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Welcome to the new North-East Scotland Breeding Bird Atlas. This exciting new project aims to produce up to date bird breeding distribution maps for Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City and Moray. Beginning in 2002, the maps have been created by contributions from very many people - in fact all those with an interest in birds in North-East Scotland. These web pages provide some newletters and maps of breeding birds, as well as information about progress towards the publication of the atlas. Further information about the results for Aberdeenshire / Aberdeen can be obtained from Ian Francis at ian@farmland.plus.com or from Moray from Martin Cook at martin.cook99@btinternet.com. The 2006 newsletter below provides general information about the background to the project.

Atlas update: 16 May 2008

Comparison is underway between the 1981-1984 atlas of Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City and the 2002-2006 atlas. Here are maps illustrating the change for two species: Little Grebe shows evidence of an increase in range, whereas Grey Partridge shows evidence of a retraction from more upland areas.

The original atlas ‘Birds of North East Scotland’ by Buckland, Bell and Picozzi (1990) has long been out of print. With the permission of the authors, and thanks to Ian Andrews, we can now offer this book on CD as a .pdf file (readable using Abode Acrobat) for £10. If interested, please send a cheque to Ian Francis, payable to ‘Scottish Ornithologists’ Club’. Proceeds will go towards the publication of our new atlas. Please send to "NE Scotland Breeding Bird Atlas, c/o 10 Albyn Terrace, Aberdeen AB10 1YP".

Atlas update: 31 March 2008

Information from the atlas has been checked for errors, a new base-map has been produced (see example for Curlew) and comparison maps between the 1981-84 Aberdeenshire atlas and the 2002-06 period have been produced. The breeding bird atlas species accounts are about to be written by a number of local birdwatchers, with the aim of finishing this by autumn 2008. We hope to be able to publish the atlas by the end of 2009.

We will be seeking photographs of breeding activity of birds nesting in NE Scotland. If you have any photographs that you might be prepared to offer for use in the species accounts, please contact us. We are looking for any breeding activity - from display to nest sites, eggs, nests, chicks, or any other kind of breeding-related activity. We'd be delighted to receive any offers like this. All species breeding in NE Scotland are needed - and it would be even better if the photos were actually taken in our area!

Atlas data (excluding some rare and sensitive species) are soon to be deposited with the North East Scotland Biological Records Centre (www.nesbrec.org.uk) and also uploaded to the National Biodiversity Network (www.searchnbn.net).

Did you enjoy participating in the North East Atlas? Why not take part in the new National Bird Atlas Project - see www.birdatlas.net, or contact Paul Doyle on 01358 751384 for details. The National Atlas is being organised by the BTO and SOC in Scotland, but you don't have to be a member to take part.