Greetings,

Our final atlas field season is already at least half over; volunteers 
have made superb progress toward completing coverage of all 1280 atlas 
blocks statewide. By the beginning of July, some species such as 
swallows have passed their 'safe dates', although if your find good 
evidence of breeding, such as active nests or fledglings, those 
confirmations count.

Aside from continuing field work, it is very important to enter data 
into the online atlas data base if you have not already done so. (Click 
on the MD/DC 2002-2006 link on the BBA Explorer web page: 
http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bba/index.cfm) County coordinators need to know 
what progress is being made in lower-coverage blocks so that they can 
plan additional help to bring those blocks up to adequate coverage 
standards in the next month. Also, please let your coordinator know If 
you realize that you won't be able to cover blocks assigned to you.

You do not need to finalize your online field card at this time, simply 
enter what records you do have and go back later to add species or 
upgrades. Data are saved into the database, even if you don't use the 
'finalize' button at the bottom of the online field card. If you need an 
updated list of species that have been found in a block and their 
status, use the 'Results - by block' link from the atlas home page. The 
listing will also indicate which species were found in the block during 
the 1980's atlas that might be potential targets to re-locate this time 
around. Any incidental sightings outside of your assigned blocks can be 
entered and finalized right away.

We are also approaching our last best chance to find those elusive night 
birds - nightjars and owls  - which call most actively on warm bright 
moonlit nights. Try to get out evenings during the week before this 
month's full moon (4-11 July) and survey potential habitat in your 
blocks. As the moon rises later each night during the week after the 
full moon, pre-dawn hours are an alternative for early-rising birders. 
The atlasing article in the May/June Yellowthroat has pointers on 
looking for these species.

Good atlasing,

Walter Ellison
MD/DC Breeding Bird Atlas Coordinator

23460 Clarissa Rd
Chestertown, MD 21620

phone: 410-778-9568

e-mail: rossgull(AT)baybroadband.net

"Nothing is as easy as you would like it to be, and nothing is as hard 
as you might fear"