September 2009
Hi Loudoun County Atlasers,
While safe dates for many species have come and gone there are still a few species that can be considered possible breeders. Ring-necked Pheasant, Wild Turkey, Bobwhite, Barn Owl, Carolina and Sedge Wrens, Cardinal, Goldfinch, and a few other species have safe dates extending through September. It’s important to atlas your block at least once this month – you never know what you will find!
Reminders
1. Be sure to display your car window display when atlasing and do not enter private property without permission. The car window display can be downloaded and printed from the atlas website or I can mail you a copy upon request.
2. Check for any warning messages before you finalize your field cards in the atlas database. If you see a warning that you want to override please take a minute to email/call your Reginal Coordinator with a brief explanation for why you ignored the warning(s).
3. Plan on atlasing your block once a month throughout the fall and winter to document any migrants and wintering birds you encounter.
We need your help!
1. We currently have 33 blocks assigned to 29 active atlasers, which is a great start. However, we need to recruit more atlasers in order to thoroughly cover all 75 blocks within the 5-year atlas period. Please take a moment to think of one or two people that may be interested in assisting with the Loudoun County Bird Atlas (either as a block owner or a helper) and pass their names along to me.
2. In the upcoming year we hope to start an outreach program to large private land holdings in several atlas blocks. Please send me the names and addresses of any landowners that have given you permission to atlas on their land so I can update my records.
Atlas Progress
34 enthusiastic atlasers have spent 904 hours in the field documenting 10,320 sightings. You have recorded 182 species, with 90 of these species having a confirmed nesting status. The atlasing highlight from August was 3 juvenile White Ibises observed at the Dulles Wetlands.
I’m proud to announce that my second daughter, Addison Rose, arrived on Monday, August 24th, weighing 10 pounds 3 ounces and measuring 21.5 inches! I’m still available to answer questions, but probably not as promptly and efficiently during these first few weeks of late night feedings and diaper changes :0) Please contact your Regional Coordinator with any pressing issues through September. Refer to the Atlas Handbook for a list of blocks in each region.
Thanks and Happy Atlasing,
Spring Ligi
Loudoun County Bird Atlas Coordinator
sligi@loudounwildlife.org