We’re in the final nine days of early winter (defined as November and December) for the Connecticut Bird Atlas. The Atlas is dependent on field observers sharing their bird sightings for the appropriate Atlas Blocks. As always, see the Connecticut Bird Atlas website, and use the block map to determine where you have made your observations. The easiest way to share sightings is to post on eBird and then share the results with the Atlas, but data also can be sent to the Atlas via the forms provided at the website. Chris Elphick’s latest blog post is from December 17 - "Last Chance to Add to the Early Winter Atlas Maps.” In this post, Chris identifies those Atlas blocks that currently are far from the target of ten survey hours in early winter. I’ve just reviewed the several blocks in Territory 8 New Haven that need more field work and checked them against eBird reports from November and December 2021. Here’s an example of what I’ve found. For Atlas Block 66E Meriden, the current data indicate 2.9 hours of field work (29% coverage) and 33 species found. However, eBird reports from this November and December at just two hotspots within 66E (Broad Brook Reservoir in Cheshire & Meriden, and Hanover Pond in Meriden) include the following species that currently do not show up in the Atlas database: American Black Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Merlin, Hairy Woodpecker, and Northern Flicker. That’s eleven species that should be added to Atlas data in order to get a more complete view of bird occurrences in this one block. Here’s my respectful recommendation for the few December days ahead, especially those days with weather that does not encourage going out birding. Review your eBird posts, and compare them to the Atlas block maps. Share the eBird posts with the Atlas, even if you did not add any new species to the early winter list. Hours coverage also contribute importantly to the Connecticut Bird Atlas. Start with the blocks having fewer than 30 hours coverage. As Chris Elphick writes, “The highest priority blocks are those that have received less than 3 hours of surveys.” Don’t ignore those blocks that have less than 100% coverage. In Territory 8 alone there are two dozen blocks that can use more early winter coverage in order to reach the target 10 hours in early winter, while perhaps adding more species to the lists. Finally, have a rewarding holiday season, and good birding! Steve Broker Cheshire PLAST CHANCE TO ADD TO THE EARLY WINTER ATLAS MAPS <http://ctbirdatlas.org/blog/index.php/2021/12/17/last-chance-to-add-to-the-early-winter-atlas-maps/>

Excellent post, Steve. Thanks. A lot of people are out birding all over CT, and using EBird. It’s simple to share your lists (not just current ones but also those from the past 3 years) with the atlas, both for filling in the gaps for the winter season, and for providing 1hr timed winter surveys, waterbody surveys, shoreline surveys, etc. Frank Mantlik Stratford Sent from my iPhone > On Dec 23, 2021, at 9:29 AM, Stephen Broker <stephenpaulbroker@gmail.com> wrote: > > We’re in the final nine days of early winter (defined as November and December) for the Connecticut Bird Atlas. The Atlas is dependent on field observers sharing their bird sightings for the appropriate Atlas Blocks. As always, see the Connecticut Bird Atlas website, and use the block map to determine where you have made your observations. The easiest way to share sightings is to post on eBird and then share the results with the Atlas, but data also can be sent to the Atlas via the forms provided at the website. > > Chris Elphick’s latest blog post is from December 17 - "Last Chance to Add to the Early Winter Atlas Maps.” In this post, Chris identifies those Atlas blocks that currently are far from the target of ten survey hours in early winter. I’ve just reviewed the several blocks in Territory 8 New Haven that need more field work and checked them against eBird reports from November and December 2021. Here’s an example of what I’ve found. > > For Atlas Block 66E Meriden, the current data indicate 2.9 hours of field work (29% coverage) and 33 species found. However, eBird reports from this November and December at just two hotspots within 66E (Broad Brook Reservoir in Cheshire & Meriden, and Hanover Pond in Meriden) include the following species that currently do not show up in the Atlas database: American Black Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Merlin, Hairy Woodpecker, and Northern Flicker. That’s eleven species that should be added to Atlas data in order to get a more complete view of bird occurrences in this one block. > > Here’s my respectful recommendation for the few December days ahead, especially those days with weather that does not encourage going out birding. Review your eBird posts, and compare them to the Atlas block maps. Share the eBird posts with the Atlas, even if you did not add any new species to the early winter list. Hours coverage also contribute importantly to the Connecticut Bird Atlas. Start with the blocks having fewer than 30 hours coverage. As Chris Elphick writes, “The highest priority blocks are those that have received less than 3 hours of surveys.” Don’t ignore those blocks that have less than 100% coverage. In Territory 8 alone there are two dozen blocks that can use more early winter coverage in order to reach the target 10 hours in early winter, while perhaps adding more species to the lists. > > Finally, have a rewarding holiday season, and good birding! > > Steve Broker > Cheshire > > > > PLAST CHANCE TO ADD TO THE EARLY WINTER ATLAS MAPS <http://ctbirdatlas.org/blog/index.php/2021/12/17/last-chance-to-add-to-the-early-winter-atlas-maps/> > > > CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ > CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/