A few Changes

The website has had one or two changes recently. You can now enter Population Estimates for a species that you have not seen, but "know" is present. You should only do so if you know the bird was present during the winter period- November 2007-Feb 2008, but not if you have often seen it in the past and think it "must" still be around. You do this via the Edit my lists button. I am not very clear how the Population estimates will be used, except as a broad scale check on estimates produced in other ways. The Purpose of the tetrad survey is to get a feel for local density of each species, but of course most species that are not seen in two two hour surveys will of necessity probably only be present at a very low density anyway- though obviously Owls may well be ovberlooked in winter.
The first winter surveys went very well- it looks as if at least 85% of those who signed up have done them, and there may well be others who have done them but not entered them yet for whatever reason. But if first surveys have not been done, then the tetrad will have to have its winter survey during the 2008/09 winter- but it can of course have its breeding season survey this summer.
The maps on the Avon Recent Results charts look a bit thin, but this is because there are some 62 tetrads being done by paper and not computer- and they will only reach me when second surveys have been done, and then they will be sent to BTO for entering.
Incidentally a Great Bustard was present in ST66 yesterday, and I had a Peacock in Fishponds- whatever next.