It has been nearly 20 years since the completion of fieldwork on the first Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas. We are excited to an- nounce that preparations are now under way for Ohio’s second breeding bird atlas, with the start of atlas fieldwork to begin in spring 2006. We look forward to working with you in this ex- citing endeavor! Indeed, the ultimate success of Ohio’s next breeding bird atlas depends on the active participation and efforts of birders and outdoor enthusiasts from throughout the state.

The next breeding bird atlas for Ohio will generate immense amounts of new and important information that will be essential for the effective conservation and management of birds in Ohio. By engaging Ohio’s citizens in this cooperative effort OBBA II will foster interaction among bird enthusiasts of all experience levels and will heighten public awareness of birds in Ohio.

The specific goals of Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II are to:

• Document the current distribution of breeding birds in Ohio.
• Assess changes in breeding distributions since the first Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas.
• Provide measures of abundance of breeding birds in Ohio.
• Identify important habitats and breeding locations that support high diversity or species
of concern.
• Collect distribution and abundance data for species that are difficult to survey, such as
owls, nightjars, various wetland birds.
• Collect new information on the status of Ohio’s rare, threatened, and endangered birds.

This spring marks the beginning of Ohio's 2nd Breeding Bird Atlas (2006-2010), and we are excited to announce that Atlas blocks will be available for registration this coming Saturday (February 4th) at 9AM.  

As in the first Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas, the survey unit of Ohio's 2nd Atlas project will be the Atlas block. USGS topographic maps will be used to define block boundaries by dividing each topographic map into 6 blocks of equal area (1 Atlas block = 10 square miles).  Ohio's land area occupies 806 USGS topographic maps or approximately 4,600 Atlas blocks.  ALL Atlas blocks
will be surveyed during the Atlas survey period (2006-2010).

On Saturday, February 4th, you will be able to log onto the Atlas website www.ohiobirds.org/obba2/  and view every block in Ohio by using our convenient block finder tool. Regis- tering for your block (or blocks!) of interest is easy.  Simply fill out the online registration form, and we will get back to you to confirm your block request.  (We want to thank Ned
Keller, Katherine Koch, and the OOS for their help with developing the block registration web pages.) 

Please visit our website to learn more about the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II and Atlas block registration.  The block registration web pages also include important information about Atlas block ownership, survey effort, and Atlas block maps.  If you have any questions about the Atlas or block registration, please feel free to contact us.  Please help spread the word about the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II.  We look forward to working with you in this exciting endeavor! 

We have already collected names of over 75 individuals interes- ted in conducting fieldwork in 2006 and beyond. Please add your name and contact information to our list and we will be in contact with you as plans for 2006 develop. In the coming weeks, you will also be able to sign up by visiting our website, which will be available in late-December. Please visit our website at: http://www.ohiobirds.org/obba2/ . The Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II website will provide additional information about the atlas, including plans for the 2006 field season. Atlas blocks will be available for selection in mid to late-January 2006. Periodic updates will be posted to the OOS web site and through other outlets, or mailed to participants if necessary. In addition, please feel free to get in touch with us by mail or email (see contact information below).

The Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II is a joint project of The Ohio State University, School of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources-Division of Wildlife. Principle investigators for OBBA II are Paul Rodewald (OSU) and Scott Hull (Division of Wildlife), and Aaron Boone (OSU) is the atlas coordinator. Additional support for Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II comes from Audubon Ohio, Black Swamp Bird Observatory, and Ohio Ornithological Society, with other advisors to OBBA II including Dan Brauning (Pennsylvania Game Commission) and John Castrale (Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife).

We welcome your inquiries concerning OBBA II and look forward to hearing from you!

Paul Rodewald & Aaron Boone
The Ohio State University
School of Environment & Natural Resources
210 Kottman Hall
Columbus, Ohio 43212
Email: rodewald.2@osu.edu

or

Scott Hull
ODNR-Division of Wildlife
Olentangy Wildlife Research Station
8589 Horseshoe Road
Ashley, Ohio 43003
Email: Scott.Hull@dnr.state.oh.us

Click Here for a PDF of this information