Maine Bird Atlas

The Maine Bird Atlas was a collaborative effort directed and funded by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, with coordination, editing, and publication led by Maine Natural History Observatory in partnership with Maine Audubon and Biodiversity Research Institute.

The Atlas is not only a bird book, it also represents the largest natural history collaboration and statewide resource assessment ever undertaken in Maine. The Atlas will serve as an invaluable resource for bird conservation, research, and management for decades to come.

Stay tuned for pre-sale information in mid-September!

BRI’s Role

  • Leading the Science Team: Evan Adams, co-director of BRI’s Quantitative Wildlife Ecology Research Lab, served as the lead quantitative ecologist for the Atlas science team, overseeing survey design, data organization, and statistical analysis.

  • Analyzing Bird Patterns: BRI and others evaluated field observations to determine bird breeding densities, occupancy (where species are found), long-term changes in bird ranges over decades, and breeding phenology (the timing of seasonal bird activity).

  • Data Quality Control: BRI staff assisted with data management, error checking, and validation to ensure the accuracy of the dataset before publication.

  • Mapping and Visualizations: Nearly a dozen BRI team members helped to process spatial data and produce maps, graphics, and visual summaries of the Atlas findings.