Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas

Materials: Manual, data sheets, forms (pdf)
Explanation and use of the materials below are found in the Participant's Manual. Field sheets are available only in hard copy form, available from county coordinators. Documents are 8 1/2" X 11" unless otherwise indicated.

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Species still "safe" (Posted July 24, 2007)
Species for which you can still obtain any code!

Breeding Bird Atlas Participant's Manual
(28 pages - slower modems may take a few moments to download, and once downloaded, document may be slow to appear as you scroll through it)

Table of Safe Dates and Nest Information
** Now includes information on preferred habitat as well as nest location, height, substrate, and type!

NOTE: the Master and Home sheets are designed to be folded in half. Side 1 consistes of the first and fourth "pages", and side 2 consists of the second and third "pages" (the inside of the document when you open it up).

Master sheet side 1 8 1/2" X 14"

Home sheet side 1 8 1/2 X 14"

Home and Master sheets side 2 8 1/2 X 14"

Rare Species Form

Casual Observations Form

Brochure for landowners (2-sided)

Windshield notice

Volunteer Hours Form (MS Word)

Where Can I Atlas?

Anywhere. However, we encourage people to sign up for "first tier" and "second tier"priority blocks. Why? VBBA has divided Vermont into 1,104 blocks of equal size (each roughly 3 miles x 3 miles). Since we don't have the person-power to sample for birds in each and every block, VBBA has randomly selected 184 of these blocks for the focus of our work. We call these blocks "first tier" priority blocks. These were surveyed in the first Atlas, and so are important to repeat in this Atlas in order to compare data between today and 25 years ago. Because we have more people to survey more blocks in this Atlas, we have generated a "second tier" of priority blocks that are chosen in a statistical manner that allows us to make the best use of your data, and it is important that we survey them all. Although data collected outside of these blocks will still be used, especially for rare species, only data from priority and second tier blocks will be used for analyses and conclusions for the atlas.

Selecting a Block

Follow these steps...

STEP 1 The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Map Index shows roads and features within each quadrangle. Find the area you're interested in surveying and write down the name of the map ("Quad") that covers your area of interest.

STEP 2 Find the priority block within the quadrangle. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until you have a first, second, and third choice, and write these down.

STEP 3 Look at block progress to see which blocks need help (pdf or interactive map).

STEP 4 Talk to the appropriate county coordinator about your three block choices.

STEP 5 Once you and the coordinator decide on a block, proceed to "Getting Maps" below.

Getting Maps

To ensure that you're not duplicating someone else's efforts, check with the county coordinator about which block(s) you want to survey before obtaining maps.

Use method 1 below if you have a first tier priority block (a block that was covered in the first Atlas). Use method 2 below if you have any other block (second tier priority or nonpriority).

Method 1: Download a Block Map Here (First Tier Priority Blocks only - second tier blocks require obtaining a USGS quad map)

Once you know the name of the USGS map you need, you can download a map of its first tier priority block here. Priority block maps come in two varieties:

Download JPEG Version Maps - These maps (about 0.5 MB) are easy to view, download, and print. (It helps to have a color printer.)

Download PDF Verson Maps - These maps (about 0.7 to 1.2 MB) are higher quality when printed. They require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.

NOTE: PDF files must be downloaded and saved to your computer before viewing. They do not display properly in a web browser with PDF viewer. SAVE and then OPEN and VIEW in PDF reader.

Method 2: Buy Your Own USGS Map for VBBA Use (Second Tier Priority or Nonpriority Blocks)

Another way to locate a VBBA block is to buy the USGS topographic map for your area (or the area you want to survey). You can then determine which portion of that map is the block you'll be surveying.

STEP 1: Obtain the USGS Map

USGS maps are sometimes available from certain websites, office supply shops, camping stores, and sporting good retailers. Here are some suggested locations:

List of Vermont Merchants (use the store closest to the block you're interested in)
The Vermont Geologic Survey
USGS Office (can be slow to fill orders)
Map Express ($8 plus shipping, faster)

STEP 2: Outline the Block on Your USGS Map

A block is actually one-sixth of a USGS topographic map. So you must first divide your map into six blocks of equal size. Bisect the map vertically with a single pencil line (measure the midpoint as accurately as possible). Next divide the map horizontally into thirds. Number the six resulting blocks 1 through 3 down the left side and 4 through 6 down the right side. So the northeast block in the Weston quad would be called Weston-3.

Additional web sites that contain maps that may help you:

Topozone (view a topo map of any location or feature)
Vermont Wildlife Management Area Maps
Vermont Center for Geographic Information
Vermont Mapping Program (digital orthoquads - fancy aerial photos)
USGS National Map Viewer