National Atlas 2007-2011

This is a major BTO project to produce an updated Atlas for both Wintering and Breeding Birds of Great Britain and Ireland.  Full details can be found on the excellent BTO website here.  The BTO Atlas will map at 10km grid square level, by sampling at least 8 out of 25 tetrads (2km x 2km) in each 10km square.

Suffolk Atlas

A number of county recording clubs are taking advantage of the National Atlas work to produce their own Atlas at the tetrad (2km x 2km) level.  Suffolk is one of these counties, and therefore we need to survey every tetrad.  Information on our progress is on the BTO Atlas website here, and more information on SOG work here.

Dragonfly Atlas

Yes, they are all doing it !   The National Dragonfly Atlas (2008 - 2013) is launched from April 2008.  National information can be found here, and more information on Suffolk work here.  Mick Wright must be sufferering from atlasitis, as he is involved with this project, as well as all the work he is doing on the BTO and SOG Bird Atlases.

Breeding Bird Survey (BBS)

This is probably the most important continuous survey in Britain.  Run by the BTO, its results are regarded by government as one of the most reliable monitoring tools for changes in bird populations, and therefore in the natural environment generally.  More BTO information can be found here.

Waterways Breeding Bird Survey (WBBS)

Much less well known than the BBS, this survey is based on similar principles.  It is intended to monitor species which are not well covered by the BBS.  Routes are therefore on a defined length of waterway rather than a specific grid square.   More BTO information can be found here.

Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS)

This monthly survey is run during the winter period, and is particularly relevant in Suffolk, where our estuaries and coastal reserves support large numbers of ducks and waders which breed in the far north.   More BTO information can be found here.

Heronry Survey

Started in 1928, this is the longest running continuous survey in Britain.  More recently interest has been added by the spread of Little Egrets.   More BTO information can be found here.