We're into the heart of the second field season for the third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas (Atlas-3) and there's lots to be excited about!
**Big Atlas Weekend** (this weekend!) Get ready for the Big Atlas Weekend! Join thousands of atlassers from the US and Canada as we celebrate breeding birds! This event is being coordinated across four states and two provinces that are currently conducting breeding bird atlases—Newfoundland, Ontario, New York, Maine, Maryland and DC, and North Carolina, and is a fun way for birders to document breeding birds and come together as a birding community. For many birds in our area, breeding peaks in late June. It’s a great time to confirm breeding and fill gaps in the Atlas dataset. There are prizes up for grabs for individuals as well as bragging rights for the Atlas project that tops the most metrics. Help us ensure Ontario comes out on top! For full details, including Big Atlas Weekend merchandise, please visit https://www.birdsontario.org/big-atlas-weekend/ *Sappy Hour information session** (June 23) There will be a Sappy Hour session from 7-8 pm on Thursday, June 23. Tune in for updates and to ask your questions. Zoom/Facebook live: https://birdscanada-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XoUJFacQQOyLvvQiP3m8ZA (or on the Atlas Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ONBreedingBirdAtlas **Information for eBirders** The Atlas has a new page with information for eBirders. If you use eBird and Atlas (or want to start atlassing) visit https://www.birdsontario.org/ebird. **Atlas-2 book makes digital leap** The full contents of the Atlas-2 book can now be viewed digitally at any time by heading to the Atlas website at https://www.birdsontario.org/atlas-2/book/ **Atlas-3 Discussion Board (Atlas-3 Discord Server)** The Atlas-3 discussion board has been moved to a dedicated Discord Server. We hope Atlassers will use this space to discuss and share atlassing stories and ask questions. Visit https://www.birdsontario.org/discussion/ for more information or click https://discord.gg/Mvpu9zHCyz to join. **May newsletter** The May newsletter was emailed to registered atlassers a few weeks ago and is posted online at https://www.birdsontario.org/newsletter-may-2022/ It covers the Atlas-2 book making the leap to digital, an article about digital point counts, an atlasser profile, reminders from the SIgnificant Species Committee, the new eBird information page, and Avian Flu.ril targets, updates from the Significant Species Committee, and more. Past newsletters are available at: https://www.birdsontario.org/newsletters/ -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Birdnews is reserved for announcements, location summaries, first of year reports, etc. To post a message on Birdnews, send an email to: [email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Birdnews Moderators by email at [email protected]. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines During the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions and following local, provincial, and federal regulations regarding physical distancing and non-essential travel. To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
