Where to Atlas

The goal is to have all 4,937 blocks in the state atlassed during the course of the project. To some degree, block sixes (blocks ending in a "6," located in the southeast corner of each topo quad map) will have additional coverage compared to the other blocks (i.e. some additional protocols like owl & wetland surveys). Our hope is to as uniformly as possible cover all of the habitat types in the state.

To that end, we offer the following suggestion:

Get to Know Your Block(s)!
Block owners and atlassers should make every effort to visit the different habitat types located within their blocks. Likely habitats found in Pennsylvania include:

• Forest (Hardwood/Deciduous, Mixed Coniferous/Deciduous, Hemlock)
• Successional (old fields, shrubby areas, regenerating clear-cuts)
• Grasslands (including hayfields, pastures, and reclaimed strip mines).
• Open Water/ Rivers
• Wetlands/Marshes

Generally, if you expend all of your effort in the same habitat, you will miss certain species. For example, if you do most of your atlassing in mixed woods, you might completely miss those birds which nest exclusively in other habitats (species such as Golden-winged Warbler, Grasshopper Sparrow, Virginia Rail, Wood Duck, or Great Blue Heron). Some species or habitats may not be present in your block (there are a few blocks in the state which are entirely one habitat type), but you should make every effort to visit all of the habitats present, or solicit other birders to help you.