The NC Bird Atlas focuses on priority blocks, an intentional design to spread out birding effort across the state. When a block has had enough effort, we mark it as complete to encourage Atlasers to focus on other priority blocks. The goal is to have adequate coverage of all priority blocks by the end of the project!
Below are guidelines for block completion. However, because blocks cover the entire breadth of the diversity of landscapes in North Carolina, the coordinator and regional coordinator will review data from each block to determine if a block is completed.
>>> View priority block status on this map.
Please consult your regional coordinator if you think a block is complete.
Breeding Season Block Guidelines
- Minimum of 55 species with breeding codes *
- Minimum 20 hours of total Atlasing effort **
- Minimum of 3 visits spread out across the breeding season (e.g., April, June, July) **
- Checklists in all (accessible) habitat types
- Two nocturnal visits preferred ***
Non-Breeding (Wintering) Season Block Guidelines
- Minimum of 55 species observed *
- Minimum 5 hours of total Atlasing effort **
- Minimum of 2 visits spread out across early (Nov-Dec) and late (Jan-Feb) winter **
- Checklists in all (accessible) habitat types with particular focus on the following:
- Waterbodies: Inland lakes and ponds, and coastal shorelines, estuaries, and sounds
- High tide roosts
- Early successional and edge habitats
- One nocturnal checklist preferred ***
* Number of species will vary significantly across blocks, see county lists of expected species
** Visits and hours can occur over more than one year, some species breed during winter (see coding guidelines)
*** Nocturnal checklists begin 20 minutes after sunset, 40 minutes before sunrise