Pennsylvania’s 3rd Bird Atlas launched on January 1, 2024— and we need your help!

This five year project is part of a decades long program to document all breeding and wintering species across Pennsylvania. It provides important data that helps prioritize conservation needs and protect birds. This atlas builds on the efforts of the previous two atlasses (in the 1980’s and early 2000’s) and relies on volunteer birders from all over the state.

How to Atlas

  • Go birding! You’ll need to be able to identify the species of bird you are observing, count how many individuals there are, as well as watch for breeding behaviors.

  • Checklists must be short (<1 mile, <30 mins) & within a single Atlas ‘block.’

  • Visit ebird.org/atlaspa for more information about Atlas blocks and how to report breeding behaviors. The portal currently features a Quick Start guide and contact information for atlas coordinators, with more information and resources to be added as the project progresses.

How to Submit Data

  • Data will be collected via the Pennsylvania Bird Atlas portal in eBird (mobile app or website).

  • Visit ebird.org/atlaspa to learn how to enter data through the Atlas portal.

  • Use of the phone app is highly recommended as you can see block boundaries in the field (and even be notified if you go near a boundary!).

  • Paper forms are available for those who don’t have access to eBird. Reach out to your local coordinators for a copy or download one from the Files section of the PA Bird Atlas Discussion Group on Facebook.

Who Can Participate?

  • Anybody! Participation is for new and experienced birders alike.

  • Participation will range from people birding many hours all over the state to people who only submit a few observations from their yard. All of these observations are useful.

  • Anyone can bird anywhere! (As long as you are birding on public land or have permission to be on private land).

  • You do not need to sign-up to participate. You only need to visit the website (ebird.org/atlaspa) for instructions and enter your data through the Pennsylvania Bird Atlas portal in eBird (via the mobile app or via web browser at ebird.org/atlaspa/submit).

For more PBA3 info, check out the most recent video presentation HERE. Ask your questions, learn about atlas opportunities, see what exciting finds are discovered, and more in the Facebook PA Bird Atlas Discussion Group!

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