The New Bird Atlas Project in London 2007 - 2011: Summary

 

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Atlas Update - April 2010


We are now more than half way through the atlas project. The third winter survey period has now finished and the third breeding season survey period started on 1st April and lasts until 31st July 2010, with later records accepted for late breeding species. Please follow this link to view a progress update for the breeding season survey: Link to Progress Update.

There are two priorities for field work for the breeding season. The first is to complete timed counts for all tetrads where these have still not taken place. The minimum requirement is just two hours in April or May, and two hours in June or July. In particular, we need to focus on areas outside Greater London (e.g. Essex and Kent). These areas are less populated than inner city areas and so take up of tetrads has been slower. We are therefore especially keen to hear from birders who are willing to travel to these areas so that we can ensure that full coverage is achieved.

You can view a list of tetrads that still require Timed counts HERE

The second priority for the breeding season is to collect breeding evidence in all tetrads for all species. This will require regular visits to a tetrad during the breeding season to record breeding evidence using the BTO breeding codes. For the purposes of the project, once you have confirmed that a species has bred in a tetrad, you do not need to record anything further. We have produced a proforma for collecting breeding records for the London Atlas project, which can be used by those who are not inputting data into the BTO’s Bird Atlas website. Submitting records in this way is particularly important if your site(s) fall across more than one tetrad, as without this information it will be difficult for us to work out the correct tetrad from any site records that you submit to Birdtrack or send direct to the LNHS recorders.

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Winter Atlas Distribution Maps: 2007/08 and 2008/09


Maps are now available for almost all commoner species showing progress so far. For a small number of sensitive species, we will not be publishing tetrad level maps during the field work period.

  • The draft winter distribution maps can be viewed HERE
  • The Mapping and Rare birds policy can be viewed HERE

 

Maps defining the LNHS recording area

These maps may take some time to download, especially over a dial-up internet connection. Each map will open in a new browser window or tab; to return to this page, close the window or tab. All maps are printable. In some browsers the maps will render at a small size, in which case click on the map to enlarge.

- A map of the LNHS recording area can be viewed or downloaded HERE.
- A map showing the Vice-counties covered by the LNHS area can be viewed or downloaded HERE.
- A map showing the main towns in the LNHS area can be viewed or downloaded HERE.

 

Breeding Season Distribution Maps: 2008 and 2009


Just as for the winter survey, breeding season maps are now available for most common species showing progress so far. There are still a number of gaps where there has been no coverage, or where records of breeding evidence have not been submitted. For a small number of sensitive species, we will not be publishing tetrad level maps during the field work period.

Note that all records are unverified and will need to be validated by the BTO reps and LNHS recorders before being included in the final Atlas results (or in London Bird Reports). The maps may also include some records of migrant birds.

The colour and size of the squares on the maps indicate the following:

  • Small grey square: non-breeder
  • Small red square: possible breeding (singing male or bird in suitable habitat)
  • Medium red square: probable breeding
  • Large red square: confirmed breeding

The draft breeding season distribution maps can be viewed HERE.

What Atlas work can I do this Summer (2010)?


If you completed both timed counts for a tetrad in either of the previous two breeding seasons, there is no need to do any further timed counts for the same tetrad. Only one set of two breeding season timed counts is required for each tetrad during the atlas. This leaves you with the following options (or a combination of both of them!):
  1. Undertake timed counts in a tetrad that has not yet been covered (visit www.bto.org/birdatlas to find out which tetrads still need timed counts and request one or more of these), or click HERE to see a list. UPDATE LINK?
  2. Concentrate on doing ‘roving recording’ to record breeding evidence for all the species that are using your tetrad(s), and to increase the list of species by seeking out some of the harder-to-find birds that are using your tetrad (e.g. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker).
We are hoping that the timed counts will be completed for the vast majority of tetrads by the end of this breeding season, so we hope that most observers will be able to undertake at least one timed count this season (option 1 above), and will be willing to travel if necessary to some of the less well-covered areas such as Essex and kent.


The National Atlas


Background

November 1st 2007 saw the start of an exciting new project nationwide, with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) beginning a new Atlas project to monitor the distribution of the UK’s birds in both winter and the breeding season. The project will see birdwatchers across the country out in remote areas of the countryside, densely populated urban areas and everything in between, recording which species they can find in each 10km square. This will enable comparisons to be made with the previous breeding Atlases (1968-72 & 1988-91) and with the previous wintering atlas (1981-84). We can expect to see changes for many species, with Buzzard for example having moved into new areas in the east of the country including many sites around the outskirts of London.



The London Atlas

The LNHS and the two BTO Regional Representatives for the London area have decided to take the opportunity to undertake a new London atlas at the same time as the National Atlas. This means that instead of recording lists of species for 10km squares in London (as we would need to for the national atlas), we will be recording lists of species for each tetrad (2km square). There are 25 tetrads in each 10km square and a total of 856 tetrads in the LNHS area so there is a considerable amount of recording and analysis to be done. We therefore need all keen birdwatchers in the LNHS area to help if we are to have chance of completing the task. We would be especially glad to hear from local bird watching groups who would like to ensure that their area is well represented in the atlas.

 

Why do a local atlas?

We have completed two previous Atlases in London – both in the breeding season at the same time as the previous national Atlases (1968-72 & 1988-94). The findings of the last Atlas were written up in ‘The Breeding Birds of the London Area’ (LNHS, 2000 edited by Jan Hewlett) This is normally obtainable for £10 – see our PUBLICATIONS page - but surveyors for the Atlas project will get a FREE COPY - see 'special offer' below.

This book includes the distribution of our London species approximately 20 years ago, represented by the 1988-94 distribution maps. By just flicking through a few pages, many birdwatchers will easily notice that the distribution of some species has changed markedly since that time, for example the Tree Sparrow. SEE DISTRIBUTION MAP

 

SPECIAL OFFER FOR SURVEYORS -
'THE BREEDING BIRDS OF THE LONDON AREA' NOW £5
Any birders undertaking Atlas fieldwork for the current atlas project in the LNHS area can get a copy of this book, which contains the 1988-1994 Atlas results, for just the Postage & Packing costs of £5 - the book is free. This will enable you to see what was found in your tetrad(s) during the last atlas and therefore find out what is new (and also which species have been lost), and see how your tetrad compared to the rest of the London area.
To take advantage of this offer please send a cheque for £5 (payable to ‘London Natural History Society’), along with your name and address, and details of the tetrad(s) you are covering to:
Ian Woodward, 245 Larkshall Road, LONDON, E4 9HY.
Please note that applications will be checked and forwarded to the LNHS Sales Officer on an approximately fortnightly basis, so it may take around 3-4 weeks before you receive your copy.

 

How are London's Birds Doing?

It is not all doom and gloom. Some species have increased their range in recent years, such as peregrine and little egret. In some cases, such as Ring-necked parakeet, opinion will be divided as to whether this is a good or bad thing!

By achieving complete coverage during this Atlas, we can compare these with results from last time to see how the picture has changed – this may highlight unexpected changes in other species as well as those like tree sparrow and peregrine of which we are already aware. The results of the Atlas could potentially affect conservation efforts in the LNHS area in the future.

Furthermore, we will for the first time be able to map the distribution of birds in London during the winter at the 2km square scale. This will allow us to produce the first ever winter Atlas for birds in London. Amongst other things, this will enable us to make a comparison between winter and breeding distribution for resident species in London and provide a valuable baseline against which to assess future change.


How will we achieve complete coverage?

There are two different methods that will be used in the Atlas to map the distribution of birds in London. First, we need people to undertake ‘Timed Tetrad Visits’ – making four visits of two hours to a selected tetrad (two visits in winter and two visits during the breeding season), and counting all birds seen. We are hoping that this will enable us to make some comparison of population differences across the LNHS area. However, this method will not provide us with a full species list for each tetrad and so we also need ‘Roving Recorders’ – they can visit a tetrad as often as they like for as little or as long as they like to try to find all the birds present in the square. Everybody can be a roving recorder!
– Whether you just record interesting sightings when out on a weekend family trip to the local park (or shopping centre!), or whether you are a dedicated local patch worker who visits a site without fail every day.


How to take part


- sign up to do a Timed Tetrad Visit

If at all possible, we would like you to do a Timed Tetrad Visit. The first thing to do is to check the BTO website to find a 2km square that is not already being covered. Go to the BTO's Bird Atlas home page and then either log in or register. Once logged in you will be able to click on the ‘Request TTVs’ link, taking you to a map of the UK. Here you can zoom in to find out which tetrads are still available in your area. Note that the LNHS area is spread across three BTO regions (London, East Anglia and South-east) and several BTO counties. These are based on 10km squares and not county boundaries so if you don’t find the location you are looking for, please try selecting another area. Once you have found a tetrad that you would like to survey, follow the online instructions to contact the relevant BTO Regional Atlas Organiser. After a few days, you can check that the tetrad has been allocated to you by logging in again and clicking on the ‘View My TTVs’ link. Your RO should send you the recording form for Timed Tetrad Visits shortly thereafter. Following your survey, data from Timed Tetrad Visits can be submitted using the paper form or preferably using the online system.

For more detailed instructions on Timed tetrad Visits, please download this file:
TTV Instructions ( 200 KB PDF)

 

- submit ‘Roving Recorder’ records

If you already submit records to the LNHS or to the BTO via its Birdtrack website, then you may not need to do anything else! Provided they include basic information, such as date and precise location, these records will be feeding into the Atlas. If your records are from a small site that falls entirely within a tetrad, then we will be able to use your records exactly as they are. However, if your records are from a larger site or one that crosses over a tetrad boundary, then we will only be able to use the records for the London Atlas if you provide more details as to where they were on the site (such as a location name, a grid reference or preferably a list for each of the tetrads that fall wholly or partially within the site). Please contact us if you need more information about what is required.

If you do not already submit records to the LNHS or BTO, then the Atlas is a good opportunity to begin. You can use any of the methods given above, or you can use the ‘Roving Recorder’ online or paper entry forms. Whichever method is used, please ensure that enough information is provided so that the tetrad can be identified. The following links can be followed to submit records:

Roving Recorder online entry (you will need to register):
BTO's Bird Atlas Website

Birdtrack (you will need to register):
www.bto.org/birdtrack/

Roving Recorder paper form to print out:
ROVING RECORDS FORM (150 KB PDF)

LNHS Recording form:
DOWNLOAD (Excel Spreadsheet, 9Kb)


Where to find more information


The best place to look for more information is the BTO's Bird Atlas Website. This contains information about the survey and how to identify tetrads, as well as the Recording forms.

If you need further information, please contact your BTO rep:

NORTH LONDON:
SOUTH LONDON:


This page last updated 1/11/09


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