Walter:

What will the written product of the Atlas be?  Similar to the
1980s Atlas book? Or a set of electronic files?

Bill Ellis
Eldersburg
Carroll Co.

-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Walter Ellison
Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 2:59 PM
To: 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] A "last minute" atlas breeding code


Hi Everybody,

I have heard a few wistful comments since the end of August about
the
atlas being over. For practical purposes the nesting season is
over for
most bird species. However, if you still have an itch to look for
new
nesting records there is a way to confirm a number of birds that
still
is available to the end of the year. Birds can be confirmed when
you
find their used nests. The code is "UN" and any bird that nested
over
the last five years that left a the remains of its nest can still
be
confirmed; provided you can identify the nest of course.

Almost every birder is familiar with the sack-like nest of the
Baltimore
Oriole, you may also know the shallower woven nest of Orchard
Oriole.
After the leaves fall, oriole nests are often conspicuous. Vireo
nests
are also distinctive, but you need to know what species of vireo
might
have been in a block to use them. If you have a nest field guide
you
ought to give hunting for used nests a try. At the end of
December the
atlas project will be *really* over.

Good nest-hunting,

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"