For those that may not have a copy of Atlas I handy the complete  sentence on 
the back is:    The atlas also includes  historical distribution data 
collected since the mid-1800, nest records  collected during the past 100 years, data 
from breeding bird censuses  conducted since 1942, trend data from breeding 
bird surveys conducted since  1966, and "relative abundance information" from 
minaret data collected  since 1983.     
 
My "Funk and Wagnall" has the word minaret as a high slender tower  attached 
to a Moslem mosque, surrounded by one or more balconies, from which is  
sounded the stated summons to prayer. 
 
 
In a message dated 4/4/2008 11:37:35 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
 writes:

Has  anyone noticed what the back cover of the MD Atlas I says was the 
source  of "relative abundance information" ?

Fred  Fallon
Bowie/Huntingtown






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