Category Archives: Questions From Volunteers

Cedar Waxwings

Posted on March 23, 2011 by bird atlas

From The Department of Family Values We allow the C, courtship, code to be used out of safe dates with the thought that some birds may "paly around" while in migration, but many will not. Ducks, notorious "players" are excluded … Continue reading →

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Reading 02 from Norm the Carpenter

Posted on June 30, 2010 by bird atlas

Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, and lasts at least 20 hours per block. From Norm Levey, otherwise known as Lincoln Carpentry. Norm sums up the creeping addiction of … Continue reading →

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Reminder: Phenology Incidentals

Posted on April 29, 2010 by bird atlas

Pheno-what? Who? Phenology is the timing of events – like nesting, or tree flowering – in relation to climate events. BBA 1 collected data from 1974-1979, and left us with a fair smattering of dates of breeding for many species. … Continue reading →

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Q and A: Cooper’s Hawks

Posted on June 9, 2009 by bird atlas

Tertial Talk Cautiously we wade into the dangerous swamp of molt terminology…. Not all birds present in your block are breeders – some are too young. Usually there are keys to their age in their plumage, and in their behavior. … Continue reading →

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Chimney Swifts

Posted on June 8, 2009 by bird atlas

Its a Big Love in Chimney Swift Land Chimney Swifts used to nest in great big dead trees that were hollowed-out by rot, and they probably also used nest sites along protected rocky outcrops or cave entrances. We've done a … Continue reading →

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Ruffed Grouse Herding Butterfly Watchers – Honest

Posted on May 26, 2009 by bird atlas

From The Department of Intertaxa Oddness Allrighty, out in the Wild West there is a topo called Hadley, and in that topo is a block called Hadley 1. In Hadley 1 there are some fine folks who look at butterflies … Continue reading →

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Proposal To Change The Name To Bisonbirds

Posted on May 22, 2009 by bird atlas

From The Department of Nomenclature and Bummers Oh well, seems time to remind everyone that if you find cowbird eggs or young it confirms both the cowbird and the host species. In this case George McLean gives us some graphics … Continue reading →

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Important: Woodcock Safe Dates

Posted on April 9, 2009 by bird atlas

From the Department of Standards and Inconsistencies Alert Atlas folk in Essex County have pointed out that the Safe Dates for woodcock say April 15 in most places, and February 25 in other places.  Use the April 15 Safe Date. … Continue reading →

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In 20 Years They’ll Thank Us: Nest Phenology Reporting

Posted on March 18, 2009 by bird atlas

Our data is great, but here is a way we can enhance the value of the Atlas 2 data – reporting early and late nesting records when we find Confirmations out of Safe Dates. For instance… Mary Keleher, who, along … Continue reading →

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