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| This project is funded by the Heritage Council (Wildlife Grant 2008 and 2009, Heritage Grant 2010) |
The Waterford Breeding Bird Atlas 2006-2011
What is it?
The Waterford Breeding Bird Atlas is a project to map,
at the level of 2-km x 2-km tetrads, the occurrence and status of breeding and summering birds throughout County Waterford. During fieldwork in April-July of the years 2006-2010, at least 86%
of the c540 tetrads in the county have received 2 or more hours of timed coverage. For full tetrads, we aim
to increase this to 100% by the end of July 2011 (with 3 or 4 hours coverage in as many tetrads as possible). Results
will be published as detailed maps both online and in print form, providing the most thorough documentation to date of Waterford’s breeding avifauna. This will provide a baseline for assessment of future changes and allow documentation
of important breeding habitats in the county. See below for further details of
coverage to date. Click how to help for further information on methods and how to get involved, or click www.birdatlas.net for full details of the national atlas which Waterford fieldwork will be part of. See also a list
of frequently-asked questions, and the Winter Atlas page for fuller details of the winter survey. Latest update 17 July 2011.
See also preliminary list of species by 10-km square (2008-2010) and species maps
Download 2010 pdf report (added Dec 2010) 2009 report (added Nov 2009) 2008 report national newsletter (August 2009) methods summary survey forms
Tetrad
priorities & allocations for 2011 season
Basic coverage (2+ hrs for full tetrads, 0.5-1 hr for
partial tetrads) has now been achieved in all but about 40 tetrads, and the latter are the main priority for the final season
(April-July 2011). As much "supplementary" coverage (or re-surveying) as possible will also be attempted in other squares,
and trickier species (e.g. owls) or particular habitats (e.g. wetlands, broadleaved woodland) will be targeted further.
Roving Records are needed from all tetrads in the county - particularly confirmed breeding
of any species, and records of scarcer or nocturnal species.
The map
below shows potential tetrads for timed coverage (Timed Tetrad Visits) in the final breeding
season and indicate (in grey) those allocated to specific observers. 69 full tetrads and 17 partial tetrads
were allocated for coverage (or completion of coverage) in 2011. Large open circles indicate tetrads that have already
had 2+ hrs (but < 3 hrs) coverage and that are still available for TTVs for the national atlas. Small open circles
are tetrads with small amounts of land that have had basic (<2 hrs) coverage but might still have 'missing' species.
Coverage update: 2011 season
Maps below will be gradually updated to show tetrads newly
added to each category of timed coverage - either tetrads not previously covered or, for as many tetrads as possible,
upgrades to 3+ or 4+ hours total coverage (if <3 or <4 hours pre-2011). Only timed coverage within Co. Waterford is
shown.
Coverage update: 2006-2011 seasons combined
To date (17/7/2011), over the 6 seasons of the Breeding Atlas, at least 519 tetrads
(96% of the county total) have had 1 hour or more of timed coverage, i.e. targeted fieldwork during which full species
lists and notes of breeding status have been compiled. Of these, at least 497 tetrads (92%) have had 2+ hours, 243
(45%) 3+ hours and 114 (21%) 4+ hours of coverage. Another 17 "partial" tetrads, often with very little
land-area, have had less than an hour's coverage, and in total records have been collected from at least 537
(99.6%) of the 539 land-tetrads targeted. Total timed coverage achieved exceeds 1600 hours (equivalent to >400 mornings), additional
to further (unquantified) fieldwork contributing Roving Records. Coverage totals exclude fieldwork in adjacent parts
of bordering counties (when border tetrads have been covered).
Coverage intensity: 2006-2011 seasons combined
The map below summarizes the same coverage figures as above but taking account of the area of
land (or freshwater) within Co Waterford. Square symbols indicate a coverage intensity of 1+ hour per square km (equivalent
to 4+ hours for a full tetrad with no sea-area and fully within Waterford). Calculations are based
on tetrad area to nearest 0.25 square km (inside Waterford county or vice-county) or, if <0.25, rounded up to 0.25
square km. Open sea, coastal intertidal areas and land in adjacent counties are excluded, but those parts of
Cos Tipperary and Kilkenny south of the Suir, i.e. in Waterford vice-county H6, are included.
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Numbers of breeding species: 2008-2010 seasons combined
Numbers of possible, probable or confirmed breeding species per tetrad are mapped below, based on the
latest three seasons' results (2006 & 2007 data not added yet). Migrants, non-breeders and species with unspecified
breeding status (or recorded as direct fly-overs / flypasts only) are excluded. Updated 22/11/2010.
Preliminary species maps
See sample maps below, and click here for other maps (updated 22/12/2010). Note full details of 2006 & 2007 records have not yet been added
to all maps.
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