2nd Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas
News and Resources
2020 VABBA2 articles can be read via the project’s eBird portal News page found here!
VABBA2 Happy Hour Webinar Recordings
Given the limitations that covid-19 has placed on holding spring and early summer events, we are holding a series of webinars to both refresh volunteers on key Atlas methods, e.g. breeding season timelines and breeding code usage, and to connect with our volunteers across the state. We want to hear what you’re hearing and seeing in your own local neighborhoods, as well as any questions you have about project methods going into our final fields season. Below, we provide links to each of these webinars for later perusal, if you’re unable to attend the events live!
VABBA Happy Hour (April 22, 2020) – Breeding Dates and More!
VABBA Happy Hour (April 30, 2020) – Breeding Codes and Exceptional Species
Next scheduled Webinar – (May 14, 2020/ 6-7pm) – Birding in the Time of Coronavirus
Past-Season Project Updates
Atlas Season Four – 2019
Check out this downloadable version of our 2019 field summary. A more detailed article can be read at: https://ebird.org/atlasva/news/a-look-back-at-2019-field-season
Summer of 2018 marked the halfway point for the VABBA2 project. Read more about interesting preliminary results and fundings in this final field season!
Atlas Season Two – 2017
Check out highlights from our second season of data collection by reading here. Downloadable versions of Atlas coverage and species maps are available on the Atlas Maps page.
Atlas Season One – 2016
Read about our first project field season here and check out a summary of data from year one of the VABBA2 project at: Season 1 Summary
Adventures in Atlasing
- Welcome to Rockbridge County’s Community of Birders
- Diana Doyle – Atlasing VA’s Appalachian Trail
- Kelly Krechmer – Transplant Atlaser in SW VA
- Sportsmen-women Birders of VA
- Blockbusting Duo – The Babineaus
- Young Birders of VA
- Sister Projects and Swainson’s Warbler
- VABBA2’s Data Guys
- A Historical Reflection on BBAs
Project Tutorials, Tips, and Tricks
Essential Atlas Tutorials
- Atlas Data Entry Round 1: Recording Incidental Observations
- Atlas Data Entry Round 2: Submitting Complete Checklists
- Atlas Data Entry Round 3: Location Precision
- Switching between eBird portals
- Atlasing vs. eBirding: When to submit checklists to the Atlas portal
- How and When to use the Priority Species Database
- Maximizing your Atlas Productivity in Mid-Summer
- Fall Migration Begins
Breeding Code Guidance
- Tackling Tricky Breeding Codes Part 1: The Possibles
- Tackling Tricky Breeding Codes Part 2: The Probables
- Tackling Tricky Breeding Codes Part 3: The Confirmations
- Breeding Codes and Migratory Species
- Common Atlas Coding Mistakes
Block Completion Tips
- Finishing Those Pesky Atlas Blocks: an update
- Mythbusting the VABBA2: Tackling Atlas Blocks with Teamwork
Nocturnal Atlasing
- Atlasing After Dark: an intro to nocturnal surveys
- Techniques for locating Great-horned Owl and Hawk Nests
- Winter Holiday Birding Can Include Breeding Birds
Species Profiles
- Tips for Accurate ID of Crows and Ravens
- Techniques for Locating Great-Horned Owl and Hawk Nests
- American Woodcock, the forest species few have seen
- Year of the Night Birds – Prowling for Screech Owls
- The Northern Saw-whet Owl: Virginia’s Other Small Owl
- Tracking the Ghost Owl
- Crazy for Cherries: A Look into Breeding Bird Use of Fruit
Atlas Volunteer Profiles
- Janet Paisley – Albemarle
- David Larsen – NoVA
- James Fox – Front Royal
- Student Adventures in Atlasing
- Dan Bieker – Bringing VABBA2 into the Outdoor Classroom
- The Littles – The Raptor Specialists
- Garrett Rhyne – A Jack of All Atlas-Trades
- Haley Olsen-Hodges – Rehabber, Birder, and Innovator
- Inspired by Birders: Maeve and Joey
- Fred Atwood – Birder and Educator
News and Magazine Stories
- What is the VABBA2 all about?
- VDGIF Wildlife Blog – Second VA Breeding Bird Atlas Launches!
- Read the Herald Courier article about the atlas! – Click here
- Check out new Atlas article – For the Birds: Project seeks Southwest Virginia volunteers in the Roanoke Times.
- VA Wildlife Magazine – On the Hunt for VA’s Breeding Birds
Helpful birding links and resources
- Cornell’s Birds of North America Online: an excellent reference for comprehensive life history information on all North American birds. Atlas volunteers now receive a discounted membership! Contact Ashley (atlas coordinator) about receiving this discount.
- Check out this helpful link for testing and certifying your bird knowledge: Birder Certification Online
- Cornell’s All About Birds site is fantastic resource for atlas volunteers looking for more detailed species information than what can be found
- Check out this interesting resource on building your own bird sheds and houses, a resource contributed by Sean Cavanaugh from the NH Boy Scouts!
For the Young Birders…
- Check out a great website for Beginner Birder resources, suggested by Hallie, a young birder from NY!
- Download our Young Birders Worksheet for a simplified datasheet that kids can use to collect breeding information. (Parents, please help your young birders enter their observations into the Atlas eBird portal.)
- For an interesting page recommended by one of our younger birders, Anabel. Check out Birds in the Air for lots of useful birdwatching links.