The Future
Oregon ornithology will benefit greatly if this 5-year project is repeated, perhaps in a decade or two, using the same geographic framework and approach.� The results of a comparable effort, when contrasted with the present data from 1995-1999, may reveal species range shifts that might not be apparent from BBS route data or other sources.�

 

Future efforts with slightly different themes also could contribute significantly to understanding Oregon�s biological diversity.� For example:

 

1.� Geographically comprehensive surveys of all Oregon bird species during winter and migration are needed, inasmuch as Christmas Bird Counts and other surveys do not cover all parts of the state and all portions of the non-breeding season.� A statewide atlas project to survey wintering or migrating birds would face formidable challenges, but deserves consideration.

 

2.� Projects might also be undertaken to survey breeding birds at finer levels of geographic resolution.� For example, breeding bird atlas projects covering a single town, county, or national forest might be initiated using a finer grid.

 

3.� Projects might be initiated to survey birds thoroughly in specific habitat types throughout the state.

 

4.� Organisms other than birds could be the focus of statewide atlas projects. Atlas projects dealing with Oregon�s plants: (http://www.oregonflora.org/index.html) and dragonflies (http//www.ent.orst.edu/ore_dfly) are well under way, and an atlas of Oregon butterflies already exists (Hinchliff 1994).

 

The effort required to organize and administer any serious atlas project cannot be understated.� The individuals who volunteer to initiate future atlases should not only be experienced naturalists, but should also be proficient and energetic fundraisers, writers, administrators, and data analyzers.� More than anything, they should be willing and able to commit long hours (up to 10 hours weekly on a sustained basis for a statewide effort) over the five years required to complete a high-quality project.� Ill-conceived, half-hearted projects will only drain precious volunteer time and interest, complicating future efforts to recruit capable participants.� Individuals wishing to initate projects such as those listed above are encouraged to seek an endorsement from OFO and suggestions from organizers of the current breeding bird atlas project.

 

The completion of this project means we no longer are sending detailed hexagon maps and checklists to volunteers.� Nonetheless, we encourage birders to continue keeping notes of breeding-season observations of:

(a) species found in hexagons or squares where the species was not found during the atlas project (see individual hexagons for lists of such species), or

(b) species confirmed to be breeding outside the range of dates shown in the atlas account of that species.

Records of observations meeting either of these criteria:

(a) should be posted to the internet group, Oregon Birders On-line (OBOL:� www.cyber-dyne.com/~lucyb/obol.html ), and/or

(b) should be sent to one of the steering committee members mentioned below or -- in the case of very rare species -- to the Oregon Natural Heritage Program (http://www.abi.org/nhp/us/or) with a request that the record be archived for reference in future atlas projects.

Records collected between atlas projects, although not included in future project databases, will help participants locate hard-to-find species, and may help resource managers address, in the interim, respond to newly established species and species that are uncommon or have highly specialized needs. ��We also encourage Oregon birders to continue, by making donations on their state tax form, their strong support for the Wildlife Diversity Program of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, without which some species might not survive until the next atlas project.

 

Where to Send New Records (as of Spring 2001):

 

Paul Adamus, email: adamus7@attbi.com

6028 NW Burgundy Dr., Corvallis, OR 97330

 

Kit Larsen, email: kit@oregon.uoregon.edu

2162 Kincaid, Eugene, OR� 97405

 

Barbara Combs, email:� bcombs@orednet.org

Greg Gillson, email:� greg@thebirdguide.com