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Winter Atlas Survey: 2007/8 to 2010/11
Fieldworkers in Co Waterford are
contributing to this national survey (throughout Ireland and Britain) to help map the distribution and relative abundance
of wintering birds throughout these islands. Although results of the national atlas will be presented at 10-km scale
(10-km x 10-km squares), much of the fieldwork will be done at a finer scale - collecting records within 2-km x 2-km tetrads. To take part, click Bird Atlas 2007-2011 (www.birdatlas.net) - see also the BirdWatch Ireland website for details of Irish coverage, and the recent newsletter
(below) from the national organiser. See also a list of frequently-asked questions. Preliminary coverage maps are given below. Latest update 9 November
2009.
Unlike
the Waterford Breeding Bird Atlas (full details here), winter atlas coverage in Waterford will probably not be complete, i.e. only a sample of 2-km tetrads will be surveyed fully.
(The basic requirement is 8 or more tetrads per 10-km square, or fewer in some coastal squares.) Full coverage
of a tetrads involves the Timed Tetrad Visit (TTV) method, i.e. two 1-hour counts, one during November-December
and one January-February. However, less-intensive coverage of other tetrads, using the Roving Records (RR)
method, will provide further information. If the coverage achieved by a combination of these methods is good
enough, it may be possible to produce detailed maps of winter bird distribution for Waterford.
One
full season of winter coverage has been completed so far (1 Nov 2007 to 29 Feb 2008), and the maps below show coverage
to date and provisional numbers of species recorded, excluding records yet to be submitted or compiled. If
you can help fill the gaps over the coming winters, either by doing Timed Tetrad Visits (especially for more
experienced observers) or collecting Roving Records, or both, please get in touch - either via the
Bird Atlas 2007-2011 website or email the Waterford organiser, Paul Walsh.
Please
submit any remaining records (TTVs or Roving) as soon as possible, preferably online via online Bird Atlas 2007-2011 website. And don't worry - if you only
managed a single (early- or late-season) TTV to some tetrads in the first winter, because of weather or other circumstances,
a second visit can be made in the second winter.
August 2009 Britain & Ireland newsletter (added 12/08/2009 2.8 mB)
October 2008 national newsletter (0.9 mB)
March 2008 Atlas Newsletter (added 29/03/2008)
Winter coverage update: tetrads already allocated or covered
 The map above shows the tetrads for which volunteer counters have already
'signed up' to make Timed Tetrad Visits. So far, between 1 and 10 tetrads have been allocated in most 10-km
squares (defined by the main grid on the map). We need to increase this to at least 8 tetrads in each main square,
or all the eligible tetrads in any coastal squares that have fewer than 8 tetrads. 'Eligible' tetrads are those that have their midpoint either on dry land or
above Low Water Mark - e.g. there are only 3 eligible tetrads in square X69 (but a further 4 tetrads that are mainly in the
sea). So far, 168 specific tetrads (31% of county total) have been allocated for TTV coverage, and at least 123
tetrads (23% of county total) have had 1 or 2 hour's coverage in winter 2007/08 or 2008/09.
As well
as Timed Tetrad Visits, volunteers are also needed to collect Roving Records - either in specific tetrads (e.g. near home)
or from any tetrads throughout the county. This will help build up fuller species lists for each tetrad and 10-km square.
See Bird Atlas 2007-2011, or email, to sign up.
Sample species maps
Updated 23 June 2009
Winter coverage update: preliminary species totals
The map above plots minimum totals of species recorded in each tetrad during winter
2007/2008, but has not yet been updated to include late-received records or winter 2008/09.
Downloadable instructions
and forms for National Atlas
Click below for pdfs
(Time Tetrad Visit forms are not available unless you've been allocated a specific tetrad).
Introduction and how to help
Roving Records form
Timed Tetrad Visit instructions
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