The first installment of the British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas is available online here.

As sections of the Atlas are completed and translated, they are being published online, and made available to everyone  – one big advantage of digital publication.

Work continues on the remainder of the species accounts, which will be published in additional sections as they are completed.

BCFO has been a continuing supporter of the Atlas since its inception. To see this hugely important work of so many volunteers and supporters made available publicly is very rewarding for all.

Below is the letter from Bird Studies Canada’s Pete Davidson giving more details of the publication and some of the big picture findings. Either read it here or click on either page to download.

We’ve recently added some new information and documents to two areas of our website.

Under the BRC tab above you’ll find a new BRC General Information page which, among other things, offers downloadable copies of the BCFO Rare Bird Report Form. Also, the BRC has published its Provincial Review List, which you will find under the same drop-down menu. Submissions of rare bird sightings are invited and encouraged.

A “Good Bird” on any BC Christmas Bird Count!

Our listing of Christmas Bird Count dates and information from around the Province is also up and running. You’ll find it under the CBC’s tab above.

Members of the guild of aerial insectivores, many of which are declining across the continent, Poorwills and Common Nighthawks (Threatened) are cryptic, nocturnal species about which we know very little. WildResearch is looking for surveyors to build our basic knowledge of these two species.

Take a look at the poster below, and click the link here to go directly to the WildResearch website.

The International Rusty Blackbird Working Group has asked us to get the word out to birders about their Spring Migration Blitz. The blitz is attempting to better understand the spring migration of Rusty Blackbirds, which, as you know have experienced a catastrophic, continent-wide population decline.

The Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz challenges birders to scour the landscape for Rusty Blackbirds during the birds’ northward migration.  38 states, 9 provinces, and 3 territories will participate in this international effort to find Rusty Blackbirds; each region is assigned a set of target dates during which local birders will seek this elusive species.  It’s easy to participate – bird as you normally do during the province’s target dates, and submit data to eBird using the “Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz” observation type.

Interested in learning more about Rusty Blackbirds, or want to learn more about the province’s Blitz efforts?  Use the Migration Blitz website http://rustyblackbird.org/outreach/migration-blitz/ to find out the target dates for this region, learn more about Rusty Blackbird identification, and get more details about Blitz data collection and submission.

Also, follow the IRBWG on Facebook for the most up-to-date information about the Blitz: https://www.facebook.com/rustyblackbirdspringblitz

The Beatty Biodiversity Museum is offering a Free Public Lecture presented by BCFO member, noted ornithologist and author Dick Cannings.

Check out the poster below for more information.

To register for your free tickets click here.