Methods

General Methods
Breeding Evidence Codes
Habitat Codes
Source

General Methods

Sampling & coverage of blocks
Each block consists of 1/6 of a USGS 7.5 minute topographic quad. The south-east (SE) block of each quad was assigned as a priority block. 1745 of 1760 priority blocks, 18 border blocks, and 1006 non-priority blocks were covered in total. View blocks in the Mapping Tool >>
Coordination of coverage
Management of this project was accomplished with the help of coordinators in 20 regions.

Breeding Evidence Codes

Code	Code description (see handbook for full description & use suggestions)
OB Category - Observed: not breeding evidence
O	Migrants and non-breeding species observed in block during breeding season.
PO Category - possible breeding evidence
#	Species (male or female) observed in suitable nesting habitat during its breeding season.
X	Singing male present in suitable nesting habitat during its breeding season.
PR Category - probable breeding evidence
M	7 or more singing males of a species observed on one day in suitable nesting habitat.
P	Pair observed in suitable nesting habitat during its breeding season.
T	Permanent territory presumed through either defense (e.g. chasing of other birds) or song at same location on at least 2 occasions 7 days or more apart.
C	Courtship behavior or copulation.
V	Visiting probable nest site.
A	Agitated behavior or anxiety calls from adult.
N	Nest building by Bald Eagles or excavation of nest holes by wrens and woodpeckers, and construction of dummy nests.
CO Category - confirmed evidence of breeding
NB	Nest bulding or adult carrying nesting material.
PE	Physiological evidence of breeding, e.g. highly vascularized, edematous brood patch or egg in oviduct based on bird in hand. (For banders.)
DD	Distraction display or injury feigning.
UN	Used nests or egg shells found. Must be carefully identified, if they are to be accepted.
FL	Recently fledged young (of altricial species) incapable of sustained flight or downy young (of precocial species) restricted to the natal area by dependance on adults or limited mobility.
ON	Adults entering or leaving a nest site in circumstances indicating occupied nest. To be used for nests which are too high (e.g. the tops of trees) or enclosed (e.g. chimneys) for the contents to be seen.
FY	Adult seen carrying food for young, or feeding recently fledged young. Subdivided into CF and FF.
CF	Adult carrying food for young (subcategory of FY).
FF	Adult feeding fledgling (subcategory of FY).
FS	Adult carrying fecal sac.
NE	Nest with egg(s).
NY	Nest with young seen or heard.

Habitat Codes

Habitat code	Description (56 habitats defined)
AEM	Emergent wetlands marshes (group)
ASG	Salt meadows (group)
ASU	Submergent or floating wetlands (group)
CPL	Croplands (group)
CWD	Cultivated woodlands (group)
FRC	Riparian coniferous forest (group)
FRD	Riparian deciduous forest (group)
FUC	Upland coniferous forest (group)
FUCD	Upland coniferous - Douglas-fir
FUCL	Upland coniferous - Lodgepole pine
FUCM	Upland coniferous - Mixed conifer/aspen woodland
FUCS	Upland coniferous - Englemann spruce/subalpine fir
FUD	Upland deciduous (group)
LRD	Lowland riparian (group)
MCL	Cliffs (group)
MSC	Other Urban/Agricultural (group)
OWL	Open water - Lakes (group)
OWS	Open water - Streams (group)
RRL	Rural (group)
SBC	Willow Carr (group)
SBL	Burned-over areas (group)
SBLS	Burned-over areas - Engelman spruce/subalpine fir
SBR	Sagebrush (group)
SKR	Evergreen shrublands (group)
SLC	Lowland Carr (group)
SLS	Lowland sagebrush (group)
SMC	Montane Carr (group)
SMM	Mountain shrublands (group)
SMS	Mountain sagebrush (group)
SMT	Mat saltbrush (group)
SOS	Oak scrub (group)
SSL	Logged-over areas (group)
SSLL	Logged-over areas - Lodgepole pine
SSLM	Logged-over areas - Mixed conifer/aspen woodland
SSLS	Logged-over areas - Engelmann spruce/subalpine fir
STD	Tall desert shrub (group)
TAL	Alpine tundra (group)
TMG	Montane grasslands (group)
TMGB	Western intermountain grassland (group)
TMGP	Midgrass prairie (group)
TMXP	Mixed grasses of habitat alteration (group)
TSG	Shortgrass prairie (group)
TSU	Barren ground (Urban/agricultural) (group)
TTR	Tallgrass - Riparian (group)
TTS	Tallgrass - Sandsage (group)
UIN	Industrial (group)
UPK	Parks (group)
URB	Residential (group)
WMO	Montane woodland (group)
WMOB	Montane woodland - Bristlecone pine
WMOD	Montane woodland - Douglas-fir
WMOL	Montane woodland - Lodgepole pine
WMOM	Montane woodland - Mixed conifer/aspen woodland
WMOS	Montane woodland - Engelmann spruce/subalpine fir
WPJ	Pinyon/Juniper (group)
WPP	Ponderosa pine (group)

Where this information came from
Most of the information on this page is from the project's publication or Handbook (guide for field work).

U.S. Department of the Interior || U.S. Geological Survey || Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Laurel, MD, USA 20708-4038
This site is: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bba
Information contained in this application does not necessarily have the endorsement of USGS.
Contact: mwimer@usgs.gov

Last updated: Site - December 2008; Content - various, depending on atlas.
Page generated on: 19-May-2013