Lincs Atlas 2009-2010

John Harry · **Posted:** Mon Jul 20, 2009 9:25 pm

Has the club thought of doing a Lincolnshire Atlas for winter 09 through summer 10 in order not only to get more BTO Atlas squares completed in Lincolnshire (we are struggling!) but to add another feather to the clubs hat in contributing continuing important data towards national conservation data?

Some squares could be allocated in order, not so local areas that are desperate for data get covered.

Any thoughts??

P.S. Hope no-one minds the poll to get a general feel for willingness towards a Atlas survey county wide!?!

John Clarkson · **Posted:** Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:15 pm

I seem to remember doing extensive survey work for the Lincolnshire Atlas back in the 80's. That has still to be published

John

Alastair Carr · **Posted:** Tue Jul 21, 2009 11:07 am

What's an Atlas?

Hugh Dorrington · **Joined:** Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:12 am **Posts:** 218

I think that a Lincolnshire Atlas would be a great idea but I also think that there are just not enough volunteers in the county to make it practical at the moment.
We are half way through the BTO's 4 year Winter and Summer atlases and I think that all Lincolnshire birder's efforts should go into making this national atlas as comprehensive as possible as far as Lincolnshire's birds are concerned.
Much excellent work has already been done. I see that the SE80 10km square already has 76 proven breeding species. An amazing effort. Other 10km squares need much more work on them so let's use the remaining 2 years of the BTO Atlas project to fill the gaps, then we would have a true picture of Lincolnshire's birds and something to be proud of.

Hugh Dorrington

John Harry · **Posted:** Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:11 pm

Well this post has certainly at least discussed Atlas. What I thought was to have an LBC co-ordinator (not web team obviously, unless someone has free time?) to assist in data to the BTO main Atlas, not a separate Lincs Atlas as such. Results then from a co-ordinated approach can let people "have a go" and you never know a few more tetrads might get covered in the process. I understand there are regional BTO co-ordinators, but to the fearful or non-committing types if there was an BTO "LBC" username inputting data from "others" who have surveyed the areas then the "in between" approach might be a key factor towards a co-ordinated response from LBC members. Perhaps even amend the forum site to have an Atlas page for collecting such data?

Perhaps if someone can do a winter, another person can do a summer - but the data can still be collated. And the co-ordinator then can worry about the codes that tend to confuse people a bit when new to survey work.

Data to the club will be one resource that can be called upon and data recalled whenever requested.

Any thoughts on this approach? I know LBC is keen on getting "Atlas" out there - we have only this and next winter left before the window is closed. I am not sure though if the BTO will allow this "co-ordinated" approach, perhaps Mark G could provide an insight to such a process - I will enquire.

Any other thoughts or ideas would be very welcomed.
Alastair - a cop out here, but try this link : http://www.bto.org/birdatlas/taking_part/faq.htm#

Thanks

Hugh Dorrington · **Joined:** Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:12 am **Posts:** 218

A local co-ordinator to chivvy people along so that all records are submitted to the Atlas would be a good idea, or could we not start a new section on this website, the BTO Atlas page, where people can report on progress on their local 10km squares, making it a bit competitive and thus encouraging more people to join in.
This evening I found Tufted Duck with young ducklings (FL) in my local square TF12. That's 59 confirmed breeders so far and I've got my eye on another 10 species which I suspect are breeding. Not bad for a 10km square with no coast, no woodland and no lakes.

I find it a particular problem getting confirmed breeding records for even quite common species which are not in your local area. I asked BTO staff if I could submit second hand records from local farmers and other country people. They said that they were looking into how to use these records but for the moment only firsthand records could be submitted.

I am trying to boost records for the poorly recorded square TF32 which is roughly based around Holbeach. I can get over there to do the Timed Tetrad Visits but can anyone out there help out with breeding records. If you can, please submit them on the BTO Atlas website. It is easy to follow the progress on all Lincolnshire 10km squares from the website.

Finally, thanks John for starting the ball rolling. Let's hope it runs.

Hugh Dorrington

Mark Grantham · **Joined:** Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:47 am **Posts:** 33

Great to see a bit of Atlas discussion on the Forum, and hopefully I can answer a few of the queiries. Just to put people in the picture, the county is split into four regions for the Atlas coordination. Each of these have different levels of participation:

East Lincs (my region): 39% of target for summer visits (49% for winter)
South Lincs (Richard and Kay Heath): 59% summer (66% winter)
West Lincs (Peter Overton): 83% summer (84% winter)
North Lincs (Chris Gunn): 50% summer (52% winter)

You can see from this where the big gaps are regionally...

But as others have mentioned, even areas that are well-covered are still lacking confirmed breeding for some common species, and this is where anyone can help. If you've had Goldcrest singing in the garden all summer, then a bit of extra effort to look out for adults carrying food or recently feldged juveniles is incredibly useful.

As for more co-ordinated effort, I think this would be really useful in sparsely populated areas of the county. We were wondering whether it might be good to have an autumn Atlas meeting for the county, so watch this space... I'll have a thionk about a few things and post a bit more of a response when I get a minute (ha!)

Mark G

John Harry · **Posted:** Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:07 pm

Thanks Mark for the input and time. I suppose a coordinated response through a coordinator would be second hand information?? I don't know.

RAFOS assists the BTO with expeds to remote parts of Scotland that are not "normally" covered, and terrain can be ardous. They cover a few tetrads in a day and hit a coordinated area with the teams on hand during a week here and there. Perhaps LBC can assist in providing the birding power to carry out something similar - a LBC exped on mass!

An idea I suppose and a chance to assist others in surveying, social gathering aspect and birding all in one day - it could work you know??

John Harry · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:10 pm

Talk about topical subject. Received BTO Atlas update email today and look what part of it contained:

"Already some groups of keen atlasers have been making day-trip to target 10-km squares which have been poorly covered and between them can cover a few tetrads for timed counts as well as gather Roving Records. This is an approach we would like to encourage for the third winter, starting on 1 November. Your Regional Organiser or the National Organisers will be able to advise you where to go."

Thought I'd mention it - again!
Cheers

The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Lincs Atlas 2009-2010

Who is online