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MICHAEL JANKE CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Northern flicker. Confirming nesting or breeding birds was the goal of Howery’s sur-
vey as part of the second Oklahoma Breeding Bird Atlas effort. The
project, coordinated by the Sutton Avian Research Center, with funding
support from the Wildlife Department’s State Wildlife Grants Program,
is documenting evidence of nesting birds — either of adult birds carry-
ing nesting material or food to a nest, or of fledgling or juvenile birds
— in 583 3-mile-square blocks across the state.
During the first Oklahoma Breeding Bird Atlas, conducted from 1997 to
During the first Oklahoma 2001, project personnel and volunteer birders visited 573 of the 583 des-
Breeding Bird Atlas, conducted ignated blocks, spending an average of 13 hours surveying within each
from 1997 to 2001, project block, and documented 212 species. At least 160 species were confirmed
personnel and volunteer to breed within the state, and an additional 38 species were marked as
birders visited 573 of the 583 possible or probable breeders because of observations of singing males.
designated blocks, spending an The ongoing atlas project will serve as a 20-year follow-up to the first
average of 13 hours surveying survey effort and can be used to compare bird distributions in the state
within each block, and and document any changes during the intervening years. For the Vinson
block, Howery documented an additional 14 species when compared to
documented 212 species. the first Breeding Bird Atlas project and confirmed nesting behavior of
10 more species than the previous effort.
Surveys for the second atlas began in 2020 and are planned to con-
clude in 2024.
The second Oklahoma Breeding Bird Atlas is supported by State
Wildlife Diversity continues on Page 29. Wildlife Grant F21AF03463. Howery’s survey was funded by State
Wildlife Grant F22AF02644.
20 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA
