Date: 3/11/26 10:15 pm From: Lance Benner via groups.io <lbenner...> Subject: [LACoBirds] California Bird Atlas Update + March 19 Town Hall
All, The message below from Van summarizes progress on the California Bird Atlas through the end of February. In a nutshell, things are going really well and have significantly exceeded expectations. Q & A Session:There will be a state-wide Questions and Answers meeting over Zoom on March 19 at 7 pm PDT. Van's email below provides instructions for how to sign up. This will be an excellent opportunity to ask questions about breeding codes, bird behavior that constitutes different levels of breeding evidence, vocalizations by various species that represent singing vs. others that don't, eBird hotspots near block boundaries, the "Complete Breeding Code List" question, and more. Direct link to the February summary:https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/news/atlas-dispatch-feb-1-feb-28-2026 Within Los Angeles County, data have now been entered for 293 of the 434 blocks, or slightly more than 2/3, and the number of people contributing exceeds 420. 191 species have received a breeding code and breeding has been confirmed for 58. The species in LA County confirmed in the most blocks (with a minumum of at least ten) include:Mourning DoveAnna's HummingbirdAllen's HummingbirdRed-shouldered HawkRed-tailed HawkGreat-horned OwlBlack PhoebeAmerican CrowCommon RavenBushtitScaly-breasted MuniaHouse SparrowHouse FinchCalifornia TowheeThe species above are listed in taxonomic order. The species confirmed the most is currently Common Raven, which has been confirmed in 39 blocks. If you haven't already done so, please join us! Regards, Lance Lance BennerPasadena, CA ----------Forwarded Message----------
From: "Van Pierszalowski via groups.io" Reply-To: <van...> To: <CALBIRDS...> Sent: March 9, 2026 at 9:11 AM PDT Subject: [CALBIRDS] California Bird Atlas Update + March 19 Town Hall
Birders,
As many of you know, California’s first statewide Breeding Bird Atlas launched on January 1, 2026. In just over two months, the level of participation across the state has been remarkable. Breeding code use in January and February was up a staggering +545% over last year.
As of March 9:
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42,885 checklists have been submitted to the Atlas
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2,538 atlasers have joined the project and submitted at least one checklist
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3,924 blocks have Atlas data
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All 58 counties have Atlas data
By the end of January, 61 species had accepted Confirmed breeding codes. By the end of February, that number had risen to 102. The full February report is available in the latest edition of the Atlas Dispatch.
If you have not yet joined the eBird project, we encourage you to do so here.
For a quick visual overview of how to get started, you can watch the Quick Start video.
Participating is very similar to how you already use eBird, but opting into the Atlas ensures your observations become part of the permanent statewide dataset being built to guide conservation and land management decisions for decades to come.
The Atlas is being coordinated by California Bird Atlas (CBA), an independent nonprofit. We will be hosting the first CBA Town Hall on Zoom on March 19 at 7:00 pm PT. You can register for the webinar here.
We have been deeply encouraged by the number of individual donors stepping up to support the project. If you are able, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution here. Your support helps fund the infrastructure and coordination needed to sustain this statewide effort.
Thank you all for joining the project. It has been inspiring to see the California birding community come together around this effort, and we are only just getting started.
Happy Atlasing,
Van Pierszalowski
Executive Director, California Bird Atlas <van...>
