Date: 1/8/26 5:46 am From: Justyn Stahl via groups.io <justyn.stahl...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Californian Bird Atlas and weekly hotspots
Thanks Ruslan. I’ll send a more detailed message about the CBA soon, but
two major points to reiterate here with regard to hotspots are:
(1) If you’re submitting a CBA checklist, the location you choose (whether
that’s a hotspot or a personal location) should be one for the block you
are in, and the effort on that checklist should be wholly contained within
that block. If you cross an atlas block boundary, you need to stop the
first list and start a new one, choosing/creating a location in that new
block.
(2) If you detect breeding behavior in an adjacent block (an Osprey Nest
Building in an adjacent block), you’ll need to create an incidental
checklist for the block the behavior occurred in, despite the fact that you
saw it from a different block. If it flies through with nesting material,
use your best judgement as to where it was headed. And if you don’t know
you can just use CN (Carrying Nesting Material) for the last block you saw
it in.
Of course, there will be gray areas in a lot of the atlasing process and
you’ll need to use your best judgement based on available knowledge. That
knowledge can be enhanced by:
2. Cross-checking any early (anything in January especially) breeding
activity with the San Diego County Bird Atlas. Realize there are not
filters in place for breeding codes as there are for the birds themselves,
so you won’t be alerted in the app for outliers, but they are reviewed. If
you encounter breeding activity (above singing), it is very helpful in
assessing the record if you ***add notes and photos***.
Please note that few if any species (e.g., owls) should be Carrying Food
(as defined by the breeding codes, e.g., to a nest) at this time of year.
Species-specific accounts here:
https://sdplantatlas.org/BirdAtlas/BirdPages.aspx
3. Ask questions! Feel free to email me offline.
More to follow.
Thanks for contributing and Happy Atlasing!
Justyn Stahl
North Park
On Wed, Jan 7, 2026 at 11:10 PM Ruslan Balagansky <ruslan...>
wrote:
> I was just alerted that some of the "classic" 6 hotspots for next week
> will fall on California Bird Atlas block boundaries (I didn't check
> the "gap" hotspots, but probably some of those will also fall on block
> boundaries).
>
> If you are atlassing for CBA, please be aware of this. I believe you have
> a few options for the hotspots in question (San Onofre SB, Delta Beach, and
> a small slice of Torrey Hills Mesa):
>
> 1. Create a *non-project *checklist as usual, ignoring the CBA (but
> please consider the alternatives below instead!)
> 2. Create a CBA project checklist for the hotspot and limit your birding
> to the CBA project block the hotspot pin is in (when you select the hotspot
> in the app, you'll see the project grid and block boundaries). Afterward,
> if desired, create a checklist in a personal location for neighboring
> block(s). Optionally, name the personal location after the main hotspot and
> append "(atlas only)", then suggest it as a hotspot.
> 3. Create a *non-project* checklist, taking note of Breeding Codes *and
> the block they occur in*. Afterward, for any breeding codes above H and S,
> create an Incidental checklist(s), duplicating the entries from your main
> checklist. As above, consider naming locations for non-hotspot adjacent
> blocks after the hotspot, appending (atlas only) and suggesting it as a
> hotspot.
>
> Perhaps @Justyn Stahl <justyn.stahl...> would like to chime in to
> confirm or amend this guidance when he has time. I believe he's a bit
> swamped at the moment, but I wanted to get something out now to give folks
> a heads up.
>
> Cheers,
>
> On Wed, Jan 7, 2026 at 8:36 PM Ruslan Balagansky <ruslan...>
> wrote:
>
>> Greetings SD birders and fellow eBird bar chart enthusiasts,
>>
>> I'm very pleased to report that we started 2026 off strong! *All*
>> hotspots in the "classic" category were covered!
>>
>> This is particularly impressive as they were spread quite wide around the
>> county! Big thanks to those of you who helped make this happen!
>>
>> Fun fact: almost all of the checklists for these hotspots this past week
>> were submitted under the new *California Bird Atlas* project, with lots
>> of Breeding Codes marked! Nice to see that CBA is off to a good start!
>>
>> Highlights include:
>>
>> * Summer Tanager in Poway's Hilleary Park
>> * A Neotropic Cormorant, 35 Common Mergansers, a juvenile Bald Eagle, and
>> a breeding plumaged Golden-crowned Sparrow at Lake Sutherland
>> * Slate-colored Junco at Mt Hope
>> * Possible Cassin's Finches at Upper Kitchen Creek Rd
>> * Oak Titmice defending a hollow from a Bewick's Wren in PQ Canyon
>> * 4 species with Probable Breeding Codes in Torrey Hills Mesa
>> * A very high 6.88 feet tide at Agua Hedionda provided a much birdier
>> experience than usual
>>
>> Let's keep the momentum going next week! Again, we have 6 "classic"
>> hotspots, with one needing only this one week to be 100% complete!
>>
>> Map for next week:
>> https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1blFPrINIVkNg1q9L06MtxpyZ_76VXmE&usp=sharing >>
>> Hotspots nearing bar chart completion:
>>
>> Delta Beach--north overlook
>> Raptor Ridge Trail
>> San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area--north
>> San Onofre SB
>> Torrey Hills Mesa
>> *Veterans Memorial Park (planned) - 1*
>>
>>
>> Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:
>>
>> Laguna Mtns.--Morris Ranch Rd.
>> Banner
>> Potrero County Park
>> Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Old Vallecito Ranch
>> Azalea Community Park
>> Palomar County Park
>> City Heights Community Park
>> Oasis Spring
>> Lusardi Creek Loop Trail
>> Swan Canyon
>> La Costa Glen Trail--La Costa Ave. to Levante St., Carlsbad
>> Campo
>> Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve (Restricted Access)
>> Palomar Mtn.--Doane Valley CG
>> Spooners Mesa
>> Agua Hedionda Lagoon--boat ramp
>> Grape Day Park
>> Camp Pendleton--Santa Margarita River mouth (restricted access)
>> Bonsall--Old River Rd.
>> Sweetwater Community Gardens
>> Otay River Valley--east of 125
>> Holy Cross Cemetery
>> Coronado Cays--park & residential
>> Jess Martin Park
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>
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