WHAT IS THE ONTARIO BREEDING BIRD ATLAS?
The Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas is a 5-year project to map all the breeding bird species in the province, evaluate populations changes, and better inform conservation measures and species at risk initiatives. The atlas project is the work of 5 partners, and the majority of the data is collected by dedicated volunteer birders all over the province. We have now concluded the 4th year of the 3rd Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas (Atlas 3: 2021-2025) and getting sufficient data in northern Ontario is crucial to evaluate how bird populations have changed since Atlas 1 (1981-1985) and Atlas 2 (2001-2005). (View the Atlas 2 book here)
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| Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas - Region 41 Year 4 Kickoff Event Group of volunteers in square 17TMP67 Timmins, Ontario (2 June 2024) |
TIMMINS AREA AND THE ONTARIO BREEDING BIRD ATLAS
The Timmins area is located in Region 41-Timiskaming (View Region 41 map here) (the region was called Kirkland Lake in the 2nd Atlas). Region 41 includes Temagami, New Liskeard, Englehart in the southern blocks (17TNN and 17TPN) , Matachewan, Kirkland Lake and Matheson in the eastern blocks (17TNP and 17TPP) and Timmins/South Porcupine to Horwood Lake in the north west block (17TMP).
Many local and visiting volunteers have contributed valuable data since the start of the project. At the end of the 4th year of the project, volunteers have submitted 3735 atlas checklists, documented 169 breeding bird species, completed 1375 hours of atlassing effort during peak breeding season, and submitted 1039 in-person point counts in addition to 534 digital point counts. We are very close to reaching our 5% coverage goals and we will be focussing our efforts to complete key squares and fill data gaps during 2025. You can help us achieve our goal!
WHAT IS A 'COMPLETED SQUARE'?
The province is divided in 10km X 10km squares and in larger blocks. In the southern portion of the province, the aim is to get "full coverage" in 100% of squares but in road-accessible northern regions like ours, the goal is to fully complete 5% of our squares in each block. A full covered square has a minimum of 20 hours of general atlassing effort done during the peak breeding season (June 1–July 10 in our area) and 25 point counts (with at least five off-road).
WHAT BIRD SPECIES NEST IN THE TIMMINS AREA?
View the checklist of breeding species for our area here: Region 41: Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Checklist.
HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE TO THE ONTARIO BREEDING BIRD ATLAS ?
There are many ways to contribute to the project.
- Entering your bird observations, including breeding evidence, using the NatureCounts App (the easiest way) or on the NatureCounts website. (Make sure you are registered for the atlas first)
- Conducting traditional point counts or digital point counts with a recording unit in target squares (we can lend you a unit if you are interested)
- Conducting special atlas surveys to monitor owls, nightjars, and marshbirds, etc.
- For Indigenous Communities, many opportunities are offered through the Two-Eyed Seeing project to Share Knowledge of Ontario's Breeding Birds to support each community's bird monitoring priorities and species at risk projects. Don't hesitate to reach out to learn more.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP:
- Accompanying an experienced atlasser to help and to learn how to collect data in target squares.
- Doing some digital recordings with a Zoom unit (5am to 9am) (we can lend you a unit)
- Providing transportation and join an atlasser to survey some target squares during early mornings (5am-9am) (gas expenses can be covered)
LEARN MORE:
- Learn about the project, about how the data are used, and watch some tutorials on the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas YouTube Channel.
- Learn how to get started on the Quick Start Guide page.
- You can view an updated interactive map of the atlas effort: Atlas Coverage Map.
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| A Zoom digital recording unit recording a 5-min digital point counts Atlas square 17TMP87 Region 41 - South Porcupine |
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