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Atlas 2007-2011 - an overview

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–        Winter atlas starting in November 2007

–        Breeding atlas starting in April 2008

The last Atlas Survey in Hampshire was undertaken during 1986-91. The aim of that survey was to map the distribution of all Hampshire’s breeding birds on a tetrad basis (2 x 2km grid), and to update the information provided by the 1968-72 national Atlas of Breeding Birds (10 x 10km basis). The survey was intentionally carried out alongside the national New Breeding Atlas survey of 1988-91, and no attempt was made to map relative abundance, or to survey distributions outside the breeding season. Results of the survey were incorporated in the Birds of Hampshire book published by HOS in 1993.  At that time, we had in mind that a Hampshire survey of breeding bird distribution should probably be repeated every 20 years or so, so the next survey will soon be upon us. 

During the past year or so, ideas for the Next National Atlas have begun to take shape, and we’re fortunate that the HOS chairman, John Eyre, is chairing the BTO’s National Atlas Working Group.

We, therefore, now have firmer ideas of what we might actually do in Hampshire and when.  Here is a very brief summary of the main points in current thinking for the HOS project:

  • HOS plans to run a Hampshire tetrad distribution survey during exactly the same period as the national atlas survey and as far as possible using the same methods, instructions, and forms.

  • We will do both winter and breeding surveys, each running for four years.

  • The winter survey will run for the four winters 2007/08 through to 2010/11, and the breeding survey for the fours seasons 2008 to 2011.

  • In Hampshire, we will aim to cover ALL tetrads for ALL species in both winter and breeding surveys. (The national survey will be 10-km based, and only involve a sample of at least eight tetrads in each 10-km square.)

  • This time, in common with the national survey, we want to be able to map relative abundance, and we’re therefore planning on timed counts in addition to simple presence/absence.

  • In Hampshire, the absolute minimum coverage for each tetrad will be  2 x 2hour counts in the breeding season, and 2 x 2hour counts in winter, in just one year for any particular tetrad.

  • The aim will be to publish the final results as a revised county avifauna book (and quite likely on other media) in say 2013 at the earliest.

  • Of course, some details may yet change. We have established a HOS Atlas Steering Group that is tasked with looking at all of the options, issues and logistics, and is responsible for the overall planning. As well as being concerned with all the nuts and bolts of survey organisation and methods, the Group will also be considering how the data is going to be collated and processed, and how and when results are to be published. Publicity and fund-raising are also going to be necessary.

    All of these things require considerable effort by a number of very enthusiastic individuals, so if you think you can help with the planning (especially with any parts of the design and management of the project), we’d very much like to hear from you.

      Chairman, HOS Scientific Committee & Atlas Steering Group



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