Our Mission

In 2006, a group of interested and dedicated parties met at the University of Delaware to begin discussing our second atlas effort. At that time, the foundation was laid for an atlas unlike any other. An atlas committee formed and divided into two sub-committees: a technical committee to deal with the issues of methodology, protocol, data, and databasing, and a logistical committee to deal with the issues of finding a coordinator, assembling volunteers, developing a steering committee, and publicly promoting the atlas project. Both committees, in cooperation with the atlas coordinator, continue to develop the project in anticipation of 2008! Now, it will be up to you, the volunteers, to take part in a project, which uses methods from past successful atlases, incorporates novel ideas, and produces a product that will compliment the efforts of the first atlas and set standards for years to come.

Objectives for the Delaware Breeding Bird Atlas:

• To determine the current distribution of all bird species breeding within Delaware, as well as within specially designated areas.
• To generate improved information on the status, distribution, abundance, and habitat associations of Species of Special Interest within Delaware.
• To assess changes relative to the first Delaware breeding bird atlas and establish protocols to allow for better comparisons with future atlases.
• To be a forum for education and conservation awareness in Delaware.

Products anticipated from the Delaware Breeding Bird Atlas:

• Species-specific summaries of the breeding history of Delaware’s birds.
• Detailed distribution maps for all bird species breeding in Delaware.
• Analysis of changes since the first atlas.
• Conservation recommendations.
• Permanent records of the data collected that are electronically and conventionally published and available to all interested parties.