Date: 3/3/26 6:25 am From: Justyn Stahl via groups.io <justyn.stahl...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] tricky atlas boundaries, Rangeland Rd Bald Eagles, and "(CA Atlas ...)" hotspots
If you drive north on Rangeland Road, you’ll cross an atlas block boundary.
Care is needed when atlasing here, as the Bald Eagle nest is in the
northern of the two blocks, the second block you encounter. (There are
actually four blocks involved if you look to the west, but we’ll keep this
example simple.)
This is a good illustration of why you need to split lists at atlas
boundaries and ensure species are coded in the correct block.
Use one checklist for the southern block (San Pasqual SE), selecting the
hotspot “*Rangeland Rd. (CA Atlas - San Pasqual SE)*,” and a second
checklist for the northern block (San Pasqual CE), using the
traditional *Rangeland
Rd.* hotspot. You can record the eagles on whichever checklist(s)
correspond to the block(s) from which you observe them.
*2. Record the Bald Eagle nest only in San Pasqual CE.*
Use the Rangeland Rd. hotspot in that block when assigning the breeding
code, as the nest is not *in* the southern, San Pasqual SE, block.
And this situation is not unique to Rangeland Rd.! As a general rule
<https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/about/blocks#boundaries>, when you are
located in one block and detect a breeding bird in a neighboring block, the
breeding code must be assigned to the block where the breeding evidence
occurs. Remember to:
1.
Record *all species* you observe on your current checklist, regardless
of where they are.
2.
Add breeding codes only for species showing *breeding evidence in the
block where you are physically located*.
3.
If you detect breeding evidence in a neighboring block, create a
*separate* incidental checklist for that block and record the species,
count, and breeding code there.
A helpful way to remember this:
*Report all birds from where you are, but behaviors only where they are.*
So, what's with this ("CA Atlas - something something CE)" anyway? Some
original hotspots happen to fall across two, three, or even four atlas
blocks. Since atlasing must occur one block at a time, secondary hotspots
have been created for cases where:
-
You are birding within a hotspot’s footprint, but
-
The main hotspot pin falls in a different atlas block than the one
you’re standing in
These secondary hotspots are named for the portion of the atlas block in
which they fall (e.g., “CA Atlas - San Pasqual SE”). But not all of them
have been created yet.
When starting a checklist:
-
Check the map to select location and zoom out slightly.
-
Select the hotspot that matches the block you’re physically in, if
appropriate.
-
It's easiest to illustrate this process by linking to a talk I recently
gave for SDFO: two location examples start at about 46:07
<https://youtu.be/IekPT-sqZ-s?si=pBy9LGVellSONeVC&t=2766.> (The whole atlas
project discussion begins at 39:54
<https://youtu.be/IekPT-sqZ-s?si=3jk8cOSqEhOzCdRx&t=2394>.). Just remember
to watch the atlas block boundary, and stop your current list and start a
new one, choosing a new location, when you cross into the next block.
In rural, desert, or mountainous areas, creating secondary hotspots, or any
hotspots, is not likely to be necessary. But at established parks, lakes,
and other popular sites, these block-specific hotspots help ensure atlas
data are assigned correctly.
Looking for inspiration on where to go? Have a look at the Effort Map
<https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/effortmap> and check out a block with no
effort or confirmed species. The desert is calling!
Finally, join us on the San Diego CBA WhatsApp group. If you'd like to join
for additional discussion, questions, and cool observations, email me
directly. There's also atlas discussion on the California Discord
<https://discord.com/invite/4utXgk4ba>.
Thanks for atlasing!
Justyn Stahl
North Park
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