THE NSW BIRD ATLASSER'S GOAL

To enhance the environment and, in particular to protect and preserve Australian birds in NSW and ACT, by mapping and monitoring, on an ongoing basis, each bird's distribution and preferred habitats.

CLUB HISTORY AND AIMS

The NSW Bird Atlassers (NSWBA) was established in 1982 as an independent, volunteer-based, non-profit group with the joint aims of monitoring the distribution of birds in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, preserving habitats, providing a proper basis for environmental impact studies and for other ornithological reference purposes.

These aims enable the NSWBA to address key issues in the status of birds within the defined area of study, to identify changes in bird populations, and to disseminate information about birds and their conservation whilst encouraging a wider appreciation of birds in the community.

The defined region of study is NSW (including Lord Howe Island and the Tasman Sea from the NSW coast to 200km offshore), the ACT, and Elizabeth and Middleton Reef Marine National Nature Reserve. The birds of this region, their distribution and their habitat requirements are poorly reported and poorly understood. Even today, despite the considerable human population of the region, uncertainty remains about the identity of some reported species. There is also a paucity of published information about bird distribution (especially geographic forms) as well as seasonal occurrence, habitat preferences, and present and historical status. The NSWBA seeks to provide a better understanding of these important aspects of our birdlife.

The NSWBA publishes a quarterly newsletter, produces identification guides and gridded maps of NSW. It conducts regular field trips and other survey activities throughout NSW. Inexperienced bird watchers are particularly welcome on these field trips, as they provide a wonderful opportunity to mix with experienced bird watchers and develop identification skills.

Published field identification guides now cover Corvids, Raptors and Nightbirds of Australia.

The NSWBA also produces books about birds, their distribution and habitats in NSW/ACT. Major publications are a 240 page book “The Birds of Western NSW: A Preliminary Atlas” 1995 (now out of print); “the NSWBA list of the birds of NSW (including Lord Howe Island) and the ACT”; “An Ornithological Gazetteer of NSW, the ACT and adjacent waters”; and an outstanding full-colour book “A Guide to Bird Habitats in NSW” was published in 1999. The complete “Atlas of the Birds of NSW” is planned for publication.

Membership of the NSWBA is open to anyone interested in birds, their habitats and their conservation.

CLUB OPERATIONS

To achieve the aim of monitoring the distribution of birds in NSW and neighbouring waters and the ACT, the NSWBA established and continues to maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date database on the breeding and non-breeding distribution of all birds within the defined areas. Although distribution is a key ecological parameter, in the case of birds this is often determined by the relationship existing between birds and their preferred habitats. The NSWBA database attempts to define this link of bird distribution and habitat preferences.

Published by NSWBA in 1999, “A Guide to Bird Habitats in NSW” facilitates the identification, recording and appreciation of habitats not only by members of NSWBA but the population as a whole. This in turn meets another NSWBA aim of conserving habitats through the appreciation of same.

The NSWBA database contains in excess of 3 million records - this information has been extracted from over 172,000 atlas sheets submitted by our members, plus some data from other bird watching groups.  These records are an invaluable asset in the preservation of Australian birds and their habitats.

CLUB DATA

The NSW Bird Atlassers Database holds details for over 3 million sightings this data has been collected by our members through their own sightings or details extracted from the literature, these sightings date back to 1770.  Other sources of data exist in our dataset but we only provide information based on data collected  by our members and data from the other sources should  be accessed through those organisations.

  (1)Data processing not completed for this period

The data is referenced by Latitude and Longitude usually by 10 minute grids (see attached NSW map showing species counts in the various 10 minute grids). From the data it is possible to see changes over time (see attached Maps for the Crested Pigeon (043) and for the Superb Parrot (277) which shows seasonal variation).