday to help raise funds and connect more children with nature. Individuals making a donation to the YNC this year will have a chance to win one of the signed prints. See the print and donate before May 16th. |
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28 February 2010: Columbia Mountain Institute Training The Columbia Mountains Institute is partnering with Selkirk College
with a few training programs that may help atlassers navigate BC remote
wilderness:
GPS Unleashed: Making the most of your GPS data and free online mapping resources May 13. Castlegar. Online GIS for Citizen Science and Stewardship Workshop May 13. Castlegar. |
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28 February 2010: Vancouver Avian Research Centre Bird Identification and Bird Banding Workshops (604) 218-1191
Bird Banding & Monitoring Workshop VARC is offering a 3 day introductory course consisting of presentations, specimen study, field mist-netting, banding, and processing for people with little or no bird banding or bird in the hand experience and to learn about their plumages, molt sequences, and life habits. Bird Identification Workshop Although designed for beginner and intermediate birders the ornithological aspects of the course would benefit even advanced and expert birders and is a great opportunity for birders to hone their skills prior to the 2010 Atlas Season ! More details here. |
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15 February 2010: BC Atlas and Regional Coordinator Meeting: 1,2 May 2010
The Atlas is hosting a weekend workshop for Regional Coordinators and
an evening gathering (May 1st) for everyone - birders, volunteers,
sponsors, and anyone interested in learning about the Atlas, past,
present, and future. More details to come later on in the spring. |
| 15 February 2010: 2009 was Great Thanks to your efforts in 2009, we collected 90,000 records over 10,000 hours atlassing. We now have over 135,000 records since the beginning of the project. Learn more here. |
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15 February 2010: Where do you want to go birding this summer?
Start planning now! Contact your regional coordinators and get advice
as to which areas need more surveying. While we haven't heard back from
funding applications yet, we hope to have grants available to subsidize
atlas-related travel this summer. The more atlassing and point counts
you can complete, the better chances of receiving a grant.
Find
mapping information here. |
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15 February 2010: Spring Atlas newsletter request for submissions
Please share your stories, tips, and ideas for the next newsletter. Submissions DUE MARCH 15. Find previous newsletters here |
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15 January 2010: Quebec Catches Atlassing Fever
Regroupement Québec Oiseaux, Bird Studies Canada and Environment
Canada have partnered to map all of the birds breeding in ?la belle
province? for a second time. Field work for the second Quebec Breeding
Bird Atlas will begin this summer. That means there will be four
Canadian atlases underway this summer giving birders from coast to coast
a chance to get their binoculars and contribute to science. Like other atlas projects, the Quebec Atlas will provide up-to-date information on the abundance and distribution of breeding birds throughout the province. The second Quebec Atlas will also expand its? survey coverage beyond that of the first which focused on the more accessible and populated southern regions of the province. This time around efforts will be made to cover the northern and remote sections of the province. In the end the data gathered will be used to inform policy and guide conservation action in Quebec for years to come. Follow the project?s progress on their website and anyone spending time in Quebec during the summer is encouraged to help out over the next 5-years. |
| 15 January 2010: Act now to save our birds - by Margaret Atwood Birds have always been endowed with symbolic portent ? from Chekhov to Hitchcock to Twitter. We ignore their decline at our peril. There are glimmers of hope, but only if we act now urges Margaret Atwood. Margaret Atwood is an honourary president within BirdLife International and advocates for bird and biodiversity conservation and celebrates BirdLife?s important work. Bird Studies Canada is a Canadian co-partner of Birdlife International and Canada's leading national organisation for the conservation and appreciation of birds. Read the whole compelling and passionate article of the importance of birds to human culture (and survival) past, present, and future here. |
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15 January 2010: 2010 is here and only a few weeks remain to enter 2009 data! The deadline to enter all data is JANUARY 31st! What will happen at
this time? ALL 2009 forms will be locked and you won't be able to add,
modify or correct any forms. If you still have 2008 data collecting dust
beside your binoculars (and we know you do!) or can't enter data online,
fill in a paper form and please get it to your Regional Coordinator soon
for review. Plus don?t forget to fill out those rare/colonial bird forms. As you enter your data, rare, regionally rare and colonial-nesting species are indicated with symbols after the species name and the website will prompt you to fill out a rare/colonial species report as you finish off your breeding evidence form. Where can you get help? Many places. Call the Atlas office (1-877-592-8527), or call your regional coordinator. Ask a friend or read the "Getting Started" instructions in the Autumn ?09 newsletter or try the Data Entry FAQ under ?Resources > Instructions? (drop-down menu is at the top of the page). Please contact the Atlas office with any questions or comments or if you need your user number or password. |
| 04 January 2010: A New Year of Birding Ahead When the New Year arrives the atlas Team starts thinking about the fun times ahead atlassing the province. We enjoy hearing about your birding discoveries as much as we enjoy birding around the province This is our third year of the atlas project and so you might want to start thinking where you would like to concentrate your efforts. The bird maps shows the coverage so far and your Regional Coordinators will have some good ideas too. Speaking of Regional Coordinators, the Atlas Team wishes to extend our appreciation to their superb efforts guiding the project in their regions. We also thank you for the breeding records from last year. And we are very grateful to all ours supporters who are part of this important project. And remember that some species start to breed in January. Drop us a note anytime. |
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24 November 2009: Volunteer Support Application deadline December 1st Atlassers are reminded to get their Atlas volunteer expenses in to
the BSC Delta office before December 1st in order to receive a 2009
donation tax-receipt. You are eligible for a tax receipt for the atlas
expenses you incur while surveying. Here's how it works: 1) Find the Volunteer Support Application form here: http://www.birdatlas.bc.ca/download/2009TaxrlfBC.pdf. 2) Fill in your information and the distance travelled and total mileage cost (no gas purchase receipts, please). 3) Add other expenses (e.g., food, accommodation) and submit these receipts with the form. 4) Add any additional donation you would like to make to Bird Studies Canada on top of your expenses. 5) Total the donation, and 6) Mail in the form to BSC ? Delta office along with a personal cheque equal to (or greater than) the total on the form. We will send you back a cheque to reimburse your expenses (minus any
additional donations) AND a tax-receipt for your donation of the same
amount that may be used for your personal tax purposes. Deposit your
reimbursement cheque soon after you receive it. BSC will delay
depositing your personal cheque for a few weeks so you have time to get
your reimbursement cheque into your bank account. |
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19 October 2009: Newsletter now online The autumn newsletter is now ready and available online. It's full of
stories from the summer and tips and new tools available to atlassers.
If you are still having a hard time getting data in, see the
step-by-step instructions on "getting started." Some great new tools and
tips are available for completing point counts and even a quiz to test
some atlassing knowledge. And please keep those records coming in. The second year was spectacular and we've amassed a great amount of data - we've quadrupled the number of point count records and have over 120,000 records! Thanks for your support this year! Check out the bird maps www.birdatlas.bc.ca/bcdata/maps.jsp to see where you could fill in a few species. |
| 04 August 2009: 2009 has been a great year The atlas records this year are rolling in every day. We have over 60,000 records so far this year already surpassing last years total. If last year is any example, we can expect thousands more records to be added in the next few months. There are breeding records for 282 species of which 232 are confirmed breeders. Point counters have been hard at it with 229 species recorded. Many squares in the southern end of the province have been completed and records are beginning to come in from more remote areas. If you have a field notebook with records of birds you saw or heard, we might be able use the data in the atlas. Drop us a note. Tell us about your stories and adventures birding the province. And thanks again to all the birders, funders and supporters. |
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02 July 2009: Dendroica: an aid to learning Canadian bird songs now online "Dendroica: an aid to learning Canadian bird songs" is now online. This newly updated, web-based version was
developed by the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment Canada to help those participating in Canadian bird survey
programs to enhance their bird identification skills. You can study different bird species using photographs and songs
and you can limit the species you study by province, Bird Conservation Region, taxonomy or song type. There's also
a quiz module to test yourself. A great new feature of the online version is that you can now create and manage your
own bird lists. Still feel you are not ready to complete point counts? Polish-up your ID over the summer and winter
and give it a try next season!
As of now, all those participating in the BC Atlas should have received login and password information by email. If you have misplaced/ never received this information by email, head to the new Dendroica site at www.natureinstruct.org. Click on the "forgotten your password" link, then enter your email and your ID and password will be sent via email. If you still haven't received this information, please contact the Atlas office. As well, the creators are still looking for additional western recordings of sounds and photos of plumages, not currently represented. If you would like to contribute recordings or photos, please contact Charles Francis charles.francis@ec.gc.ca. |
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04 June 2009: BC Bird Atlas on the road Join us if you can as we tour the Province. Christopher Di Corrado
will tour Dease Lake and Telegraph Creek area June 8-14, and will join
Regional Coordinator Pam Sinclair in Whitehorse to give an Atlas talk at
the library June 14 at 7pm, and again at Northern Lights College in
Atlin June 15. He will be atlassing the region until June 19. Dick
Cannings is the guest speaker at the 27th annual Manning Park Bird Blitz
(www.manningpark.com/summer.birding.html |
| 29 May 2009: Remote Atlas Travel Funding Extension We have removed the funding deadline for support to atlassers. See May 14 News for details on how to apply. Applications will be accepted until we run out of funding. |
| 22 May 2009: Columbia Mountain Institute - Conserving Wetlands in B.C. Conference Join Pete Davidson and Christopher in Revelstoke, May 27 - 30th, where we will meet with regional coordinator John Woods and atlassers to blitz a few local squares. Pete will present on May 27, 2009 7:30 p.m. in the MacPherson Room, Revelstoke Community Centre, 600 Campbell Avenue. |
| 22 May 2009: Sunshine Coast Bioblitz Join Christopher Di Corrado and other nature enthusiasts in Madeira Park and the Iris Griffith Interpretive Centre for the Sunshine Coast Bioblitz, May 23 & 24th. Come and count everything that flies, crawls, swims, or grows, and of course join the search for breeding birds for the BC Atlas! Christopher will be available all weekend to provide atlassing tips and answer questions and will give a short presentation at 6:30 in the community centre Saturday. http://www.lagoonsociety.com/bioblitz-schedule.php |
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22 May 2009: Remote atlassing and tax-receiptable donations The difficult economic times have slowed our plans a little for this
year. Nevertheless, there is a small amount to defray travel that you
can apply for using a quick and simple process on line (see May 14
message on how to apply). You can also help by making a tax-deductible
donation, no matter how small, to build the fund for remote atlassing.
Click on the DONATE button (right) and follow the instructions. The site
is secure, or you can send a cheque to Bird Studies Canada, with BC
Breeding Bird Atlas in the memo line. Also, note that expenses you incur are eligible for a tax receipt if you make a donation to BSC in the same amount (or more). Record the mileage you cover in your vehicle and keep receipts for other expenses (e.g. food, accommodation), for submission on the Volunteer Support Application form, along with a cheque for a tax receiptable donation. Please do not include receipts for gas purchases and other related automobile expenses, as they are included as part of the mileage investment. After the survey, fill in this form and return it, along with a personal cheque, made out to Bird Studies Canada. Your total donation should be equal to, and preferably greater than, the amount of your documented expenses. We will then send you a tax receipt for your donation, and a cheque for the total amount of your documented expenses. |
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14 May 2009: Remote Atlassing Travel Funding Available Applications for grants to defray travel cost associated with remote
atlassing are being accepted. Go to the atlas home page (birdatlas.bc.ca)
and click on "Atlasser Travel Grant 2009" (Conveniently located under
"Donate to the Atlas"). The grant is to help cover mileage to remote and
under-surveyed areas. While individuals of all skill levels are invited to apply, funding preference will be given to skilled, local teams of atlassers who can complete point counts and 20 hours per square in multiple squares, and/or in areas that would not normally be covered by local atlassers. Please submit applications by May 24th, by email (preferably), fax, or mail. Late submissions will be considered if funds are still available. |
| 22 April 2009: Birdathon by Bike This year, the Bird Atlas Office team will once again be doing our Birdathon from the bike saddle. We will be scouring the Fraser Delta-Boundary Bay Important Bird Area on our bikes to record as many species as we can during a single day around mid-May, trying to better the 118 species that we tallied last year. This year, our proceeds will go directly to the BC Breeding Bird Atlas project. The Atlas requires a very significant annual fund-raising effort to run and this year the money raised during the Birdathon can be directed to the Atlas. Your support is even more valuable now than ever before. If you don?t already support another project or group, please consider sponsoring our effort this year, either at www.bsc-eoc.org/support/birdathonindex.jsp?targetpg=donate - just choose a name: Peter Davidson, Christopher Di Corrado, or Rob Butler on the list, OR contact toll-free on 1-877-592-8527, or e-mail bcbirdatlas@bsc-eoc.org. For all those who sponsor us, we?ll be sending you a bird-by-bird account of the big day experience. And if you'd like to take part yourself, and raise money for a conservation project of your choosing - I'd recommend the Atlas! - go to our secure website to register online, or contact BSC at birdathon@bsc-eoc.org. |
| 17 April 2009: Eagle Nest on the Internet Speaking of breeding birds, you can watch Bald Eagles with three chicks live on the internet. Go to www.hancockwildlifechannel.org and click on the Sidney nest cam. Thousands of people have watched the eagles tending their young. The nest is located on the Saanich Peninsula near the town of Sidney, north of Victoria on Vancouver Island. |
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17 April 2009: Vancouver Avian Research Centre - Bird Identification
and Bird Banding Workshops The VARC (www.birdvancouver.com)
is a volunteer organization dedicated to ornithological research,
education and conservation operated entirely by volunteers and lead by
Master Bander and Bander-in-charge Derek Matthews. A Bird Identification Workshop has been developed for birders who wish to take their bird knowledge and identification skills to the next level - especially important for the accuracy of census data for programs such as the Breeding Bird Atlas. Although designed for beginner and intermediate birders the ornithological aspects of the course benefit even advanced and expert birders and the workshops are receiving high praise from all levels of birders who have participated: "A solid 10! Very comprehensive, beyond expectations ? I am convinced that every birder should take this course to be a better birder!!" John Vooys ? Atlas Regional Coordinator. For full workshop details please go to: www.birdvancouver.com/workshops.html |
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17 April 2009: Spring updates available for the Atlas! The 2009 Spring Atlas Newsletter is ready and posted online
at:
http://www.birdatlas.bc.ca/english/newsletter.jsp If you requested
it in the mail, it will be coming to you soon. (download size: 1MB) The Addendum to the Atlasser Guide (2 pages) is available online. Most noteworthy change: allowable point-count dates, now May 28th - July 10th. The updated Atlasser Guide (37 pages) is also available online. Atlasser Kits (guide, forms, etc) for new atlassers will be mailed out shortly, Atlasser Guide and Addendum are available online: http://www.birdatlas.bc.ca/english/pdfkit.jsp If you need help determining if birds are breeding or in migration, check out the Breeding Dates: http://www.birdatlas.bc.ca/download/brdates.pdf This is a general guide for BC, and some species are split into Coastal or Interior dates. Breeding Dates will vary in your region, so ask you RC if you have questions about specific birds, as they will the best idea of regional dates. |
| 17 April 2009: Thank you for your support Last year was a great success thanks to you. The project achieved more results than anticipated and for that we are very grateful. You will be pleased to hear that the collaborative approach is being hailed as a way of doing conservation in the future. Many of you told us about the fun you had and shared your plans for this coming year. Thanks also to all our funders whose contributions were a major source of fuel for the atlas project. We also received generous donations from atlassers. Any amount of a donation helps with the project. You can donate on line or by sending a cheque to Bird Studies Canada (mention the BC Bird Atlas so it is targeted at the atlas). Donations are tax deductible. |
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16 April 2009: 16 April - Nesting Season is Here Birds are getting ready for the new season. Are you ready? For last year's participants, it is time to get familiar with the online data entry once again. For new participants, please register and you will received your login information that will allow you to access the online data entry page. If you have not yet registered, you can do it using this page. You can call us on the toll free number if you need assistance in registering or to learn how to use the web site. We can also help enter data. Happy birding everyone! |
| 10 February 2009: Extension to 2008 Data Entry Deadline Due to a number of requests, the deadline for entering online Breeding Evidence Forms for 2008 has been extended to Tuesday, February 17th, 2009. After this date, you will NOT be able to enter/modify data for 2008 using Online Breeding Evidence forms. However, after this date you may still enter 2008 data using the following: Casual Form, Rare/Colonial Form, or by mailing in a paper-copy of the Breeding Evidence Form. Of course, you may start using any form to enter new 2009 data! (owls, Anna's hummingbird, Gray Jay, crossbills). Thank-you to everyone who has already entered data and your recent surge of effort ahead of the deadline. Happy Atlassing in 2009 |
| 08 January 2009: Online data entry for 2008 closing on 31st January 2009 This is a reminder to please have 2008 Atlas data entered online before the 31st of January. Until this date, you may enter 2008 data and review and modify if you find errors or need to change information. Starting in February 2009, you may still submit data by completing a breeding evidence paper form and sending it to the Atlas office. You may only enter data online for casual observations and rare/colonial species. You will not be able the make changes to your data after January 31st. Need help getting started with data entry? Click here, contact your local Regional Coordinator, or call us (1-877-592-8527) and we'd be happy to walk you through the process. Even if you have only a few records from 2008, or a bird list from a vacation trip, you could be holding onto valuable information. We especially need records from remote or rural areas where there are often less birders. And when it's July and you realise you haven't entered 2008 data, give us a call - we can help! |
| 17 December 2008: Gift of the Season The Breeding Bird Atlas team would like to celebrate the season with a gift for the holidays from Andrew Couturier. The species maps are now on line from the 43,000 records you provided us from 2008. They reveal all the great atlassing fun we had in 2008 and places we need to get to in 2009. You can look at the distributions (so far) of your favourite species on maps for the north, south and entire province. The maps also give a taste of what we hope to achieve over the next few years. From all of us, we extend our thanks for your help and we look forward to more great birding in 2009. To view the maps select the Bird Maps link under the Data and Maps menu item in the banner above, or click here. |
| 10 December 2008: Raptor identification with renowned expert Bill Clark Renowned raptor expert, Bill Clark will be holding a two day workshop on raptor identification 9-11 January 2009 at the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary Museum in Delta. Bill is a leading authority on raptor identifications and the co-author of Hawks of North America and Photographic Guide to North American Raptors. The workshop cost is $150 and limited to 25 individuals. Contact Jude Grass for details at 604-538-8774. |
| 12 November 2008: Atlas Newsletter Now Available On Line Read all the latest exciting news in the autumn BC Breeding Bird Atlas Newsletter by clicking here. Hard copies of the newlsetter are also available and will be mailed to those who requested it. Thanks to everyone who sent us information. |
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06 November 2008: NatureCounts: A New Website on Canadian Birds
In recent years much effort has gone into bringing together large
amounts of data, and collaborating with partners on the development of
analysis and visualization tools to make sense of it all. To this end,
Bird Studies Canada (BSC) is pleased to announce the launch of an
exciting new web tool at
www.naturecounts.ca. |
| 31 October 2008: Unregistered assistants to be acknowledged Previously, when you tried to add an assistant to your online profile, the system would only allow you to enter the name of an assistant IF he/she was a registered atlasser. This is no longer the case. Many of you asked that your assistants, registered or not, be recognized for their hard work and we want to make sure that everyone who contributes to the project receives the recognition they deserve. To add an assistant, login to the online data entry system and click the ?list of assistants? box on the data entry webpage. If your assistant does not wish their name printed in the final atlas publication, you can choose to ?keep name private?. Alternatively, you can call or email the Atlas office and we will add your assistant to your list. Unregistered assistants will not receive an atlasser number, data forms or newsletters but, their names will be listed in the final Atlas publication. |
| 28 September 2008: This is a reminder for those of you that have not entered your data into the BC Breeding Bird Atlas to please do so. We will be preparing maps soon and we need to report on how well the project has progressed. So far you have entered an astounding 28,000 breeding evidence records for over 250 species in 845 squares. I expect our final tally will be much higher. Well done everyone! A newsletter is in the works too. You can enter your data online (preferred) or you can call the Atlas Office in Delta at 1-877-592-8527 if you need assistance. If you used paper Atlas data forms, please send them to your Regional Coordinator. Click on the map to the right for the draft map of Varied Thrush results to whet your appetite for what is coming soon! |
| 12 September 2008: Atlas Nest Record Cards Please note that a new BC Breeding Bird Atlas Nest Record Card has been posted on this website, to replace the previous version, which was incorrectly headed, and had a New Brunswick return address. In our haste to get all the forms out on time this spring, we used templates from the Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas, and inadvertently printed a batch based on the Maritimes header and address. We apologize for this error, and for any confusion it has caused, particularly among contributors to the BC Nest Records Scheme. If you have BC Breeding Bird Atlas nest record cards to complete, please either enter the data directly online (preferred!), or use the new form posted on the web and return it to the BC Breeding Bird Atlas Coordination Office, 5421 Robertson Road, Delta, BC, V4K 3N2. Please call (1-877-592-8527) or e-mail (bcbirdatlas@bsc-eoc.org) us if you would like some sent to you. For those of you who are regular contributors of nest cards to the BC Nest Records Scheme, please continue to fill in BC Nest Records Scheme cards and submit them to the BC Nest Records Scheme. |
| 19 August 2008: As the summer fades away and migrants move south, you might want to get started with online-data entry. See the online "Birders Guide to the Atlas" under: Resources - Instructions - Getting started, or click here. This guide is a condensed-picture guide that provides step-by-step instructions and images on the first steps after signing in and adding data to your square. You will see that data entry online isn't that hard! Try it now and call the Atlas office if you need help or Atlasser number and password. |
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19 August 2008: BC Nature Winter
Birding Camp on Boundary Bay Snow geese, waterfowl, eagles, loons,
seabirds, owls, hawks and shorebirds! Enjoy the rich winter bird life of
the Boundary Bay and Fraser River delta and work on your identification
skills on a four day camp led by top birders. This is a unique chance to
tour Canada's top Important Bird Area in the company of experts. The
camp includes guided birding to all the hot spots of the delta,
including Boundary Bay Regional Park and dykes, Reifel Bird Sanctuary,
Westham Island, Brunswick Point and Roberts Bank, Blackie Spit, Iona
Regional Park, and Point Roberts, WA, as well as evening talks,
workshops and social time. The inclusive registration fee includes
accommodation at the Coast Tsawwassen Inn, all meals, expert-led trips,
and evening events (car-pooling costs, alcoholic beverages are extra).
An optional extra is an open boat trip in Boundary Bay, led by Rob
Butler. When: November 6 ? 9, 2008, Where: Based at Coast Tsawwassen Inn, South Delta Who: All inclusive camp for BC Nature members* (non-members pay $20 extra to cover cost of membership). Registration limited to 24 participants. Cost $450 per person, based on two-person shared room (additional charge for single room). Optional boat trip in Boundary Bay to see seabirds and marine mammals, led by Rob Butler, additional $25. Please contact Anne Murray for more information. REGISTRATION: Wednesday September 24 2008, (8.00 am onwards), call Anne Murray at 604 943 4460 or email sanderling@uniserve.com. Register promptly to avoid disappointment. * non-members pay $20 extra to cover cost of membership |
| 30 July 2008: The first season is wrapping up and we are preparing the first newsletter for all the participants. Let us know if you have any issues you'd particularly like us to address. We are seeking contributions too. Please keep sending your stories, photos and comments. |
| 25 June 2008: The BC Atlas is part of a family of atlas projects in Canada that collectively improve our understanding of bird distribution and abundance across the country. The recently released Ontario Atlas continues to generate strong praise from several reviewers, including BC Atlas patron Robert Bateman. To read reviews, view sample species accounts from the book, and get an idea of what is in store for the BC Atlas, please select this link. |
| 24 June 2008: Christopher Di Corrado will be atlassing in Smithers followed by a wrap up. On June 25, Christopher will be atlassing in Terrace with a wrap up to be held in the library. Contact Diane Weismiller for details. |
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20 June 2008: Christopher DiCorrado of Bird Studies Canada will be giving a series of presentations on the BC Breeding Bird Atlas (BCBBA) in the central interior starting this coming weekend: Friday, June 20 - Seminar at University of Northern BC, 6:30 to 9:00pm, Room 7-150 Theatre Agora. Saturday, June 21 - Morning: birding in the Prince George area; Evening: data summary and data entry meeting. Sunday, June 22 - Atlassing in Region 29, McBride area with Elsie Stanley (brief morning explanation of breeding evidence and off we go!) Monday, June 23 - Fort St James Tuesday, June 24 - Burns Lake then return to Vancouver Christopher will be coordinating the Fort St James and Burns Lake visits with the respective BCBBA Regional Coordinators. The presentations will describe the various BBA protocols and input methods while the field trips will allow us to put theory into practice. Contact Fraser Corbould for details. |
| 19 June 2008: The British Columbia Waterfowl Society and Vancouver Foundation have generously offered financial support to the Atlas. |
| 09 June 2008: SQUARE MAPS are now available for download! These maps will show you the square boundaries and help you determine different habitats available to survey. Satellite images show the landscape and contain roads, streams, clearcuts, and other useful land features to help you navigate in the square. To download the maps, you can go to this page, or if you want to see a map of the province showing all the regions, you can also use this this page. |
| 18 April 2008: Regional maps are now available for download! Those maps will help you find which squares are available in your area and find out your square numbers. To download the maps, you can go to this page, or if you want to see a map of the province showing all the regions, you can also use this page. |
| 14 April 2008: Online data entry is now available for all participants! If you are already registered, you should have received your login information that will allow you to access the online data entry page. If you have not yet registered, you can do it using this page. |
| 10 April 2008: The BC Breeding Bird Atlas Guide for Atlassers is now available! Printed copies will be distributed to all registered atlassers soon, but in the meantime you can access it in PDF format from this page. |
| 15 March 2008: A standing room only crowd attended the launch in Tswawwassen of the BC Breeding Bird Atlas on March 15. Some of BC's top birders, our supporters, partners and friends joined in an evening of talks, giveaways, and fun. The BC Ministry of Environment and Environment Canada's Canadian Wildlife Service announced their support for the project. During the weekend, Regional Coordinators from around the province gathered to learn the on-line tools for atlassers and to share experiences. The Coordination Office gratefully acknowledges the widespread support from the volunteer birders and Regional Coordinators, our supporters, partners, steering and technical committees, and individuals who have given their time to the Atlas Project. |
| 12 February 2008: Join some of BCs best birders for a fun evening at 7pm on March 15th at the Coast Tsawwassen Inn in Delta. The evening will include talks by Pete Davidson from Bird Studies Canada, renowned naturalist and author Dick Cannings and scientist and atlas coordinator, Dr. Rob Butler as well as prize draws and giveaways. Scientist and atlas web guru Dr. Denis Lepage from Bird Studies Canada head office and the Atlas Regional Coordinators will be on hand for you to meet and help answer questions about the project. To learn more and RSVP click here. |
| 17 January 2008: The new BC atlas web site is launched! We encourage you to sign up as soon as possible. See the story by Larry Pynn in the Vancouver Sun newspaper. Please note that the web site in still under development, so stay tuned for regular improvements over the coming months. |
| 20 November 2007: The Canadian Intermountain Joint Venture (CIJV) Management Board recognises that the Atlas will provide a critical foundation to bird conservation in British Columbia, and unanimously endorsed the project at their Board Meeting on 20 November 2007 |
| 20 November 2007: State of Birds A 2007 study by the National Audubon Society reported widespread declines among some North American birds. Read the report. Also visit the North American Breeding Bird Survey |
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