Atlasing refers to VABBA2. I and other atlasers live nearby, so if you
don't have time for or interest in the atlas, we can still work on
documenting a nesting effort for this species. If you do participate, you
can do it to whatever level works for you. Where you live and work,
friends with large tracts of private habitat who will only allow access by
you, and your usual birding travels can all guide your effort.
The state is divided up into 4399 blocks. We have 480 participants now as
we begin our 2nd year (Wisconsin had over a thousand when they entered
their 2nd atlas year in 2016 if I remember correctly). You can look at this
summary and see what has been done so far: http://ebird.org/ebird/
atlasva/subnational1/US-VA?atlasPeriod=EBIRD_ATL_VA_2016
The 1st atlas here happened from 1985-1989, and much has changed in many
areas.
https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bba/index.cfm?fa=explore.ResultsByBlock&BBA_ID=VA1985
Zoomed in:
https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bba/index.cfm?fa=explore.ResultsByBlock
DGIF is hosting the maps: The state: https://vafwis.dgif.virginia.
gov/BBA2/BlockExplorer/ Zoom in: http://vafwis.dgif.virginia.
gov/BBA2/pdf/topo_o37077E4SW.pdf There is a possible nest tree for this
bird that I had planned to watch that is a bit far from you, but you may be
able to hear young birds after they fledge if the tree they use is closer
to your home. What you may be hearing is the adults re-establishing contact
after a day of sleeping and moving to new locations when harassed by other
birds. When you see "duet" on a comment in eBird, that is two birds
interacting and sounding sort of like monkeys.
You can hear a wheezy fledgling beg at about :27. It will be louder when
closer to you. If you have a smart phone and want to listen to it on
Audubon Birds app, it is very clear and free of background noise, but you
do not need a smart phone to do any of this. Another useful app is iBird
Pro. http://macaulaylibrary.org/audio/128924
Here is the website: http://amjv.org/index.php/vabba2/about
The Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/vabba2/
And the group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/VABBA2/
There is so much to learn from this experience. It makes me slow down and
really engage with common and not-so-common species, and learn new things
about their lives. Hope this helps!
Jan
On Wed, Mar 1, 2017 at 2:52 PM, Zwicky, Eric <ezwicky2@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Thanks Jan, but what does that mean "atlas" the owls? Is there some
kind of report I should send in? They (or maybe just "he") are in the
alley between W.29th and W.30th and Stonewall and Springhill Avenues in
Southside Richmond, very close to Reedy Creek area and Forest-Hill Park.
Thanks,
Eric
On 3/1/2017 2:48 PM, Janice Frye wrote:
<Lots of excellent information snipped>
Umm, you gonna atlas those owls? :-)
Jan
