Anyone participating in a Breeding Bird Atlas?

[semillama]

I'm partaking in my first one, the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II.

I have a block in northwest Columbus, which fortunately has the Scioto River flowing through it. So far, I have confirmed breeding for American Robin, Carolina Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Canada Goose, Mallard, Common Grackle, and Red-Bellied Woodpecker, and am hoping to confirm Yellow-throated Warbler, Yellow Warbler and Prothonotary Warbler soon!

[vireo]

1. I've done two states--WI and IL

The Wisconsin atlas was just published.

That sounds like a pretty good block for an urban area. Do you know when the Ohio atlas was first run and what was found in your block?

[semillama]

2. The first OBBA

was 20 years ago, and they didn't cover the entire state. My block was not covered. This time, they are trying to cover every block (some 4,000 or more blocks...). I'm doing my part. I think that I'll move on to a more remote block once I put in the coverage on this one.

[vireo]

3. So there are no priority blocks?

Sounds pretty ambitious. Atlasing is fun if you have the time and energy to devote to it.

The breeding season has always been my favorite even if the birding conditions are not. There is no greater thrill in birding, imo, than finding a bird at its "home base."

[semillama]

4. There are priority blocks

The priority blocks are the ones that were covered in the first atlas.

Just had a report of possible breeding loggerhead shrikes (not in my block, unfortunately) - may have to go check that out!