Hello Everyone, I know that you're all probably disappointed that winter atlasing activities are over for the Ohio Winter Bird Atlas. I know that I am. But that disappointment doesn't have to last even a day. Why, you may be asking? Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II to the rescue! Yes...'tis true. First off, Rock Pigeon observations constitute legitimate BBA data all year round (House Sparrows starting February 1st). Big deal you may be thinking. Well, that's understandable, but then comes February. February 1st marks the beginning of the safe date ranges for two species of owls...Great Horned and Barred. Great Horned Owls can be incubating eggs in Ohio as early as late-January. Barred Owls have been known to be nesting as early as February in the southwestern part of the state. Any vocal or visual detection of either species between February 1st and July 31st is valuable for the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II. Confirmed breeding observations, such as active nests, are always more-desirable records in the framework of BBA data collection, but simple detection observations are better than nothing at all. Simple detection observations can be bumped up to the probably level if a bird is heard calling in the same general location for a week or more apart. So, who out there has already heard a Barred Owl or Great Horned Owl calling in their backyards? Seen one fly across the road? If you're one of the lucky ones so far in 2007, I'd love to chat. Give me a call at 614-247-6458 or send me an email at [log in to unmask] If you're already an atlas volunteer, be sure to get out there to canvas your blocks for early season vocalizations of these awesome owl species. Up next in March...woodpeckers, chickadees, cardinals, and early nesting hawks! Happy Atlasing Everyone! Aaron Boone Project Coordinator Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II www.ohiobirds.org/obba2/ ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]