Handbooks and Protocols
Atlas handbooks and protocols contain information to help you successfully contribute to the Pennsylvania Bird Atlas. The Volunteer Handbook is the primary user guide highlighting objectives, guidelines, breeding codes, how to submit data, and other information.
- Volunteer Handbook (version 2.3, February 2024)
- Volunteer Point Count Protocol (April 2024)
Breeding Timeline
The Breeding Guidelines Chart is a tool to help you determine when it is appropriate to use breeding codes for species in Pennsylvania. Additional instructions for using this chart are provided in the handbook.
- Breeding Guidelines Chart – PDF (version 1.1, Feb 2024)
- Breeding Guidelines Chart – Sortable Excel spreadsheet (see spreadsheet tabs). (version 1.1, Feb 2024)
This handy page quickly shows which species are eligible to report breeding codes for, for today’s date or any other date you select. (Thank you to Bobby Brown, Lycoming County Atlas Coordinator, for creating this tool and generously sharing it!)
Field Forms
You may choose to take written records of your observations in the field and later enter on a computer at ebird.org/atlaspa/submit. We provide Field Forms to print and use for data recording in the field, or to use as a reference if you prefer to record your observations in a field journal.
- Field Form (version 1.0, January 2024)