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Were you an “Atlaser”? Did you roam the Humboldt outback with checklist, map, and binoculars during the summers of 1995 through 1999 to locate and record nesting birds? Or did you contribute something to an atlas fundraiser, allow access onto your private property, or sponsor one of the 68 bird illustrations contained in the book? If so, your 15 minutes of fame is imminent. Come to Godwit Days and see what your contribution has created: the beautiful and insightful Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Humboldt County, California, published by RRAS. Authored by John E. Hunter, David Fix, Gregory A. Schmidt, and Jude Claire Power, this 450-page book represents eleven years of planning, field surveys, data analysis, map preparation, discussion, thought, research, and writing. In the end, atlasers found 181 species of birds that certainly or probably nest in our county. This project was truly a community effort, involving private landowners, federal and state land management agencies, professional biologists, and amateur birders. Everyone who played a part is acknowledged. Both soft-cover ($30) and hardback ($50) versions will be available. Fifty copies of a Collector’s Limited Edition, containing a plate of one species hand-colored and signed by the cover artist, Gary Bloomfield, and signed by the four authors, will be available for $80. |
The authors will be on hand to sign books at the Godwit Days opening reception at the Arcata Community Center on Friday evening, April 15, starting at 5:00 p.m. John Hunter and David Fix will talk about the project during a lecture that evening. The atlas will be on sale at the Godwit Café throughout the festival.
How can I get one?
If you can’t make it to Godwit Days, you can find the atlas in local bookstores or order it directly from RRAS at P.O. Box 1054, Eureka CA 95502. The price (including sales tax and shipping) for each soft cover is $37.18; for each hardcover is $58.62; and for each Collector’s Edition is $90.80. Make your check payable to “RRAS.” Thanks!
What is a breeding bird atlas?
It is a published compendium of maps which display the distribution of all bird species found breeding within a given area -- in this case, Humboldt County. In addition to maps, our atlas will include species accounts which describe each bird's habitat preferences and natural history.
How is breeding bird information collected?
Humboldt County has been divided into a grid of 5 km x 5 km blocks. Volunteer atlasers survey one or more blocks in which they determine which bird species are breeding. Breeding behaviors we look for include carrying nest materials, feeding young, nest-building, and courtship behavior. These behaviors are used to determine breeding status codes:
Who can participate and how much time is needed?
Participants should be able to identify local birds by sight and sound (or be willing to learn), and be willing to donate time to search for breeding evidence and report results from one or more blocks, typically up to 16 hours. If you are unable to commit to a block assignment, your anecdotal information about breeding birds is still valuable. We will happily send you forms for collecting and reporting your data in a less structured format.
Why create a Humboldt County Breeding Bird Atlas?
The breeding distribution of birds in Humboldt County is not fully understood. Our present knowledge of breeding distributions is based primarily on anecdotal evidence collected over a long period of time. This atlas is the first attempt to systematically survey the entire county in a relatively short period of time (5 years) to provide a baseline of breeding bird data. These data will be available to public and private agencies and individuals for land management planning as well as for general interest and recreational use. Breeding Bird Atlases have been completed or are in progress in 13 other California counties. Our atlas will be the first to be completed in northwestern California, thus filling a crucial gap in the understanding of breeding bird distribution across the entire state.
Who is sponsoring the project?
The Humboldt County Breeding Bird Atlas is primarily sponsored by Redwood Region Audubon Society, with cosponsorship by Six Rivers National Forest. RRAS has established a BBA Steering Committee to oversee this project.
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