I realise there are a lot of county birders out there who participate in the BTO Birdtrack which is of course extremely useful but could I ask that those who do participate attempt to enter a quantity for the species they record where ever possible please.

If there isn't a quantity this effectively makes them useless for county recording purposes which is of course a real shame as these records are very valuable to us, especially with the current Breeding Atlas work underway. With this Atlas work in mind it would be very helpful if participants could also enter breeding details into the comments column when they enter their records onto Birdtrack, the abbreviations for which are listed below:

Categories of Breeding Evidence

Non-breeder
F - Flying over
M- Migrant
U - sUmmering non-breeder

Possible breeder:
H - Observed in suitable nesting Habitat
S - Singing male

Probable breeder
P - Pair in suitable nesting habitat
T - Permanent Territory (defended over at least 1 week)
D - Display and/or courtship
N - visiting probable Nest site
A - Agitated behaviour
I - Brood patch of Incubating bird (from bird in hand, if a ringer)
B - Nest Building or excavating nest hole

Confirmed breeder
DD - Distraction Display or injury feigning
UN - Used Nest or eggshells found from this season
FL - recently FLedged young or downy young
ON - Adults entering or leaving nest-site in circumstances indicating Ocupied Nest
FF - adult carrying Faecal sac or Food for young
NE - Nest containing Eggs
NY - Nest with Young seen or heard


-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 13:42, 2008-04-11

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 22:45, 2008-06-26