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Winter Atlas Survey: 2007/8 to 2010/11
Fieldworkers in Co Waterford are
contributing to this national survey (throughout Ireland and Britain) to help map the distribution and relative abundance
of wintering birds throughout these islands. Although results of the national atlas will be presented at 10-km scale
(10-km x 10-km squares), much of the fieldwork will be done at a finer scale - collecting records within 2-km x 2-km tetrads. To take part, click Bird Atlas 2007-2011 (www.birdatlas.net) - see also the BirdWatch Ireland website for details of Irish coverage, and the recent newsletter
(below) from the national organiser. See also a list of frequently-asked questions. Preliminary coverage & species maps are given below.
Latest update 25 April
2008.
download national ATLAS NEWSLETTER (added 29/03/08)
Unlike
the Waterford Breeding Bird Atlas (full details here), winter atlas coverage in Waterford will probably not be complete, i.e. only a sample of 2-km tetrads will be surveyed fully.
(The basic requirement is 8 or more tetrads per 10-km square, or fewer in some coastal squares.) Full coverage
of a tetrads involves the Timed Tetrad Visit (TTV) method, i.e. two 1-hour counts, one during November-December
and one January-February. However, less-intensive coverage of other tetrads, using the Roving Records (RR)
method, will provide further information. If the coverage achieved by a combination of these methods is good
enough, it may be possible to produce detailed maps of winter bird distribution for Waterford.
The
winter survey has now reached the end of its first season (the four months from 1 Nov 2007 to 29 Feb 2008), and the map below
shows the numbers of species recorded so far, excluding records yet to submitted. If you can help fill
the gaps over the coming winters, either by doing Timed Tetrad Visits (especially for more experienced observers)
or collecting Roving Records, or both, please get in touch - either via the Bird Atlas 2007-2011 website or email the Waterford organiser, Paul Walsh.
Please submit any remaining records (TTVs or Roving) as soon as possible, preferably online via online Bird Atlas 2007-2011 website. And don't worry - if you only managed a single (early-
or late-season) TTV to some tetrads this winter, because of weather or other circumstances, a second visit can be made next
winter.
Winter coverage update: preliminary species totals per tetrad
The map above plots running totals of species recorded to date in each tetrad, based
on TTV and Roving Records currently available to the local organiser (mainly records already submitted
online to the national atlas website).
Downloadable instructions
and forms for National Atlas
Click below for pdfs
(Time Tetrad Visit forms are not available unless you've been allocated a specific tetrad).
Introduction and how to help
Roving Records form
Timed Tetrad Visit instructions
Winter coverage update: tetrads already allocated
The map above shows the tetrads for which volunteer counters have already 'signed
up' to make Timed Tetrad Visits, either this winter or in a later winter. So far, between 1 and 10 tetrads
have been allocated in most 10-km squares (defined by the main grid on the map). We need to increase
this to at least 8 tetrads in each main square, or all the eligible tetrads in any coastal squares that have fewer than 8
tetrads. 'Eligible' tetrads
are those that have their midpoint either on dry land or above Low Water Mark - e.g. there are only 3 eligible tetrads in
square X69 (but a further 4 tetrads that are mainly in the sea). So far, 140 tetrads (26% of county total) have been
allocated for TTV coverage. At least 81 tetrads (15% of county total) received TTV coverage in winter 2007/08,
although in a few cases a further visit may be required in winter 2008/09.
As well
as Timed Tetrad Visits, volunteers are also needed to collect Roving Records - either in specific tetrads (e.g. near home)
or from any tetrads throughout the county. This will help build up fuller species lists for each tetrad and 10-km square.
See Bird Atlas 2007-2011, or email, to sign up.
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